Marshawn Lynch on Twitter Thursday night: “I’m Thankfull!!!!! Yes Lawd!!!!!”

My first inclination, as usual, is to write “Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch” when starting this article, but we must face the fact that those first two words seem destined to be changed to “Oakland Raiders” soon. Lynch reiterated that on Thursday night with, in Lynch style, a single tweet.

News on Thursday morning via multiple sources was that the Seahawks and Raiders were closing in on a trade, that Lynch was applying for reinstatement, and everything was dependent on a re-worked contract between him and Oakland. The trade itself merely a formality, albeit one that certainly has some complications. What should Seattle receive for a 31-year-old running back who hasn’t played in a year and was not that great the last time he stepped onto the field? A player who was also about to be owed $9 million in 2017 before the new deal. The Seahawks also have to add in the fact that they paid Lynch $2.5 million last season for nothing and still have a $2.5 million cap hit in 2018 because of his signing bonus, a hit that they can’t get off the books if they trade him rather than if they release him and ask him to pay it back.

If Lynch’s thankfulness is any indication though, they figured it out.

John Schneider and Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie are close due to their days working in the front office of the Green Bay Packers. Lynch is motivated to play for his hometown team, a drive that seemed to disappear in his final season with Seattle. The move seemed inevitable a week ago, a day ago, this morning, and especially now. Hopefully it’s all completed before I have time to hit publish on this post.

Adding to the drama is Oakland running back Jalen Richard, who posted a picture with Beast Mode on Thursday night as well.

And Matthew Hasselbeck replied to Lynch’s tweet with a throwback picture.

Lynch, Richard, Hasselbeck, and Bruce Irvin have all indicated a return and a move to Oakland, we’re just waiting to hear it from the actual teams. I never thought there would be a time in my life that I’d be thankful for Lynch to be putting on another team’s uniform ... but I gotta be honest and say this just feels right.