Will we see ‘Beast Mode, Part 2’?
Believe it or not, “Beast Mode, Part II” is back in play for Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks, both of whom are preparing for a reunion in Seattle.
A late report on Monday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter had Lynch reaching an agreement with the Seahawks.
Lynch, who retired in April after two years with the Raiders, flew to Seattle on Monday morning to talk with the injury-plagued Seahawks. And he won’t be in Seattle just so he won’t get fined.
With Sunday night’s showdown for the NFC West title with the 49ers six days away, why would the Seahawks be interested in the 33-year-old, twice-retired Lynch, who last played 14 months ago? Well, a return to “Beast Mode” sounds a lot better than relying on a fourth-string running back with the 49ers and the playoffs looming.
“We’ll give him a really good chance to come back here and play for us,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Lynch, in an interview Monday morning with 710 ESPN Seattle. “I’m fired up for it. He’s got some hoops to jump through, with a physical and stuff like that. But he’s been working really hard and real excited about helping out.
“I think it’s freakin’ great. He could have four or five games left in him and maybe that’s just what we need.”
Not long after the Seahawks lost star running back Chris Carson (fractured hip) and backup C.J. Prosise (broken arm) to
season-ending injuries in Sunday’s loss to Arizona, folks in the Northwest already began to clamor for Lynch’s return.
Injuries to Carson and Prosise have left the Seahawks with just one healthy running back — seldom-used rookie Travis Homer, Seattle’s No. 4 back, who rushed five times for 16 yards in a stunning 27-13 loss to the Cardinals. So, all options for Seattle general manager John Schneider are on the table, beginning with Lynch, who has maintained a good relationship with Carroll and others in the organization. In fact, he visited with Carroll and others earlier this season in Seattle.
“There’s a lot of history here that’s great history,” Carroll said. “There’s nobody that ever exemplified the mentality and toughness that we like to play with (than Lynch), so if we get a chance to get The Beast back on the field, we’ll see how that works out.
“I’ve got to see what kind of shape he’s in. We’ll keep our fingers crossed it works out, too. He’ll have a blast playing with this team. He loves this city and loves playing here. He may have a chance here. We’ll let you know in a few hours.”
There is another former star back from Oakland whom the Seahawks have reportedly also discussed signing — ex-Broncos Pro Bowl tailback C.J. Anderson, the 28-year-old former Laney College star who signed with the Rams late last year and helped them advance to the Super Bowl. The Seattle Times reported late Sunday that Anderson, who had 16 carries for 43 yards in two games with the Lions earlier this season, could get a look from the Seahawks, who had already lost No. 3 back Rashaad Penny to a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.
So, we’ve established the
Seahawks have a need that Lynch could fill, even if he isn’t in peak playing shape. But what’s in it for Lynch?
He “retired” eight months ago after two seasons with his hometown Raiders. Since then, he’s continued to run his businesses in Oakland, including the Oakland Panthers, a new Indoor Football League team that’s set to debut this spring. Would he need to divest himself in part-ownership of the Oakland franchise in order to return to the NFL?
First things first, Lynch is a free agent and eligible to sign with any team. When Lynch stepped away from football again in April, he suggested if he ever returned it would only be for Oakland. But that was before the Seahawks’ running backs room was decimated by injuries.
Lynch first came out of retirement in 2015 after starring with the Seahawks and helping them win a Super Bowl title in 2014. He played in 21 games over two seasons for the Raiders, gaining 1,267 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry. He was running well in 2018 before a groin injury and subsequent surgery ended his year after Week 6 — ironically, in a loss to the Seahawks in London.
Those who have dug a little deeper into a possible Lynch reunion in Seattle may point out that his mom, Delisa Lynch, re-tweeted a story Sunday night of the Seahawks’ vast running back injuries.
It was the first tweet about the Seahawks all season long by Marshawn’s mother. It’s almost as if she already knew something was in the works.
Scouring the current list of free agent running backs, Lynch has been far and away the best of the bunch. The top five “available” backs, according to Pro Football Focus career grades are: Lynch (74.1), Alfred Blue (63.1), Alex Collins (61.3), Anderson (48.0) and another ex-Seahawk, Robert Turbin (41.0), who was in for a tryout a week ago.