Christine Michael (2 Viewers)

[ShaHBucks]

If Michael was going in the range of other high upside backup RBs I be here hi-five'n you every week. I'd login to MFL and just to stare at his name on MY roster. Then I'm coming tothe sharkpool to let you know how great I am at FF. He's not though. At a RB 23 pricetag I'll just go and draft a guy that will actually finish in the top-15 while getting backups with the same upside, in the same situation days later. If there comes a time where his value drops then I'll be there with a few offers.

I'm extremely curious who these RB's are, that in a dynasty league you'd rather have at ~RB20 for immediate production over someone with the upside of Michael? Ridley? Bush? Chris Johnson? Gerhart? Ben Tate?

Late response....You ever watch the show 'Shark Tank'? Asuming you have, one thing I notice about the show is how quickly the billionaire investors can evaluate the underlining business. The easiest way to attract their money is present to them a businesses that's already profitable. As soon as an entrepreneur mention sales/margins the billionares take notes. Everything else is purely entertainment.

Come to them with a bright idea in which they have to figure out where the money is coming from and you'll hear a different tune. You'll likely get a lower offer than you'd expect. I'm not calling Michael a bad investment. There is value in holding onto a future stud. Just looking at the balance sheet "I'm out".

You question was already discussed.

 

[bumpman]

Lynch not showing up for mandatory mini camp now. The Seahawks probably knew about this already and that's why they have been pumping Michael so hard this off season.

Interesting ESPN article suggests Lynch may skip because he wants to renegotiate his contract:

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is expected to skip the mandatory team minicamp next week because he wants a contract extension, sources confirmed Wednesday night.

"It's very, very unlikely that Lynch will be there,'' said a source close to the situation. "He wants the Seahawks to renegotiate his current contract and provide him with more up-front money."

Lynch could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening. Thursday is the final day of organized team activities for Seattle, voluntary workouts that Lynch has not attended over the last three weeks.

Lynch, 28, is starting the third year of a four-year deal that is worth $30 million, including $6 million in signing bonus. His base salary this season is $5 million and counts $7 million against the salary cap. The final year of the deal in 2015 would cost $9 million against the cap and pay Lynch $5.5 million in base salary.

If Lynch skips the three-day minicamp that begins Tuesday, it will cost him $70,000 in fines.

The Seahawks acquired Lynch in a trade with Buffalo in 2010. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards each of the last three seasons, including 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns in helping the Seahawks win the Super Bowl last season.

He has the most touchdowns in the NFL since the start of the 2011 season with 39 -- 35 rushing and four receiving. Lynch also has the most 100-yard rushing games in the NFL since 2011 with 19.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11069927/marshawn-lynch-seattle-seahawks-wants-new-deal-skip-minicamp

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Lynch not showing up for mandatory mini camp now.

Not only that, but Lynch wants a pay raise and some assurances towards the future.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11069927/marshawn-lynch-seattle-seahawks-wants-new-deal-skip-minicamp

"It's very, very unlikely that Lynch will be there,'' said a source close to the situation. "He wants the Seahawks to renegotiate his current contract and provide him with more up-front money."

 

[BigSteelThrill]

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Weird. Pretty much the exact opposite of the way you'd think an aging (albeit great) RB would act in this current NFL.

 

[ShaHBucks]

Weird. Pretty much the exact opposite of the way you'd think an aging (albeit great) RB would act in this current NFL.

Right. I'm not sure what leverage he has.

 

[ghostguy123]

Weird. Pretty much the exact opposite of the way you'd think an aging (albeit great) RB would act in this current NFL.

Right. I'm not sure what leverage he has.

He doesn't have any. I can't see them keeping him past this year without a significant, VERY significant pay cut for 2015 and beyond. Too many more important players to re-sign.

Now, those players may not have all been more important than Lynch to this point, but they will be after this year with Lynch older and older.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Weird. Pretty much the exact opposite of the way you'd think an aging (albeit great) RB would act in this current NFL.

