A day after telling USA Today that he’d “love” to have RB Marshawn Lynch play out the final year of his contract in 2015, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll gave Lynch another endorsement after Friday’s practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
“If you guys ever would have asked me, which you didn’t, if you ever would have asked me I would have said we want him around here for as long as he can play,” Carroll said. “And there’s never been any hesitation. There’s never been another thought about that.”
That statement conflicts with an ESPN report that claimed Lynch won’t return to Seattle next season because of a rift with the organization. Lynch, 28, counts $8.5 million against the Seahawks’ salary cap in 2015, the final year of a four-year, $30 million contract he signed in 2012.
“That came totally from somewhere else,” Carroll said Friday. “He’s under contract next year. We’d be thrilled to have him playing for us next year.”
Especially if he maintains his production. Lynch enters Sunday’s critical matchup against the Arizona Cardinals having rushed for 813 yards (4.6 per carry) and nine touchdowns through the first 10 games of the season. He also has 247 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.
In the past week’s loss to the Chiefs, he ran for 124 yards while battling a back injury that kept him from joining the team in the locker room at halftime, as the team’s medical staff tended to him. Lynch then sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday, not an uncommon occurrence, before returning as a full participant for Friday’s session. He is listed as probable for Sunday.
“He made it through,” Carroll said. “We’re adjusting the days as we need to accommodate and he got through it fine. He looks like he’s ready. He’s either ready or he isn’t, so he’s ready to go.”
Injuries, notes
- MLB Bobby Wagner made it through the entire week of practice without setbacks and will play Sunday after missing the past five games with a toe injury. He is listed as probable on the team’s injury report.
- Rookie OLB Kevin Pierre-Louis won’t play Sunday after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Chiefs, Carroll said. Backup CB Marcus Burley (hamstring) and C Max Unger (ankle/knee) are out. DE Demarcus Dobbs (knee) is doubtful.
- LG James Carpenter (ankle) will be a game-time decision after being limited in Friday’s practice.
- Others listed as probable for Sunday: LB Brock Coyle (glute), CB Byron Maxwell (calf), DT Michael Bennett (non-injury related), G J.R. Sweezy (thigh).
- Carroll said S Kam Chancellor’s health is finally improving after a season playing through injuries. “He’s at the best he’s been. He’s quick. He’s determined,” Carroll said. “He’s really on it. He didn’t miss a snap. This is the best week of preparation coming off a game so that’s a really good sign.”
- Carroll declined to say if C Lemuel Jeanpierre or C Patrick Lewis will start Sunday in place of Unger. The Seahawks signed Jeanpierre earlier this week after releasing him and completing a injury settlement in September.
- Doug Baldwin defended Lynch for often not talking to the media during the passionate wide receiver’s appearance Thursday night on 710 ESPN’s radio show, The Barbershop.
Lockette fined
WR Ricardo Lockette was fined $10,000 for punching Chiefs DB Kurt Coleman in the helmet after Coleman shoved him, according to Pro Football Talk. Lockette was penalized and ejected from the game.
4 Comments
Go figure. Another story made up and then blown up.
Well, what’s Carroll supposed to say, Ray? “We’ll ride him this year and cut him loose after the season” isn’t the kind of honesty coaches are known to exercise. They’re going to need to clear a lot of cap space to keep Wilson in Seattle after the current season and RBs who have big contracts but are beginning to wear down are always prime candidates.
Maybe Marshawn stays (that’d be fine as long as he produces), but football at this level is a business-first proposition…sentimentality gets you a 3-13 record and tee times in January.
already cleared that space with percy going bye bye 7 mil for rb of lynch caliber is done and done
the new thing with so called national nfl insiders is to make crap up and hope it comes true so they can look smart