Marshawn Lynch to hold out from Seahawks training camp

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch will hold out from training camp, reports former Seahawk Michael Robinson.

Said Mike Rob: "Marshawn Lynch just called me, we just talked. He said he will be holding out from training camp this year with the Seattle Seahawks."

This follows rumored threats that Lynch would not show up for the Hawks' mandatory mini-camp last month; Lynch showed up under the pretense that the team would make a good-faith effort to negotiate something for him, but he didn't take part in the three-day event due to some sort of minor injury issue. Evidently things haven't moved along far enough.

"Marshawn does want a new contract," Ian Rapoport reported back in early June. "He wants a raise, and from what I understand, he's asking for a relatively minor raise. He's paid like the #5 running back in the NFL, and he wants to be paid more like #2 or #3."

Depending on how you look at the pay structure (APY vs. salary), that could be a raise of anywhere from $1.5M to $3M in 2014.

"From the Seahawks' perspective," said Rapoport, "talking to sources close to them, they are not inclined to give Marshawn a raise. That's not something that they believe is necessary. They see him as a top-5 back, he's paid like it, and plus, they do not like the precedent it would set of having a player receive an extension, [subsequently] have a stellar performance, then ask for another new deal."

Lynch even has reportedly issued threats that he'll retire if the team doesn't give him a raise. Jordan Babineaux joined NFL AM at the time and talked about his friend and former teammate, noting that he doesn't believe Lynch will follow through with the threat to retire. "I don't see Marshawn walking away just yet," said Big Play Babs. "He's in Oakland. He's working on his training. He's doing the normal things that he always does. The bottom line is, it is about the money. When a guy starts producing the way Marshawn has been producing, he wants to be paid."

This news follows the brief holdout by Jamaal Charles earlier this week, though the numbers aren't the same for the two backs. Charles got his new deal and reported to camp, and we'll see what happens with Lynch.

On a personal note, this is not remotely surprising to me -- I almost expected this would be the case. Lynch will use the last bit of leverage he has available to him to see if he can get a little more money this season. However, according to PFT, "the move exposes Lynch to $30,000 per day in fines, along with (after five days) partial forfeiture of his $6 million signing bonus."

Better hurry.

The writing is on the wall for the 2015 season so perhaps a little extra in guarantees for this year will make a difference. Stay tuned.

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UPDATE:

The #Seahawks learned in the last few days that Marshawn Lynch would hold out for camp. And no, they still don't plan on paying him.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 24, 2014