Right. I'm not sure what leverage he has.

He doesn't have any. I can't see them keeping him past this year without a significant, VERY significant pay cut for 2015 and beyond. Too many more important players to re-sign.

Now, those players may not have all been more important than Lynch to this point, but they will be after this year with Lynch older and older.

Repeat prospects take a pretty large hit if he isn't on the field.

That's the chip he is playing with.

Meanwhile the O.C. just stated some RBBC stuff that make his leverage far worse if it played out that way. That's why he is doing it now.

 

[cstu]

Lynch not showing up for mandatory mini camp now.

Not only that, but Lynch wants a pay raise and some assurances towards the future.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11069927/marshawn-lynch-seattle-seahawks-wants-new-deal-skip-minicamp

"It's very, very unlikely that Lynch will be there,'' said a source close to the situation. "He wants the Seahawks to renegotiate his current contract and provide him with more up-front money."

I wonder if his ploy here is not about getting more money this year but about reducing his cap hit next year?

If I was his agent I'd be trying to convince him to sign an extension that might not result in more money in 2014 and 2015 but increases the likelihood he's on the team next year. Convert some of next year's base salary into a signing bonus (i.e. more 'up front money') so that he a more difficult cut for the Seahawks in 2015.

 

[cstu]

Weird. Pretty much the exact opposite of the way you'd think an aging (albeit great) RB would act in this current NFL.

Right. I'm not sure what leverage he has.

He doesn't have any. I can't see them keeping him past this year without a significant, VERY significant pay cut for 2015 and beyond. Too many more important players to re-sign.

Now, those players may not have all been more important than Lynch to this point, but they will be after this year with Lynch older and older.

Repeat prospects take a pretty large hit if he isn't on the field.

That's the chip he is playing with.

Meanwhile the O.C. just stated some RBBC stuff that make his leverage far worse if it played out that way. That's why he is doing it now.

Exactly, his leverage will never be higher than it is right now. Smart move by Lynch actually.

 

[tdmills]

The thing is with Michael is his value is going to sky rocket as soon as he gets the starting RB position. So his value right now is to low even if you don't believe he's going to be a transcendent player because you can just trade him as soon as he has one good game or Lynch gets hurt/is dropped and get a kings ransom for him.

For me, it's "if" , not as soon as he gets a starting job.

Other "if" things:

- if Michael can stay healthy, something he hasn't done.

- if Michael can produce on a really high level, hasn't done

- if he can handle a full work load, never had a ton of touches

To Michael owners, it seems that none of these are legit concerns.

 

[steveski]

The thing is with Michael is his value is going to sky rocket as soon as he gets the starting RB position. So his value right now is to low even if you don't believe he's going to be a transcendent player because you can just trade him as soon as he has one good game or Lynch gets hurt/is dropped and get a kings ransom for him.

For me, it's "if" , not as soon as he gets a starting job.

Other "if" things:

- if Michael can stay healthy, something he hasn't done.

- if Michael can produce on a really high level, hasn't done

- if he can handle a full work load, never had a ton of touches

To Michael owners, it seems that none of these are legit concerns.

Exactly. All they see is talent and are ignoring everything else. I agree the guy is talented but there have been and will be MANY very talented RBs that amount to nothing in the NFL for various reasons. His value is ridiculous which is frustrating to someone like me that would like to own him in at least one place because the potential is great, but I'm not willing to destroy my team in order to get him. The people who drafted him in rookie drafts are the only real winners right now because it cost them very little and they get to sit and see. It's all the people trading the farm to get this guy that are the one's comparing him to AD and driving this hype train out of control.

I'm getting pretty tired of seeing this thread at the top all day every day to tell you the truth. I know its the offseason, but still...

 

[Sabertooth]

The thing is with Michael is his value is going to sky rocket as soon as he gets the starting RB position. So his value right now is to low even if you don't believe he's going to be a transcendent player because you can just trade him as soon as he has one good game or Lynch gets hurt/is dropped and get a kings ransom for him.

