12th Man Rising
FanSided

What Does Lynch in Oakland Mean to the Seahawks?

By Lee Vowell

Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Will Beast Mode Look Good in Black?

Marshawn Lynch reported met with the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday. Allegedly, the discussion between the Raiders and Lynch was about his returning to play professional football. Or possibly about the Beast Mode brand becoming the official sportswear of the Raiders. (That last sentence is in no way true, but it is fun to think about.)

What would Lynch’s un-retirement and playing in Oakland (or Las Vegas or whatever) mean to the Seahawks? Really, not a lot. In Lynch’s final season with Seattle in 2015, he was oft-injured and not overly productive. In fact, hope sprung eternal for Thomas Rawls in 2016 because he was so much more productive than Lynch was in 2015. Lynch averaged 3.8 yards-per-carry in 2015.

Did the Seahawks miss Lynch’s rushing acumen in 2016? No. Did they miss his persona and drive to run over opposing players? Yes. Still, behind the offensive line the Seahawks had last season, Lynch would not have been any better than Rawls or CJ Prosise was in 2016. I say this because he was not good in 2015.

Plus, 2017 will bring the potential tandem of Eddie Lacy, Prosise and Rawls. If – and that is a big “if” – all three are healthy, that is much more exciting than Lynch returning to Seattle. As the great Andy Larkin wrote for this very website, Seattle could have a three-headed monster next year.

Cap-wise, Seattle is not held accountable for anything Beast Mode currently. If Lynch asks the NFL to be reinstated, Seattle could either trade him or immediately release him. Long-term Seattle would owe nothing. Lynch could end up in Oakland and possibly Las Vegas. He might perform adequately. But Seattle needs to move on from Lynch. At least, Seahawks fans need to. Lynch represents the past; a great past though it is.

Or all this news could be Lynch making sure the Beast Mode brand is front-and-center. Beast Mode Productions LLC will release its first film, “A Hundred Blocks,” tomorrow at the Oakland International Film Festival.

Lynch was once a great football player. He will always be a great business man.

Home/Seattle Seahawks News