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Seattle Seahawks Shouldn’t Be In a Rush To Rid Themselves of Marshawn Lynch

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There’s a reason that Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is nicknamed “Beast Mode.” Lynch possesses all the traits of a great running back, but his physicality is on another level.

It’s well-known throughout the NFL that he is one of the hardest players to tackle in the entire league. His running style epitomizes what head coach Pete Carroll instills in his players, which is relentless effort and grit. Since coming to Seattle in 2010, Lynch has been the workhorse of the Seahawks’ offense and one of the main players who was vital to the turnaround of this franchise.

Now there are rumors that the Seahawks are tired of Lynch’s ways and are planning on parting with him at the conclusion of this season. The reasoning is a combination of paying too much money for an aging running back — Lynch will be 29 in April — and wanting to make Russell Wilson the face of the franchise.

It all started with Lynch’s contract holdout this past offseason. Obviously, it was somewhat resolved because he came back, but there are many who believe he’s still unhappy with his contract. Lynch has always been an odd character and a bit difficult to deal with, but it would be a mistake to move on from their star running back after this year. Lynch’s contract goes through the 2015 season.

Yes, Lynch is getting near the age where running backs and their careers heavily decline. Yes, he’s owed a lot of money. Yes, Wilson will be getting a huge contract this coming offseason. But Lynch proved (again) in Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders just how special he really is. His 26 touches for 143 yards were basically the only offense for the Seahawks in this matchup. Not only was he the leading rusher, but he was also the leading receiver. Without Lynch, there’s a strong possibility that Seattle loses that game to a winless Raiders team at home.

Seattle’s offense is staggering, and a huge reason why is injuries. But the fact of the matter is that the Seahawks are a running football team and they need to have a great running back. Robert Turbin and Christine Michael are solid backups, but neither of them are Beast Mode.

Since Wilson became the signal-caller in 2012, Seattle is 15-3 when Lynch has 20 or more carries. In 2014, the team is 3-0 when he carries it that much, so it’s pretty obvious what works for this team. It goes deeper than just statistics, though. Lynch is the heartbeat of this offense.

Wilson is no doubt the future of this franchise, but it’s unlikely that the offense is going to be ready after this season for life after Beast Mode. He may be aging, but he’s not the typical running back. Seattle needs Beast Mode, and when his touches lack, they often struggle. His effort and grit are the lifeblood of the Seahawks, and that’s why the team should do everything they can to make sure he stays through his contract.

Connor Frederickson is a Seattle Seahawks Writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @cfredrun or add him to your network on Google.

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