The most unintentionally enigmatic player in football, Marshawn Lynch, will be fascinating to watch this offseason.
On one hand, Seattle management has done a complete 180 from earlier in the season and wants him back desperately. On the other, the Seahawks have little patience, and Lynch is a man who does things at his own pace.
Those two worlds will inevitably collide at some point, but in the meantime, it's interesting to listen to those close to the league's best running back.
Even they have no idea where he'll turn, or if retirement is actually a legitimate option.
"I don't know exactly what Marshawn is thinking," NFL Media's Michael Robinson, a former teammate and close friend of Lynch's, said on Wednesday's NFL Total Access. "I don't think anyone knows exactly what he's thinking. But what I do know is that the guys in that locker room mean the world to him. What I do know is that he's the best running back in National Football League. And what I also know is he is under contract next year."
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Super Bowl Sunday that Lynch was offered a massive contract extension before the big game, one that could pay him upwards of $10 million in 2015 - double his original salary for next year. That might go a small way toward rebuilding the loss of trust that Lynch felt after initial reports leaked about the team's desire to part ways after the 2014 season.
But as Robinson notes, there's no way to truly tell. Lynch is passionate about other endeavors, most notably his charitable efforts in his hometown of Oakland. It's certainly believable that it could pull him away from the game entirely.
"I cannot sit here 100 percent and say he will retire," Robinson said. Adding: "We talk about him saying 'I'm about that action.' It's not just about football. Go to that Oakland community. Go to the kids that he's servicing. Talk to those kids. ... That's what's really important to him. ... "
"This is a man of principle. He's a very private guy. When he sets his mind to something, that's what he believes in."
The latest Around The NFL Podcast breaks down the free-agent quarterback market and discusses Peyton Manning's future. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
