Seattle Seahawks Planning For Life After Marshawn Lynch
By Mike Dyce
Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) warms up before the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Seahawks have a solid running game behind Marshawn Lynch. But they could already be planning for a future with out the running back. In 2015 Marshawn Lynch has a base salary of $5.5 million and a roster bonus of $2 million.
One of the negatives of having a solid offseason like Seattle had, was making it all fit under the salary cap in the future. They have Russell Wilson, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Percy Harvin and Russell Okung to fit under the cap. Marshawn Lynch will be 29 and looks like he is being set up to be a cap casualty before the 2015 season.
The Seahawks surprisingly drafted Texas A&M running back Christine Michael in the second round. Michael doesn’t pose a threat to Lynch these next two seasons, but he certainly could be groomed to replace Lynch in the mean time.
Lynch will be 29 and there is the understanding notion that when running backs hit 30 they begin to decline in performance usually.
The Seattle front office says they drafted Michael for other reasons.
“He was the highest-rated player on our board and we lost Leon Washington, so we were looking for a little bit of depth there, and he is just our kind of runner,” general manager John Schneider said. “He’s a tough, intense, up-field, one-cut guy, and he’s just a very good football player, competitor.”
The other issue could be the new crown helmet rule. That could affect Lynch’s running style and consequently his performance.