Does Bigfoot exist? How much wood can a woodchuck chuck? Will Marshawn Lynch return to the Seattle Seahawks in 2015? These are the great mysteries humanity has pondered for eons. Unfortunately, mankind is still without answers.
Lynch is said to be mulling retirement as the offseason gets underway. The soon-to-be 29-year-old running back has enjoyed a very successful eight-year career thus far. Not even Lynch's former teammate and friend Michael Bennett knows what the future holds for him.
"I don't know," Bennett said Thursday on ESPN 710 Seattle when asked what Lynch's plans are. "I don't think Marshawn knows yet."
One of the reasons for a potential retirement that is being floated around is the physical punishment Lynch has taken over the years. It's true that "Beast Mode" has been the modern day representative of a workhorse back in a time when most teams are turning to a running back by committee approach. Since joining the Seahawks four games through the 2010 season, Lynch leads all running backs in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Yet, working in Lynch's favor is how valuable he is to Seattle. Neither Christine Michael nor Robert Turbin has emerged as a viable replacement, meaning Lynch has all the leverage should he want a new contract.
Overall, Bennett believes that Lynch will be back.
"My bet would be that he plays next year in Seattle," he said.
However, some NFL observers, such as ESPN's Tom Carpenter, speculate that Seattle may not get a decision from Lynch until training camp. If that's the case, the Seahawks may dip their toes into the free agent running back pool or possibly look to the NFL draft for Lynch's eventual successor. Whatever the case may be, head coach Pete Carroll has built his offense around Lynch's bruising running style. He and the rest of Seattle's decision makers are surely hoping for a timely return from their No. 1 running back.
