Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has been one of the most important players for the team this season and while he is integral to the offense in 2014, the team may look at a trade with Lynch or his release in 2015, as he has had issues with Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll and due to his high salary he could be a cap casualty come next year.
The Seahawks have Lynch, Robert Turbin and Christine Michael as their main backs and while Lynch clearly is the best of the bunch, he could be on his way out of town eventually. According to ESPN.com reporter Chris Mortensen, the Seahawks and Lynch are likely headed for a split after the season and a trade or his release is what the team will look to do. Mort writes that the Seahawks have grown "tired" of Lynch and his antics, including some issues that arose with Percy Harvin and Russell Wilson before Harvin was traded.
Peter King at the MMQB.com added some notes about the possibility of Lynch and the Seahawks splitting and he too sees it happening after this year. King focused on the money aspect and that is a big part of it as well. Lynch is set to get $6.5 million next season and for an aging back and a team that has two young players, it doesn't look good for Lynch.
Lynch previously signed a four year contract worth $31 million and in 2015 he is set to get paid $5 million along with other money for incentives and bonuses. The Seahawks likely will not pay that money and that doesn't even factor into the attitude issues and other problems. Lynch is a great runner and was one of the reasons why the Seahawks won the Super Bowl in the first place, but the team likely will part ways with the RB after this season.
Lynch has also been one of the most used backs in the league over the past few seasons and that doesn't bode well for his future in Seattle either. The running back position is one of the most punishing in the NFL and Lynch has not shied away from contact in his career and now he is nearing 30 years old after three seasons of nearly 300 carries. Lynch had 285 carries three years ago and the past two seasons he has had over 300. While he is not on that pace this season, the Seahawks realize that there is a good chance Lynch will not be as effective going forward as he was in the past.
Adding to all of that is the money. The Seahawks paid Percy Harvin a big deal and while he is gone, they are on the hook for some of that. The team also paid Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman and there are more names to come, as Russell Wilson should be getting a significant contract as well. The holdout came this year because Lynch likely realized that he should get the money he thinks he deserves now before the team cuts him as a cap casualty. A trade is possible, but it's far more likely the team cuts Lynch after this season to avoid some of that money he is owed.
