Potential Holdout Looms
On Friday, July 25, 2015, the Seattle Seahawks will officially begin the most important training camp in franchise history. I say most important because nothing is harder in sports than defending a championship.
But…
Today, on the NFL Network, former Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson announced that Marshawn “Beastmode” Lynch is preparing to start camp as a hold out while he tries to renegotiate his contract.
Marshawn Lynch is entering the third year of a four-year contract he signed in March 2012. He is set to make $5 million this season with another $1.5 million available through bonuses. He ranks as the sixth-highest paid player in base salary for the 2014 season.
Marshawn Lynch stiff arming his own organization? (Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Adrian Peterson tops the list with $11.75 million while Jamaal Charles is second with $8.3 million in the final year of his contract.
LeSean McCoy’s contract is where it gets interesting. Yes, he has a higher base salary (by $650,000) than Lynch, but his contract gave the Eagles cap relief during the 2012 and 2013 season, earning just $3.615 million total. Meanwhile, Marshawn has enjoyed his $11 million over the same period. For those keeping track at home, that’s: McCoy with $11.265 over the last three seasons (including 2014), Lynch with $16 million.
Matt Forte is in the same boat as McCoy. He signed a back-loaded contract where he only made $2.5 million over the last two seasons. In 2014, he’ll make $950,000 more than Marshawn.
Lynch wins again.
During the 2012-2014 contract period, Arian Foster and Marshawn Lynch will have both made $16 million (assuming both honor their contract). So, even though Foster is slated to make $750,000 more than Lynch this season, he hasn’t really been paid higher.
All things considered, I’d say that Marshawn is in the middle of a good contract that, if I were the Seahawks, I would not even consider renegotiating.
As far as I’m concerned, he can hold out the entirety of camp while the younger players, Christine Michael and Robert Turbin, gain experience. I’d love to have Beastmode lining up behind Russell Wilson, but not at the risk of setting a bad precedent.
Teams that allow themselves to be strong-armed by players tend to get strong-armed by more players and their agents down the road. The Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks are a destination in the NFL. Players are willing to take less money for the opportunity to play for them and in front of the 12th man.
Seattle is not a place to take advantage of.
Go ahead, Marshawn; hold out, make movies and drive your Lamborghini…Oh and pay $30,000 a day for missing camp. The Seahawks will be fine without you.
Next man up.
Go Seahawks!
CHECK OUT THE SEAHAWKS CLUBHOUSE AT THE NORTHWEST SPORTS BEAT!