The fact Paul Allen took time out from tweeting about a long-lost Japanese warship he recently discovered to reveal that he had met with Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch should give you an idea of just how much Lynch means to the Allen-owned NFL club.
The Seahawks chairman flew into Seattle last Friday for a sit-down with Lynch, Executive VP/General Manager John Schneider, and head coach Pete Carroll at Renton's Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Hours later, the team announced Lynch had inked a two-year extension that will keep him in a Seahawks uniform through the 2017 season.
"We had an excellent meeting," Carroll said while seated next to Schneider on a conference call with team reporters to discuss the opening day of NFL free agency. "Marshawn was in a great place, was really excited to get to us, and to make this commitment. Looking down the road he was really enthusiastic about this season, about our team, about moving forward, and I was really pleased with his outlook and excited to be able to make a deal really for everybody - our locker room of course loves the guy, the coaching staff does, and for our fans as well."
At the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Carroll and Schneider were uncertain when asked to predict the future of the player that has led the team in rushing the past five seasons. Lynch, who has a history of chronic back issues, turns 29 in April. He was said to have been mulling retirement, but Carroll and Schneider made it clear they still wanted Lynch back. It was a situation Lynch's agent Doug Hendrickson addressed after his client's new deal was done when he said Lynch "just needed to reflect and figure out what he wanted to do."
A look back at some of the best images of RB Marshawn Lynch from the 2014 NFC Championship season.
Running back Marshawn Lynch ran onto the field at the conclusion of the national anthem, and shyly asked singer India.Arie, "may I shake your hand?". She obliged.
On game day, Marshawn Lynch donned his training mask during a pregame walk around the stadium.
Marshawn Lynch cuts back against the Washington defense.
Running backs Robert Turbin and Marshawn Lynch stay loose before kickoff.
Marshawn Lynch was limited in both carries and yards in the defeat to the Cowboys.
So. Beastly. Marshawn Lynch stands tall after his fourth rushing touchdown of the afternoon, this one a 16-yard scamper up the middle to give the Seahawks a 31-17 advantage in the fourth quarter.
Running back Marshawn Lynch talks to young receivers Ricardo Lockette and Paul Richardson on the Seahawks sideline just before kickoff.
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was still running after the final whistle and dodged a photographer rushing the field as he made his way to the locker room.
In the locker room postgame, running back Marshawn Lynch talks to quarterbacks coach Carl Smith before heading out.
Seattle tried to establish its running game early, and Marshawn Lynch found a hole to cut back to for a 21-yard gain on the Seahawks opening drive.
At 1:45 pm on Wednesday, running back Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman chat as they make their way to the team buses at VMAC for the trip to the airport for the Thanksgiving Day game against the 49ers.
A quick lean to the left to keep the defenders off balance and it's off to the end zone for Marshawn Lynch as he finishes off an amazing 79-yard touchdown run.
Marshawn Lynch continued his beastly ways, carrying half-dozen Packers on his way to a first down as Seattle's offensive linemen provide an extra push from behind.
Seattle marched down the field and Marshawn Lynch used blocks by Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette downfield to score on a 24-yard run to give the Seahawks a 20-19 lead.
Ricardo Lockette and J.R. Sneezy come to celebrate after Marshawn Lynch scored on a 24 yard run. The scoreboard clock reflects 1:25 left in regulation and the score has not yet been changed to reflect Seattle's 20-19 lead.
Ricardo Lockette and the official signal touchdown as Marshawn Lynch is congratulated on his touchdown run. The scoreboard clock reflects 1:25 left in regulation.
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Running back Marshawn Lynch rumbles into the open field during the third quarter. Lynch ran for 102 yards during the game.
Media photographers were allowed near midfield during warmups and made the most of their proximity to running back Marshawn Lynch.
After New England regained the lead in the fourth quarter, Seattle began a furious rally ignited with a 31-yard reception by Marshawn Lynch to near midfield at the two-minute warning.
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch boards Bus #2 in his matching gold headphones and shoes.
Most of the media was interested in Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who appeared at a player station and engaged reporters, often with a smile.
WEDNESDAY - JAN 28 --- On Wednesday, Marshawn Lynch again found himself the center of attention at a mandatory media availability at the team's hotel.
The Seahawks had celebrity visitor on Friday, as Snoop Dogg brought members of his All-Star youth football team to watch practice. Marshawn Lynch came over during a break in practice to share a few laughs.
"The Marshawn deal for us is huge because he's such a big part of what we're doing," said Schneider. "Like coach Carroll talks about all the time, we're talking about our offense starting with the run game and what a better guy to start it with than Marshawn."
Since Lynch's 2010 move to the Pacific Northwest following an in-season trade with the Buffalo Bills, there has been no better guy to start it with than No. 24.
In that span, his touchdowns (54), yards (5,930), and yards after contact (2,707) are tops in the NFL. He led the League with 17 total touchdowns last season and his 56 scores since 2011 are more than any player in professional football (Dez Bryant 50, Graham 46). The eight-year veteran's 1,306 yards on the ground in 2014 also helped the Seahawks set a single-season rushing record (2,762). He represents the type of unique talent and consistent production Seattle seeks to reward.
"Everybody around the League knows what kind of player he is," said Carroll. "He's a big deal to us. For us to be able to take this step together and be excited about the future is a big moment. I'm really fired up about it and was really impressed and pleased with his approach to it."
