Marshawn Lynch Contract: Mini Camp Hold Out Could Disrupt Seattle Seahawks Plan To Repeat

Marshawn Lynch was a pivotal centerpiece in the Seattle Seahawks amazing run to the Super Bowl last season. But a contract dispute and potential hold out from mini camp may be the stumbling block that keeps the Seahawks from repeating.

ESPN.com is reporting that “Lynch likely won’t attend next week’s mandatory minicamp because the four-time Pro Bowler desires a new deal.” Citing various sources in the article, Marshawn is hoping to “renegotiate his current contract and provide him with more up-front money.”

A potential mini camp hold out by Lynch, 28, could throw a monkey wrench in Seattle’s plans to repeat. The running back, starting the third year of a four-year deal that is worth $30 million, has the most touchdowns in the NFL since 2011. He also has the most 100-yard rushing games in the NFL since 2011. Most of all, the intimidation factor when the 215 lbs running back gets his motor running has a psychological effect on the Seahawks opponents.

But according to SI.com the Seattle Seahawks are already preparing to move on from Lynch. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevel told SI.com as much in a recent article, stating:

“We are going to be running back by committee. We really like what Christine Michael is doing right now … with the quickness, the speed and the toughness he’s shown. He’s making great cuts. He has breakaway speed to finish a run and he has really quick moves in short areas.”

And in a pass-happy NFL, and with Russell Wilson now maturing in his third year, is Marshawn Lynch even worth the new contract? The Seattle PI doesn’t think he is. In a recent blog post, writer Stephen Cohen had this argument against renegotiating Marshawn Lynch’s contract:

“Franchise running backs are a dying breed in today’s pass-happy NFL, with the value for a bell-cow back plummeting over the last several years. For proof, look no further than last month’s NFL draft, where the first running back selected wasn’t taken until the draft’s second round, when the Tennessee Titans pick former Washington Huskies star Bishop Sankey 54th overall.”

Marshan Lynch rose to national prominence when the Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl last year. Lynch famously did a celebration dance in the locker room afterward that caught the media’s attention and endeared him to fans everywhere.

The running back, also known as “Beast Mode” credited his aggressive style of play to the bags of Skittles he would devour before every game during the season. That bit of product placement landed Marshawn an endorsement deal with Wrigley, the makers of the Skittles candy.

And if all reports are true, it will take more than a few bags of Skittles to resolve the potential Marshawn Lynch contract hold out and keep him in a Seahawks uniform.