FanPost

THREE BECOME ONE: WHY JOHN AND PETE SHOULD PAY MARSHAWN




I know it's probably been (over) statement of our young 2014 Seahawks season, but as a fan of Marshawn Lynch AND the Seahawks organization, I feel compelled to add to the conversation and hope not to be too overwhelming. I've read a lot of late about how some think it hypocritical for Pete to tell Lynch he should honor his contract, when the organization did not honor the remaining contracts of others, Clemons and Bryant come to mind. Or how Lynch is being greedy in our glory. The quick answer is: those guys, as good as they were, weren't part of the next phase of the Master Plan over the next 2-4 years. If for nothing else, this current contractual conflict with Marshawn should indicate to us all that there’s much more to it than just numbers with Lynch, and rightfully so. It goes back to 2010, when THREE BECAME ONE. ONE: Pete Carroll hired as Head Coach. TWO: John Schneider hired as GM. The two geniuses together create what I will call The Master Plan. Over the next few years, that plan they created has played out to near perfection, championed by none other than THREE: MARSHAWN LYNCH, PERIOD. BEAST MODE was hands-down THE LYNCH PIN (pun intended) to Pete and John’s Master Plan. Yes, our 2010 draft picks (Okung, Earl Thomas, GTate, and BAM KAM) turned out to be a foundation for the future, but the cornerstone wasn’t put into place until Lynch became a Seahawk.

October 5th, 2010. Marshawn comes to Seattle. Before April 27th, 2012, when John and Pete selected The Chosen One, Russell Wilson, to eventually become our leader, they chose Marshawn to be our GLADIATOR. Pete wanted to establish a physical, battering offense, and John Schneider knew just the guy. He had his eye on Marshawn for years, relentlessly pursued him in negotiations with the Bills, and eventually they got their guy, THE GUY THEY NEEDED. His task was simple: go out there onto the field, run over and through teams all day, earn their respect, and announce to the football world that the Seahawks are not dead. A New World Order had arrived and BEAST MODE was its Messenger—a man who spoke more so in action (You all know It’s About That Action, Boss) than he did words.

The message: BIGGER. FASTER. STRONGER. LOUDER.

I want so much to write more about 2010-2013 here, to tell the whole story. I know this because I’ve been typing passionately from the heart straight to the keyboard for the last few hours. My heart wills my fingers to paint the picture in words, to highlight the bold draft selections, the often-unpopular-but-necessary cuts/releases, the inspirational, charismatic coaching, the breed of competition, pride and loyalty in our players, the resources, skills, vision and commitment--from Paul Allen to the staff intern--to sustain a championship-caliber team for now and years to come. I want to point out what we all should now realize, that EVERY action taken since John and Pete joined forces in 2010—highlighted by the trade for Marshawn--was no accident and had great purpose towards an even greater end. So many transactions, so many changes in personnel, so many varied opinions, but through it all Marshawn Lynch was a consistent force on the field. Despite his body taking a beating, his back ailing, our Champion still carried us. From 2010 through 2013, he stepped into the arena for 57 of 59 regular season games, amassing over 4600 yards and 41 TDs on the ground. Those totals don’t include six post-season games and the day our Champion brought us Ultimate Victory:

Our first Super Bowl on Feb 2nd, 2014.

It saddens me to see, hear, and read the negative remarks and energy that is generating from the current dispute. I want to convey to you all that it’s not about a lack of honor on the part Marshawn. It’s not about Jon’s disappointment that Lynch is holding out of training camp. It’s not about Pete’s comments regarding Lynch’s commitment either. Pete says that The Master Plan has a "Next Man Up" clause that accounts for occurrences such as this, that gives Turbin and the eventual successor Christine Michael valuable time and experience in absence of Lynch. As much as Pete says that "It’s not about one guy and it hasn’t been", as a matter of recent Seahawks history, IT IS ABOUT ONE GUY when that guy is Marshawn Lynch. Of the THREE (John, Pete, Marshawn), he was the "ONE GUY" that actually went out there and executed the brutal and often ugly early stages of The Master Plan, the Brawn behind the Brains, if you will.

According to the Master Plan, Pete and John knew coming into 2013-2014 that they could not afford to keep everyone. They knew who they had to cut, who to keep, and knew who they had to budget for to keep for our future success (Russell Wilson). Marshawn has two more years, he’s 28 years old, and he has a young beast biting at his heels to become the "next man up". He knows according to the Master Plan that he’s no longer the Lone Warrior who once carried the team, and that he has two years at best to remain a Seahawk before time and money dictate his departure or retirement.

I firmly say to Pete and John: our present and future would not be so full of riches if it weren’t for the toils of ONE GUY, Marshawn Lynch. We’ve invested those riches in Sherman, Thomas, Kam, Percy, Bennett, and Baldwin to name a few. In 2015, we have to consider Malcom Smith, Avril, KJ Wright, and Kearse. In 2016, it’s Russell Wilson. Oh, and Okung, Wagner, and probably Irvin. I left some names off and others on here you might not offer a contract or extension. To date, I haven’t heard anything of Lynch asking for a long-term deal; like I said he knows 2016 is probably the end. So why shouldn’t we share the added riches with Marshawn? Take the leftover money from Rice’s retirement, be willing to risk losing one of the 2015 free agents (but I bet they will sign to stay in Seattle), and most important of all, talk to Russell and his agent every damn day and beg for just one more "cheap year" in 2015 with the promise to "break the bank" in 2016 and beyond as our QB for the next 15 years. If RW3 is even 1/3 the honorable man he shows himself to be (let’s not kid, we all KNOW he’s genuine), how can you not foresee a restructured deal to pay Marshawn his true worth for the body of work he has achieved and for enabling the historic rebuild of the Seattle Seahawks.

As a passionate 12 and fan of THE #24, I implore you Pete and John:

End this bitter drama.

Make it right on paper, make it right with Marshawn, and let us as a team, an organization, a city, and a loyal fan base of 12s pay him the respect he’s earned. Give us two good last years so that we can tell this kind-hearted, soft-spoken man THANK YOU for going BEAST MODE for us for so long, and defining strength, endurance, unyielding tenacity and sheer determination on every run.

You have time RIGHT NOW to do the RIGHT THING: take care of the "ONE GUY" who has taken care of you and all of us.

HE DESERVES THAT.