The Seattle Seahawks may look at a Marshawn Lynch trade or release the running back after this season into 2015, as reports have Pete Carroll and the organization tired of his antics off the field and it comes after some issues came up regarding Russell Wilson and Percy Harvin and a number of teams likely will be interested in Lynch if he goes, including the Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.
According to ESPN.com writer Chris Mortensen, the Seahawks and head coach Pete Carroll have gotten "tired" of some of Lynch's antics and some of the issues surrounding the Percy Harvin trade have led the team to likely part ways with the RB in 2015. Lynch's contract and the drafting of Robert Turbin and Christine Michael also has contributed to the decision for the team. Lynch has been a workhorse and as he gets closer to 30 years old, the Hawks could cut him loose. The past two seasons he has been over 300 carries and 1200 yards and he is off that pace this season in seven games.
Lynch is a great running back and one of the best players on the Seahawks, but the team has prepared for this moment by drafting Christine Michael and Robert Turbin. The Seahawks know that Lynch is better than those two players, but they are prepared to move on and they feel that both Turbin and Michael can step up next season into more prominent roles.
Peter King and Chris Mortenson both wrote about Lynch and his future and while they have some different reasons about why he will be gone from the Seahawks, the conclusion is the same. King writes that money will be the major reason, while Mortensen agrees that money is a factor, but also his attitude and his antics off the field, which have started to rub the franchise the wrong way. King adds on the MMQB that his contract is the main issue and that the Seahawks have no intention of having him on the roster next season when he is due to make $6.5 million.
Lynch held out this year partly for this reason, as he wanted to get paid now knowing that he likely would be cut in the future. The team could trade him, but a release is more likely, as he will have a $5 million base next season and a $1.5 million roster bonus. The cap hit would be over $8 million for 2015 and it works for the Seahawks because the dead money is the lowest total it will be in three years and that could lead to a move for Seattle.
When the team was winning and things were going well, Lynch and his issues with the media and skipping the White House ceremony were seen as part of his "unique" personality and sometimes funny, but now they have starter to wear on Carroll. The locker room issues have been downplayed by Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson, but reports have Lynch upset about the trade of Percy Harvin and other issues could lead him to a trade or his release after the 2014 season ends.