Lynch contract not a done deal
Terms yet to be finalized, and trade with Seahawks still must be worked out
OAKLAND — Marshawn Lynch appears closer to resuming his football career where it started. But there is no deal quite yet, according to his agent.
Earlier Friday, Michael Silver of the NFL Network reported Lynch had agreed to terms of a contract that will allow the Seattle running back to join the Raiders, not far from where he played high school football at Oakland Tech and college ball at Cal.
But the Raiders and Lynch’s representative, Doug Hendrickson, have yet to finalize terms, and, of great significance, a trade with the Seahawks still needs to be worked out.
Lynch further clarified his status Friday by tweeting: “If u kno me you kno my business is my business and if u don’t kno me that’s a fun fact for ya ... when (expletive) get REAL I’ll let you kno !!!! ”
Besides filling an obvious void on the field, Lynch’s acquisition would help soothe hurt feelings of a home fan base recovering from the March 27 announcement the Raiders would move to Las Vegas for the 2020
season.
Lynch, who turns 31 on April 22, last played in 2015, gaining 416 yards in seven games in a season marred by hamstring and abdominal injuries.
The Raiders, seeking a power runner after losing leading rusher Latavius Murray in free agency, are hoping Lynch can regain some semblance of peak form. From 2011 through 2014 with Seattle, Lynch rushed for 5,357 yards and scored 48 touchdowns on the ground to go along with eight as a receiver.
While Lynch has done his best to remain mysterious and avoid reporters in most instances, he was considered the physical and emotional leader of a Seattle team that made the playoffs in each of his last four years.
The Seahawks won the Super Bowl after the 2013 season and lost to New England after 2014, with Seattle famously throwing an interception at the 1-yard line rather than giving the ball to Lynch in the game’s final minute.
Lynch averaged 295.3 carries per season in those four years, and his work load with the Raiders would likely be in the 175-to-200 range, given an offense that will attack heavily through the air with quarterback Derek Carr plus the presence of change-of-pace second-year runners Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington.
In nine seasons, Lynch has 9,112 yards rushing and 74 touchdowns. He played his first three-plus seasons in Buffalo after being a first-round draft pick from Cal (No. 12 overall). His career flourished after being traded to Seattle for fourthand fifth-round draft picks in October 2010.
While Lynch had his issues in Buffalo, including a hit-and-run crash in 2008 and a suspension on a gun charge, he remains an icon in his hometown. Lynch’s BeastMode apparel company has a store on Broadway in Oakland, and his charity, Fam 1st Family Foundation, focuses on mentoring children in the area.
The Raiders have also been linked with Adrian Peterson, another veteran runner with big-time credentials, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings. Lynch, however, was considered the better fit given the ability to run out of shotgun and pistol formations, while Peterson has played almost exclusively with the quarterback under center.
Lynch visited the Raiders’ facility April 5.
The Raiders finished 2016 as the NFL’s No. 6 rushing team with 1,922 yards and 17 touchdowns. Murray led the Raiders with 788 yards and 12 touchdowns on 195 carries, which, in theory, could be a work load similar to what the Raiders are hoping for from Lynch this season.
The Raiders begin their offseason program Monday.