For me, it's "if" , not as soon as he gets a starting job.

Other "if" things:

- if Michael can stay healthy, something he hasn't done.

- if Michael can produce on a really high level, hasn't done

- if he can handle a full work load, never had a ton of touches

To Michael owners, it seems that none of these are legit concerns.

I own Michael and these are all concerns I have. I don't know that I've ever seen a 40 page thread on a backup. He's a handcuff to me, nothing more, nothing less. I think Knile Davis is a good comp for him. And Davis isn't even rostered in my 10 team 2QB league. If I owned Jamaal Charles, I'd have Davis, but I don't - so I don't.

 

[Milkman]

The thing is with Michael is his value is going to sky rocket as soon as he gets the starting RB position. So his value right now is to low even if you don't believe he's going to be a transcendent player because you can just trade him as soon as he has one good game or Lynch gets hurt/is dropped and get a kings ransom for him.

For me, it's "if" , not as soon as he gets a starting job.

Other "if" things:

- if Michael can stay healthy, something he hasn't done.

- if Michael can produce on a really high level, hasn't done

- if he can handle a full work load, never had a ton of touches

To Michael owners, it seems that none of these are legit concerns.

All this is true but he's ranked in the high 50's low 60's in most dynasty rankings. If he reaches his ceiling for say half a season he's a top 5 dynasty asset. If he is the starting RB for Seattle and hasn't played a down yet he's probably a top 35ish dynasty asset. The odds are pretty high that he is going to at the very least get a shot to start. I don't know what the odds are that he reaches his ceiling. Everybody has to figure that out for themselves. To me it's pretty obvious that he's ranked at the very least 20-25 spots to low. For instance I would much rather have Michael than Torrey Smith.

 

[Tool]

Lynch not showing up for mandatory mini camp now.

Not only that, but Lynch wants a pay raise and some assurances towards the future.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11069927/marshawn-lynch-seattle-seahawks-wants-new-deal-skip-minicamp

"It's very, very unlikely that Lynch will be there,'' said a source close to the situation. "He wants the Seahawks to renegotiate his current contract and provide him with more up-front money."

I wonder if his ploy here is not about getting more money this year but about reducing his cap hit next year?

If I was his agent I'd be trying to convince him to sign an extension that might not result in more money in 2014 and 2015 but increases the likelihood he's on the team next year. Convert some of next year's base salary into a signing bonus (i.e. more 'up front money') so that he a more difficult cut for the Seahawks in 2015.

i'd bet that's it. Bet he wants to stay in Seattle because he's happy there.

This will be very interesting. If they re-do his contract, Michael takes a big hit IMO. If they don't, Michael's value goes up a lot b/c it pretty much says Lynch is gone.

 

[Milkman]

The thing is people that drafted Michael believed in him when they drafted him. Everything is trending towards it being a huge hit for his potential owners. So when we get a trade offer of Patterson for Michael that means their are other owners that believe he is more valuable than Patterson. That makes me want to hold him even more. I would say he's basically untouchable until something bad happens unless you want to overpay massively for him.

 

[steveski]

Lynch not showing up for mandatory mini camp now.

Not only that, but Lynch wants a pay raise and some assurances towards the future.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11069927/marshawn-lynch-seattle-seahawks-wants-new-deal-skip-minicamp

"It's very, very unlikely that Lynch will be there,'' said a source close to the situation. "He wants the Seahawks to renegotiate his current contract and provide him with more up-front money."

I wonder if his ploy here is not about getting more money this year but about reducing his cap hit next year?

If I was his agent I'd be trying to convince him to sign an extension that might not result in more money in 2014 and 2015 but increases the likelihood he's on the team next year. Convert some of next year's base salary into a signing bonus (i.e. more 'up front money') so that he a more difficult cut for the Seahawks in 2015.

i'd bet that's it. Bet he wants to stay in Seattle because he's happy there.

