Is the Beast Mode era coming to a close in Seattle sooner rather than later? Much has been made this season about Marshawn Lynch's future with the Seahawks. While he continues to be one of the best running backs in the league, reports say the team is ready to move on from Lynch, tired of some of his locker room antics. Lynch admits that contract talks have taken place, but he has no idea what the future holds for him.
Lynch might have avoided reporters in the locker room following the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but he did managed to call NFL.com in a phone interview on the team bus and gave some insight regarding his contract status with Seattle and the ongoing negotiations with the Seahawks. Most do not expect the running back to return in 2015. Lynch told NFL Media that the Seahawks have done a lot of talking, but he has not done a lot of responding.
"Do I think I'll be gone after this season? I don't know, man. The Seahawks, their front office gets in the media; they talk a lot. I don't talk too much. I just play the game. If they have something going on, I don't know about it," Lynch said.
Lynch continues to be one of the best offensive performers for Seattle which is putting the team in a tough position for the future. He rushed for 124 yards in the loss to the Chiefs. He had four touchdowns against the New York Giants in the week prior. The Seahawks have attempted to set themselves up for Lynch's exit. They drafted Robert Turbin and Christine Michael in 2012 and 213, but neither player have really done anything noteworthy and according to NFL's Ian Rapoport, there is doubt they are franchise backs.
"Neither of those guys have turned into franchise backs," Rapoport said, via NFL.com. "... I would expect them to target a running back high in the draft. Pay attention to Melvin Gordon, who just set the national rushing record. He's from Wisconsin, (Seahawks GM) John Schneider (is) from Wisconsin ..."
The Seahawks are trying to be smart with contracts considering Russell Wilson is set to get a new deal very soon and that is expected to be big. Lynch will have the resume to get one of the bigger running backs deals in free agency, but it might not come from Seattle. Head coach Pete Carroll has said that the team fully intends on Lynch coming back, but money will be the deciding factor.
