RENTON — Marshawn Lynch still hasn’t submitted his official retirement papers to the Seahawks or the NFL.
And his now-former team has no idea when he will.
General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll was asked Saturday following the completion of the 2016 draft if — since Lynch technically is still on the Seahawks’ roster at a cap charge of $11 million for this year — there is any way Lynch will play for Seattle this year?
“Too obvious a question. We’re not going to answer that,” Carroll said initially.
Schneider was funnier.
“He’s riding camels and stuff, man,” the GM said, referring to the retiring running back’s comedy video during the star running back’s football goodwill tour of Egypt in late February:
After that, Carroll added definitively: “He’s committed to being retired.”
Lynch famously tweeted his retirement during February’s Super Bowl by simply posting a picture of his green game cleats hanging from a telephone wire.
When the former All-Pro running back officially retires matters to Seattle’s salary cap. If Lynch does it before June 1 and the team submits it before then, Lynch will count $5 million against the Seahawks’ cap this year. That’s the remaining two years of proration on his signing bonus from the contract extension he got before the 2015 season. If Lynch submits official retirement papers and/or the Seahawks turn those into the league after June 1, Seattle can spread that $5 million cap charge evenly over this year and 2017, a $2.5 million charge each year.
Schneider said Saturday the team has made financial plans for a pre-June 1 retirement for Lynch and for a post-June 1 retirement.
“So we’re good,” the GM said.
Asked if he had an idea when Lynch will finally make his retirement officially official, the GM said flatly: “No.
“I really don’t. You’re guess is as good as mind.”
Carroll agreed that was the perfect answer for the running back that did things his own, unique way while being the foundation for two Super Bowl teams during his Seattle tenure, 2010-15.
So basically the Seahawks are just waiting, with no idea when he will actually do the official deed.
But Carroll — and Schneider, through his humorous camel reference — made it clear Lynch will indeed be retired for the 2016 season.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