This will be very interesting. If they re-do his contract, Michael takes a big hit IMO. If they don't, Michael's value goes up a lot b/c it pretty much says Lynch is gone.

Goes up a lot?? So drafting him somewhere between McCoy and Charles?

 

[ptsteelers]

The thing is with Michael is his value is going to sky rocket as soon as he gets the starting RB position. So his value right now is to low even if you don't believe he's going to be a transcendent player because you can just trade him as soon as he has one good game or Lynch gets hurt/is dropped and get a kings ransom for him.

For me, it's "if" , not as soon as he gets a starting job.

Other "if" things:

- if Michael can stay healthy, something he hasn't done.

- if Michael can produce on a really high level, hasn't done

- if he can handle a full work load, never had a ton of touches

To Michael owners, it seems that none of these are legit concerns.

Well, not for this Michael owner nor any other owner that has the slightest football/fantasy knowledge. Those things are certainly concerns. I don't think, or at least I have not seen it in this thread, where ANY Michael owner or proponent of Michael has said those are not valid concerns. But maybe I missed it. Very possible.

However, on the flip side, what should not concern any Michael owner or any proponent of Michael is the amount of times he did not dress last year. Again, that is the one thing I can think of that makes no sense to worry about.

True, if that was to happen on any other team/situation, I can see the reason for ... slight concern ... maybe, but with the situations as they were last year, for this team, there is no reason to include his time in pads as a reason to worry about him. None.

But there is no changing of the minds here. People will believe what they want, yes, including myself so this thread will probably continue for another 30 pages as one side still tries to convince the other that what they believe is wrong.

 

[steveski]

The thing is people that drafted Michael believed in him when they drafted him. Everything is trending towards it being a huge hit for his potential owners. So when we get a trade offer of Patterson for Michael that means their are other owners that believe he is more valuable than Patterson. That makes me want to hold him even more. I would say he's basically untouchable until something bad happens unless you want to overpay massively for him.

Some people offer stupid trades. It doesn't mean that your player is more valuable. It just means they're stupid. Not capitalizing on stupid people making stupid trades makes you stupid as well. Did I say the word stupid enough?

Then again, I do agree with what you're saying, within reason. If I owned him (I don't because no way I'd give a top 30 player for him) and got him for relatively cheap then I'd probably try to hold onto him as a lottery ticket. However, if someone is offering something like Patterson for him, I don't think there's any way I would turn that down unless I was the Lynch owner or extremely stacked at WR or something.

 

[Bronco Billy]

Damn guys. The fact that Michael was inactive for so many games means virtually nothing in the discussion. SEA dressed Turbin because he is solid at all aspects of the game, AND plays special teams. SEA can dress only so many guys and chose to cut back on RBs, with Michael being the odd man out because Lynch was the primary RB and Turbin had ST value as well as being adequate at things like pass blocking.

If you want to flip that inactive card, it also makes a statement that SEA kept Michael around when they knew he didn't have ST value. They knew they couldn't demote him to the Practice Squad because they'd lose him. So the held him on the regular roster and inactivated him with Lynch healthy and Turbin able to fill a greater variety of roles.

There's not really any fire to the "smoke" of Michael being inactive for some games.

 

[Milkman]

The thing is people that drafted Michael believed in him when they drafted him. Everything is trending towards it being a huge hit for his potential owners. So when we get a trade offer of Patterson for Michael that means their are other owners that believe he is more valuable than Patterson. That makes me want to hold him even more. I would say he's basically untouchable until something bad happens unless you want to overpay massively for him.

Some people offer stupid trades. It doesn't mean that your player is more valuable. It just means they're stupid. Not capitalizing on stupid people making stupid trades makes you stupid as well. Did I say the word stupid enough?

Then again, I do agree with what you're saying, within reason. If I owned him (I don't because no way I'd give a top 30 player for him) and got him for relatively cheap then I'd probably try to hold onto him as a lottery ticket. However, if someone is offering something like Patterson for him, I don't think there's any way I would turn that down unless I was the Lynch owner or extremely stacked at WR or something.

