BEAST RETURNS
Lynch unretires, dealt home to Raiders
Marshawn Lynch is coming out of retirement to play for his hometown Oakland Raiders.
Lynch passed a physical Wednesday and agreed to a restructured two-year contract. Those were the final steps needed before Seattle could trade his rights along with a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Raiders for a 2018 fifth-rounder.
Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowler, hasn’t played since the 2015 season. NFL Network says the parties agreed to a base salary of $3 million with a $2 million incentive if he gains 1,000 yards. The maximum value of the deal is $8.5 million.
The 31-year-old met with the Raiders earlier this month, and has hinted on Twitter and on his apparel website at his desire to return and play for his hometown team.
Lynch’s reinstatement would reportedly add a $9 million cap charge to the Seahawks’ books, which motivates Seattle to finish the trade quickly due to low cap space.
In nine seasons, Lynch, who helped the Seahawks to their win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, averaged 4.3 yards per carry and scored 74 rushing touchdowns. He ran for over 1,000 yards six times.
He had double digits in touchdown runs every season from 2011 to 2014, and his 51 TDs on the ground are the most in the NFL since 2011 despite playing just seven games in 2015 and retiring last season.
Lynch was born and raised in Oakland and played college ball nearby at California University. He still has strong ties to the area through his Beast Mode apparel company and would be a welcome addition for fans stung by the team’s pending move to Las Vegas in 2020.
CONLEY TO STAY HOME
Former Ohio State football star Gareon Conley says he is planning not to attend the NFL draft in person on Thursday in Philadelphia and decried allegations that he raped a woman as “completely false.”
No charges have been filed as police investigate claims made by a 23-year-old woman that he assaulted her in a Cleveland hotel on April 9.
Conley was named in a police report that details the allegations but no information has been forwarded to prosecutors. Conley said in a statement Wednesday that he believes the allegations are an attempt to ruin the draft experience for him and his family.
The woman told police Conley raped her in the bathroom of a hotel room after they met in the elevator and she agreed to go back to his room. Conley’s attorney says the cornerback, projected to be a first-round pick, plans to speak with police about the incident after the draft.
PACKERS INK OL
The Green Bay Packers have signed veteran offensive lineman Jahri Evans as they look to fill a hole up front left by the departure of free agent-right guard T.J. Lang.
Terms of the agreement were not announced. Evans, 33, joins the Packers following 11 seasons in New Orleans, where he played 169 regular-season games since being drafted in the fourth round in 2006. The 169 games are the most played by an active NFL offensive lineman in that span. After blocking for Drew Brees in New Orleans, the durable Evans figures to be the favorite to replace Lang after the Pro Bowl guard signed with the Detroit Lions last month. Evans has been voted to six Pro Bowls.