PHOENIX –Pete Carroll met with Marshawn Lynch roughly 10 days ago. The Seattle Seahawks head coach said his former running back did not say he was coming out of retirement.
Lynch, is however, considering the prospect.
"He's somewhat entertaining the thought of it," Carroll said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings. "I can't tell you how strongly. You'd have to talk to him about that, and that chance ain't happening."
Lynch rarely talks to the press, though he has been visible during his year away from the NFL. He guest-starred on television shows, travelled the world, promoted the heck out of Skittles and did significant charity work in his native Oakland.
Lynch retired after the 2015 season and has repeatedly said he's happy in retirement. Carroll suggests a comeback has entered Lynch's head, but that doesn't mean he's coming back for sure.
The 30-year old is an enigmatic, unpredictable fellow. If he does return, Lynch reportedly only wants to do so with the Raiders.
The Silver and Black need a powerful running back to join a rotation with Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, and Lynch is versatile enough to produce in the Raiders' diverse offensive system.
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General manager Reggie McKenzie and head coach Jack Del Rio couldn't comment on Lynch even in retirement, because his rights still belong to the Seahawks. He has two years remaining on a contract he signed before the 2015 season.
Seattle would have a decision to make if Lynch is reinstated. The bruising back would count $9 million against the Seahawks' salary cap, a number that doesn't fit into their budget.
They could release him or seek a trade, though Carroll didn't state the Seahawks plans should Lynch decide to come back.
"I don't know," Carroll said. "We'll talk about that if the time comes."
The Raiders won't give up draft picks to get him. Sources says the Silver and Black would strongly consider bringing him to Alameda if he were a free agent, though Lynch would have to work within the Raiders budget as well.
Carroll said Lynch would have to be motivated in a return to play his intense brand of football.
"It depends on how he has approached this offseason," Carroll said. "The mentality of what it takes to play this game the way that he plays it, he really has to be invested and ready. He goes deep when he plays. Whether or not the burn is still inside him, I couldn't tell that. I know he was kind of playing with the idea."