Well you called me stupid and the person offering Patterson stupid. At the same time you said you agree with me so since I'm stupid and you agree with me you're stupid. Which means everybody involved in this stupid hypothetical situation is stupid along with you for agreeing with me.

I guess I'm stupid because I'm not taking Patterson for him but I don't believe in Patterson. If I did though.....yeah I would jump on that deal.

 

[Warpig]

RBs have almost ZERO leverage in contract negotiations in todays NFL. With the offenses leaning more to spread passing and more and more late round RBs proving capable...they are basically a dime a dozen.

Lynch is probably in panic mode. Granted, if he were to become a FA next year he would be a hot commodity, but still wouldn't get paid what he thinks he deserves. His style of running is a dying breed. More teams are leaning towards the smaller, shiftier backs that can play in the passing game and have an explosive part of their game...not that Lynch can't catch, but he is a bruiser.

If Lynch holds out into the season, I see them rolling with Michael and others. They would probably pass a little more and put more on Wilson's shoulders...EVOLVE. It's inevitable.

If I were him, I'd probably accept a team friendly deal that gave me a little and allowed me to compete for snaps on a team that is built for winning for the forseeable future. If not, he may fade away on a bottom feeder team that was willing to give him a little more money. It's always sad when great players do that.

 

[steveski]

The thing is people that drafted Michael believed in him when they drafted him. Everything is trending towards it being a huge hit for his potential owners. So when we get a trade offer of Patterson for Michael that means their are other owners that believe he is more valuable than Patterson. That makes me want to hold him even more. I would say he's basically untouchable until something bad happens unless you want to overpay massively for him.

Some people offer stupid trades. It doesn't mean that your player is more valuable. It just means they're stupid. Not capitalizing on stupid people making stupid trades makes you stupid as well. Did I say the word stupid enough?

Then again, I do agree with what you're saying, within reason. If I owned him (I don't because no way I'd give a top 30 player for him) and got him for relatively cheap then I'd probably try to hold onto him as a lottery ticket. However, if someone is offering something like Patterson for him, I don't think there's any way I would turn that down unless I was the Lynch owner or extremely stacked at WR or something.

Well you called me stupid and the person offering Patterson stupid. At the same time you said you agree with me so since I'm stupid and you agree with me you're stupid. Which means everybody involved in this stupid hypothetical situation is stupid along with you for agreeing with me.

I guess I'm stupid because I'm not taking Patterson for him but I don't believe in Patterson. If I did though.....yeah I would jump on that deal.

Haha well I was trying to speak more in general based on what you said and not talking to you directly and calling you stupid. I was saying I agree with your take on it, hold him unless somebody offers you something that is great. If you don't believe in Patterson then that's fine and your following your philosophy. If somebody offers you something that is equivalent to where most people value Patterson then you have to take it. There are no "untouchables" in fantasy football unless you want to fail. Everybody has a price and you need to be realistic with yourself on what that price is.

Sorry if you thought I was calling YOU stupid because I wasn't, even thought it does look like that.

 

[Bronco Billy]

I think Lynch is wisely looking at that $9M as money that looks sweet on paper but that he knows will never be paid to him. These kinds of heavily backloaded contracts are written all the time in the NFL. It pads the total contract package and thereby strokes the ego of the player, but unless the player is completely and delusionally in love with himself, both sides know full well at the time the contract is signed that the player will never get that money. It's a cute little game that everyone is in on.

That's why Lynch is taking a "reasonable, take one for the team" posture right now, but his position says loads - he wants even more guaranteed money beyond what the signing bonus was on the current contract - because that's what a signing bonus is - the guaranteed part of the contract.

He has literally no leverage next year, so even though he's in a weak position this year (while still being well paid relative to his position) he's using what weak leverage his has before he runs out of it completely. His goodwill goes up as well, because he portrays himself to the public as someone willing to take a hit to stay with the team - even though in reality that is not his intention in publicly opening these discussions.

