The Seattle Seahawks are very aware of just how important Marshawn Lynch has been to the franchise and their recent string of success. However, both sides are at a crossroads of the best direction to take their future together and injuries are complicating the negotiations. According to Seahawks general manager John Schneider stressed Seattle wants Lynch back in 2015, but hints of retirement could have the team searching for other big moves.
Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed that Seattle and Lynch had started talking about a new contract, but he would not confirm if anything was coming from the discussions. Schneider took it one step further saying the Seahawks would love for the running back to return in 2015, but hinted that lingering injuries are making that idea complicated.
"Obviously we think he's a helluva player," Schneider said, via 710 ESPN Seattle radio. "We want to have him back. He knows that, and his representatives know that. He knows if he comes back he's not going to be playing at the same number he's scheduled to make. Now, whether or not he wants to play next year, I can't answer that. I don't know if he knows at this juncture. He needs to find out where he's at. Especially with the way this guy runs the ball, it's taxing on his body. So he has to reset himself and get in that mind frame and get prepared for another season of this."
Lynch still has one more year on his contract. The running back will earn $7 million next season. Lynch obviously wants a pay raise if he intends on returning, but his options are limited. The running back lacks a bit of leverage considering he is still signed to Seattle. He could try and push the retirement card in hopes that Seattle offers him more money to return or hope for a release or trade in order to sign elsewhere for more money. Continuing to have questions regarding his health tossed around will not help him get big money from another team elsewhere.
If Lynch does in fact retire, how does Seattle replace the star running back? The team tried to give the young tandem of Robert Turbin and Christine Michael more carries in 2014, but nothing came of that. The Seahawks will need to make a big move for a Plan B since they really do not have someone waiting in the wings to takeover Lynch's thrown.
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the obvious choice for Seattle is either DeMarco Murray or Adrian Peterson. Murray would likely demand as much as Lynch wants in a contract. The pending deal for Russell Wilson makes that complicated. Peterson would not be acquired in a trade, but if the Minnesota Vikings release the veteran, he would be a very smart pickup for Seattle to continue on trying to get another Super Bowl. If the Seahawks try and remain patient with Lynch, that could leave them out of the running for a top running back and scrambling on the free agent market. A decision will have to happen quickly.
