Super Bowl XLVIII champions Seattle Seahawks opened training camp last week but there was a notable absence. Marshawn Lynch was not there. Lynch has decided to hold out from camp in an effort to get an extension to his contract and extract more money from the Seahawks. So far the Seahawks have yet to blink.
Lynch was an important part of the team that went all the way to the Super Bowl last year, embarrassing the Denver Broncos in the show piece event in Metlife Stadium. So why would they not do everything in their power in order to get him back with the team? It’s simple: Marshawn Lynch is already one of the top paid backs in the league. At $5 million a year, Lynch is the sixth best paid back in the league; only Jammal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Adrian Peterson, Arian Foster, and Matt Forte are paid more. Of those backs only Arian Foster, who had an injury plagued 2013, failed to rush for more yards. Lynch was still sixth on the 2013 rushing list as Washington running back Alfred Morris rushed for more yards but is still on his rookie contract, so is further down the salary list.
Calling Marshawn Lynch’s bluff
Looking at the numbers, Lynch’s position is about right. Sixth in rushing, sixth best paid running back. Having two years left on his $30 million contract, $17 million of which is guaranteed, the Seahawks are well within their rights to think that Lynch is being paid a fair wage.
The Seahawks have other considerations to take into account, one of which is cap space. Having extended two of their star defensive players in the offseason, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman, and knowing that quarterback Russell Wilson’s rookie contract is running down and will want a big contract, probably at least in the region of Tony Romo or Matt Ryan, both over the $100 million mark and neither can boast the Super Bowl ring that Wilson won in February, the Seahawks front office may be cautious about unnecessarily using up cap space on a running back who they only extended in 2012. Also to add into the equation is the fact that Lynch is not the only option the Seahawks have at running back. Christine Michael and Robert Turbin both offer the Seahawks options in the backfield should Lynch’s holdout run into the season.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles also held out this summer and was rewarded with an $18.1 million extension. The difference between Charles and Lynch is the importance to their franchise. Charles was the league’s leading rusher in 2013 and the biggest piece in the Chief’s offence; by comparison the Seahawks have other weapons in the form of quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver Percy Harvin.
Should the Seahawks be forced to start the season without Lynch, it will be a disappointment and will have some impact on their offence but it will not totally derail their season. The Seahawks biggest strength is in their depth and that they do not rely on just one person or one part of their team. The defense is strong throughout and is not just the “Legion on Boom,” the offense has weapons at the wide receiver position, quarterback Russell Wilson is a threat with his arm and his legs and still developing, and Christine Michael is a threat in the backfield whether Lynch is with the team or not.
With other priorities upcoming for the contracts and the fact that Lynch is not underpaid as it is, the Seahawks should stand their ground. Will the Seahawks be a better team if Lynch is on the team? Yes. However will they crumble if he is not there? No. Should Lynch sit out, the Seahawks will still be contenders, and expect them to battle the San Francisco 49ers at the top of the NFC West and be one of the strongest teams in the NFC. This is not a case where the team is being disrespectful to a player. The Seahawks have already rewarded Lynch with a contract two years ago. The best business decision would be for the Seahawks to stand their ground, they have other contracts to sort out and paying an already well paid running back is not high on their list of priorities.
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