It's good business sense on his and his agent's part. But SEA is definitely holding the better hand.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

RBs have almost ZERO leverage in contract negotiations in todays NFL. With the offenses leaning more to spread passing and more and more late round RBs proving capable...they are basically a dime a dozen.

Lynch is probably in panic mode. Granted, if he were to become a FA next year he would be a hot commodity, but still wouldn't get paid what he thinks he deserves. His style of running is a dying breed. More teams are leaning towards the smaller, shiftier backs that can play in the passing game and have an explosive part of their game...not that Lynch can't catch, but he is a bruiser.

The bolded doesn't apply to the team that Lynch is currently an important member of. So he does have some leverage, if SEA thinks losing Lynch hurts their chances of back to back Super Bowl wins. I do agree that it's possible the team doesn't miss a beat with Michael as the lead back instead, but it's hard to say that's a given at this point for various reasons - and its hard to say that the SEA staff beleives that is the case. They just may however and then Lynch loses the little leverage he has.

With that said, Lynch is paid reasonably well, and I think when all is said and done he and his agents realize that and tell him to get to training camp. I doubt the holdout goes beyond these OTA sessions. He can take his $5MM this season and hope some team if foolish enough to offer up a nice deal should SEA let him go next offseason.

 

[Milkman]

I guess we will see how much Seattle really does like Michael with how they deal with this Lynch situation.

Anyway scenario where they drop Lynch this year?

 

[Milkman]

The thing is people that drafted Michael believed in him when they drafted him. Everything is trending towards it being a huge hit for his potential owners. So when we get a trade offer of Patterson for Michael that means their are other owners that believe he is more valuable than Patterson. That makes me want to hold him even more. I would say he's basically untouchable until something bad happens unless you want to overpay massively for him.

Some people offer stupid trades. It doesn't mean that your player is more valuable. It just means they're stupid. Not capitalizing on stupid people making stupid trades makes you stupid as well. Did I say the word stupid enough?

Then again, I do agree with what you're saying, within reason. If I owned him (I don't because no way I'd give a top 30 player for him) and got him for relatively cheap then I'd probably try to hold onto him as a lottery ticket. However, if someone is offering something like Patterson for him, I don't think there's any way I would turn that down unless I was the Lynch owner or extremely stacked at WR or something.

Well you called me stupid and the person offering Patterson stupid. At the same time you said you agree with me so since I'm stupid and you agree with me you're stupid. Which means everybody involved in this stupid hypothetical situation is stupid along with you for agreeing with me.

I guess I'm stupid because I'm not taking Patterson for him but I don't believe in Patterson. If I did though.....yeah I would jump on that deal.

Haha well I was trying to speak more in general based on what you said and not talking to you directly and calling you stupid. I was saying I agree with your take on it, hold him unless somebody offers you something that is great. If you don't believe in Patterson then that's fine and your following your philosophy. If somebody offers you something that is equivalent to where most people value Patterson then you have to take it. There are no "untouchables" in fantasy football unless you want to fail. Everybody has a price and you need to be realistic with yourself on what that price is.

Sorry if you thought I was calling YOU stupid because I wasn't, even thought it does look like that.

I'm totally screwing around. You can call me stooopid lol. I agree with you though for the most part.

 

[biju]

I guess we will see how much Seattle really does like Michael with how they deal with this Lynch situation.

Anyway scenario where they drop Lynch this year?

I don't see them dropping him. His contract is for a reasonable amount over the next two years and I have to assume this would hold trade value even if the next team would likely need to renegotiate the contact. Otherwise just hold tight and have Lynch hold out.

Lynch is angling for the cap we aren't using in 2014 (I think it's about ~$8.5M) but I'm positive this is money the Seahawks want to roll over to the 2015 cap when we have to re-sign Okung and extend Wilson. I don't see the Seahawks budging otherwise, but the FO often proves me wrong.

