Raiders using Lynch’s blocking skills
Marshawn Lynch is the Raiders’ Human Hate Shield.
The Raiders are using Lynch to counter the simmering anger of Oakland fans.
Of course, the Raiders would not admit this, because they’re desperate to downplay the blowback to their plans to leave town, having decided that Oakland can’t carry Las Vegas’ jock.
It was a brilliant move, signing Lynch. Not only does he bring a little old-time-Raiders toughness to a team that has some soft spots, but his presence also makes it almost impossible for hard-core local fans to abandon the team that soon will abandon them.
No other NFL player has the hometown connection Lynch has with Oakland fans. The Raiders’ front office knows that as long as Lynch is running the ball, a lot of locals are going to buy tickets, swallowing their contempt for Raiders owner Mark Davis and everyone else inside team headquarters.
The Raiders got Lynch reasonably cheap: two years at $4.5 million per, plus an additional $7.5 mil in incentives, but only $2.35 mil guaranteed. It’s still a risky deal for the Raiders.
If Lynch returns to the form that disappeared two seasons ago, he’ll be a steal. But most NFL teams didn’t even bother to check on whether Beast Mode was interested in coming out of retirement, meaning that a lot of very smart people believe Lynch is toast as an impact player.
If they are right, the Raiders are screwed. They would have to either keep giving the rock to an ineffective running back, or cut him, and you know how that would go down with the Oakland chapter of Raider Nation.
You start taking the “LYNCH” jerseys out of the grandstands at the Coliseum and you’ve got more gaps than in a jack-o’-lantern’s smile.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have to deal with Marshawn being Marshawn. Head coach Jack Del Rio can’t say anything about Lynch’s anthem sitdowns, because, well, he just can’t. Other than to say, “It’s a nonissue.”
Somewhere, Al Davis grins. Lynch isn’t the best player on this team, not by a long shot. But he is the most Raider Raider.