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Update: These reports below from Friday morning about Lynch signing a deal with the Raiders are now being disputed by multiple sources, including Lynch himself.
Marshawn Lynch will be playing the 2017 NFL season for the Oakland Raiders. The Seattle Seahawks’ legendary running back has agreed to terms with his hometown team, according to NFL Network’s Mike Silver and Ian Rapoport. All that’s left to do is for the Seahawks and Raiders to complete a trade.
Per @MikeSilver, Marshawn Lynch and the #Raiders have agreed to terms. Now the ball is in #Seahawks court for a trade, which will happen.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 14, 2017
Correction: Marshawn Lynch and the Raiders have agreed to terms. Trade with Seahawks still needs to be completed. @nflnetwork (stay tuned)
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) April 14, 2017
Lynch had begun the process for reinstatement into the NFL after he’d formally retired in 2016, but evidently he doesn’t even need to do that for as long as Seattle trades him. It was reported on Thursday that Lynch’s contract (which would’ve been $9 million for 2017) had to be reworked before a trade could materialize, and I can only assume that this has been done.
It’s a little bit unfortunate that this year’s Seahawks preseason schedule will see Seattle play at Oakland, as it would’ve been really cool to have the CenturyLink Field crowd shower Beast Mode with Skittles one last time, whether he’s dressed to play or not.
This post will be updated once the trade is announced and we know what Seattle will receive in return.