 

[Steed]

Any chance they give him a "thanks for the memories" raise for this year in the form of a 1 year extension. He did kickoff their ascension with that incredible playoff run. We've seen Gore and Andre get these heart-n-soul if the team contracts in the recent past.

 

[biju]

Any chance they give him a "thanks for the memories" raise for this year in the form of a 1 year extension. He did kickoff their ascension with that incredible playoff run. We've seen Gore and Andre get these heart-n-soul if the team contracts in the recent past.

Is it possible? Sure. Seattle has a recent history of taking care of their guys (e.g. Baldwin, Sherman, Chancellor, Thomas) but one name that is also on that list is Lynch. I mean the guy got a new contract in 2012. I just don't see the leverage he has or why the team who likely will need to spend ~$30M/year on two player contracts (Wilson, Okung) in 2015 wouldn't want the extra $9.5M (I checked OverTheCap and was $1M off before) to roll over and help with that.

I think the current FO doesn't have the sentimentality of the older regimes. If they did, Red Bryant would still be on the team.

 

[Milkman]

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/289143/marshawn-lynch-mulling-retirement

LOL Lynch thinking about retiring. Please please happen.

I know it's not going to happen but if Lynch retired tomorrow how high does Michael rise in the rankings?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

It's not likely, and it's probably about leverage, but IMO Lynch is exactly the sort of cat who might decide to call it a day.

 

[Phenix]

LOL, this is going to get funnier now.

 

[EBF]

I don't expect it to happen.

All the same, I don't see how threatening retirement would improve his leverage. If anything, it would just make me question his commitment and desire if I were his employer. Not that I blame him on a personal level. 28 years old. Likely set for life already. Just reached the apex of his sport. Not much left to accomplish on the field. So if he's not really keen on getting the snot knocked out of him for a few more years in the name of money and glory, why not walk away?

 

[Milkman]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

 

[Phenix]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

Because 5 million is 5 million.

 

[DropKick]

It's very, very simple. Many upon many rookies don't touch the ball much as rookie and still end up doing very well. Happens all the time.

In Michaels case he was inactive rather than wallowing on the bench with 3 carries a game due to the situation and team. If you think he woulda been inactive on most other teams, then well, wow, I don't agree at all.

What concerns me, which I realize many disregard as irrelevant, is not the lack of touches he received but the fact that he was not even dressed for an inordinate amount of games. This should be very disconcerting considering RBs get hurt all time in addition to the fact that were Michael the uber-talented future stud people are touting him to be they would have found a way to get the ball in his hands.

He may carve out a role as a low-end RB2, but I find it highly unlikely he ever performs at RB1 levels.

As Shah pointed out, his ROI is too low now. He is already ranked as RB22 by FBG, a ranking EBF scoffs at, and I do not see him performing much higher than that ranking. Plus, odds are you'd have to pay more than that to get him.

I get it.. you're trying to drive the price down to trade for him...

Nice strategy (although that is some crappy analysis; nobody in my league would buy it)

 

[jurb26]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

Because 5 million is 5 million.

Not many people can walk away from that kind of money. Lynch is a weird dude though, so who knows.

 

[Milkman]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

Because 5 million is 5 million.

When you have saved your money well through out your career is 5 million worth losing your ability to enjoy your life pain free? IDK I don't think that answer is the same for everybody.

 

[jurb26]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

Because 5 million is 5 million.

When you have saved your money well through out your career is 5 million worth losing your ability to enjoy your life pain free? IDK I don't think that answer is the same for everybody.

How do yo know he is going to be pain free for the rest of his life? You're making quite an assumption there.

 

[tdmills]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

Because 5 million is 5 million.

When you have saved your money well through out your career is 5 million worth losing your ability to enjoy your life pain free? IDK I don't think that answer is the same for everybody.

Why doesn't Michael retire then? Broken leg, torn acl...he's made enough money to last him for multiple years. Some people already think he's equal to AP, all he can do is go down from here...

