Ex-Seahawks player says Marshawn Lynch is considering retirement

A former Seattle teammate says Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is considering retirement from football, but he expects him to return to play in 2015.

Michael Robinson, who was a fullback for the Seahawks before retiring last season at age 30, told 710 ESPN in Seattle on Thursday that he has spoken with Lynch about his future.

“My bet would be that he plays next year in Seattle,” Robinson said. “I don’t think Marshawn knows yet. I don’t know what the timeline is. It’s probably going to be a feel thing and we’ll just see like everybody else.”

The 28-year-old Lynch rushed for 1,306 yards and had a career-best 17 touchdowns last season. But Robinson said a deal to make Lynch the highest-paid running back in the NFL still might not be enough to get him to play next season.

“Marshawn is getting to a point in his life where he may want to enjoy other things that are important to him,” Robinson said. “I don’t think (money) factors in too much, but obviously this is a business. With the running back position being so devalued, I think he wants to be paid like the heartbeat of the team, which he should be.

“He knows that he has the leverage. He knows that he’s the best back in the league. He knows he’s a difference-maker not only on the field but off the field.”

Lynch was a holdout at the start of training camp last year before his contract was restructured. The final year on his deal is for $7 million in 2015.

“I don’t think he knew whether he was going to play last year until almost training camp,” Robinson said.

Is Robinson willing to guess what will happen with Lynch next year?

“C’mon, man, it’s Marshawn,” Robinson said. “Has he had enough football? You can’t ask him that right after the season because your body is telling you yes. Right now, you just have to let him wait it out, see how the offseason goes, let him get his body right again and then you will see if he wants to come back or not.”