It took almost a week but by Thursday evening, there were Beast Mode sightings at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, WA, and once again, all was right in the world of the Seattle Seahawks.
Running back Marshawn Lynch was a no-show for most of the first full week of training camp but was on the field Friday.
Lynch didn’t get a new or extended contract. The Seahawks made it very clear that they weren’t interested in doing that. Beast did get some money reworked into his deal, which must have been incentive enough (along with the $500,000 in fines he had racked up) to come back. Seattle gave him $500,000 he was guaranteed in 2015 and took $1 million in roster bonuses and incentives and rolled that into his salary bumping his base salary up from $5 to $6 million a season.
With the absence of the Lynch at training camp – Christine Michael and Robert Turbin have gotten some time to run plays with quarterback Russell Wilson and they both have done well. Regardless of that, there was an undoubted sigh of relief that Lynch’s holdout ended. Within moments of the first Beast Mode sighting at the Seahawk’s facility, 12th Man twitter feeds showed a pic of Wilson greeting Lynch.
Marshawn’s brawn has protected Wilson over the past two seasons and the quarterback has said several times over the past week that he wants Lynch on his team.
Fans at the sold-out training camp were happy to see Lynch back with the team — but they shouldn’t expect to see him much during the pre-season. Coaching staff will concentrate on getting him ready for the Sept. 4 season-opener which brings the Green Bay Packers to Seattle for Thursday night football.
The Seahawks are gearing up for what is sure to be a quest for retribution for Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Packers. It’s their first regular-season return to Centurylink Field since the infamous reception made by former Hawk, Golden Tate and Rodger’s chip on his shoulder is as big as his mustache during “no-shave November.” This will be a game to watch.
Don’t expect the Seahawks to give redemption easily however, this team is still hungry and can’t be any too thrilled with the blatant lack of respect being shown to the Super Bowl champs. Thursday night football ad campaigns showing Peyton Manning and Tom Brady without even a glimpse of Seattle’s Blue and Green, and another NFL commercial airing again shows Manning and Brady with a small glimpse of Seahawk Richard Sherman and team mascot Blitz.
But Seattle isn’t about the glitz or the glory – they are a lot like Lynch, they are about the action and can survive being the Jan Brady of the league and hearing a lot of “Peyton, Peyton, Peyton.” The lack of respect makes them hungrier and those Super Bowl rings on their fingers are the only recognition they need.
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