 

[Milkman]

Ok I don't. It's not like other sports though. He is absolutely risking his health and could very well make enjoying the money he has now a lot harder if he plays this year. Playing RB in the NFL is extremely dangerous.

 

[jurb26]

Ok I don't. It's not like other sports though. He is absolutely risking his health and could very well make enjoying the money he has now a lot harder if he plays this year. Playing RB in the NFL is extremely dangerous.

Yeah, yet most every plays as long as they possibly can anyway.

 

[Milkman]

Ricky Williams walked away from a lot of money didn't he? I mean what Lynch is contemplating is not unprecedented.

 

[EBF]

Lynch has been in the league two years longer than Mendenhall. Wouldn't say retirement is likely, but Barry Sanders, Robert Smith, Tiki Barber, and Rashard Mendenhall all quit relatively young and none of them were coming off the back of a Super Bowl win. RBs probably take more punishment than anyone on the field. Some relish that and want to prolong it as long as their bodies will allow. Others clearly don't.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

Because 5 million is 5 million.

When you have saved your money well through out your career is 5 million worth losing your ability to enjoy your life pain free? IDK I don't think that answer is the same for everybody.

I got a feeling lynch isn't a saver, hes all about that action, boss

 

[Milkman]

Napoleon Kaufman is another RB who retired early and in his prime.

 

[cstu]

Any chance they give him a "thanks for the memories" raise for this year in the form of a 1 year extension. He did kickoff their ascension with that incredible playoff run. We've seen Gore and Andre get these heart-n-soul if the team contracts in the recent past.

Is it possible? Sure. Seattle has a recent history of taking care of their guys (e.g. Baldwin, Sherman, Chancellor, Thomas) but one name that is also on that list is Lynch. I mean the guy got a new contract in 2012. I just don't see the leverage he has or why the team who likely will need to spend ~$30M/year on two player contracts (Wilson, Okung) in 2015 wouldn't want the extra $9.5M (I checked OverTheCap and was $1M off before) to roll over and help with that.

I think the current FO doesn't have the sentimentality of the older regimes. If they did, Red Bryant would still be on the team.

His leverage is that he helped win them a SB and they only have unproven RB's behind him. He can also screw them over by holding until week 1.

 

[DropKick]

Yeah I agree. I mean he has accomplished everything he could basically. Why not walk away while he still has his health?

Because 5 million is 5 million.

A

I think Lynch is wisely looking at that $9M as money that looks sweet on paper but that he knows will never be paid to him. These kinds of heavily backloaded contracts are written all the time in the NFL. It pads the total contract package and thereby strokes the ego of the player, but unless the player is completely and delusionally in love with himself, both sides know full well at the time the contract is signed that the player will never get that money. It's a cute little game that everyone is in on.

That's why Lynch is taking a "reasonable, take one for the team" posture right now, but his position says loads - he wants even more guaranteed money beyond what the signing bonus was on the current contract - because that's what a signing bonus is - the guaranteed part of the contract.

He has literally no leverage next year, so even though he's in a weak position this year (while still being well paid relative to his position) he's using what weak leverage his has before he runs out of it completely. His goodwill goes up as well, because he portrays himself to the public as someone willing to take a hit to stay with the team - even though in reality that is not his intention in publicly opening these discussions.

It's good business sense on his and his agent's part. But SEA is definitely holding the better hand.

It's not THAT back loaded. He has already realized $17 of $30 million in the first two years. He'll get 5.5M this year and 7.5 next year. The 1.5M of signing bonus prorated to each year of the contract was actually received up front. $17M guaranteed was his first two years plus the signing bonus so nothing left is guaranteed.

I agree though he is angling to realize more/some of the 2015 money.

 

[jurb26]

Napoleon Kaufman is another RB who retired early and in his prime.

We get it. You could probably name a handful more and that would be it. The list if guys who didn't retire early would crash the site. Nobody is saying it hasn't been done before or that there is no chance Lynch won't. Just that it's extremely, EXTREMELY rare.