12th Man Rising
FanSided

Can Marshawn Lynch be in full Beastmode for the Raiders, and should it matter to Seahawks fans?

By Todd Vandenberg

BELLEVUE, WA - NOVEMBER 13: Seattle Seahawks Running Back Marshawn Lynch attends an in-store appearance for the launch of BEASTMODE x PSD at Champs at Bellevue Square on November 13, 2015 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for PSD Underwear)
BELLEVUE, WA - NOVEMBER 13: Seattle Seahawks Running Back Marshawn Lynch attends an in-store appearance for the launch of BEASTMODE x PSD at Champs at Bellevue Square on November 13, 2015 in Bellevue, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for PSD Underwear) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 16: Eddie Lacy
GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 16: Eddie Lacy /

So why does this all matter to 12s, you ask

For one thing, every 12 should still have a lot of love in his or her heart for Marshawn Lynch. So he left the Seahawks; so what? His time was done here. His year off rejuvenated him. He missed the game and wanted to come back. Even if the Seahawks somehow broke their contract with Lynch (which they couldn’t), there was no way he was coming back for anything close to what the Raiders offered him. He reportedly has $5 million in incentives in addition to his $4.5 million he’s getting for 2017. Another $2 million in incentives kick in for 2018.

Eddie Lacy will be paid about the same as Lynch when looking at the base contract. The difference is in those incentives.  Yes, Lacy has the famous (or infamous) weight clause. His biggest bonus is for rushing yardage, capping at $1.2 million for a 1,200 yard season. That would be money well spent, of course.

Remember, Lynch’s contract with the Raiders is moot anyway. The Seahawks would have had to pay Lynch $9 million this season, twice what they’ll pay Lacy. Now both have a lot of incentive bonuses. But if you want to win, you want those bonuses to be achieved. If either Lynch or Lacy run for over 1,200 yards, it’s a safe bet their teams will make the playoffs. As far as winning the playoffs…let’s hope the quarterback stays healthy.

So 12s, there’s no reason to hold a grudge against Lynch for leaving the Seahawks. Nor is there is any reason to hold a grudge against John Schneider for not getting him back. Cheer for every Beastmode run you see. Except on August 31st, of course. And possibly that game on the first Sunday of February.

Home/Seattle Seahawks News