Not only has [M]Lynch[/M] added to his career rushing total — he has 10,334 yards, [M]currently ranked 28th all-time, according to Pro Football Reference[/M] — the more remarkable thing is how he’s still thriving at age 32, when most running backs have long since retired.
Lynch's production on the field and rebellious approach off it spawned respect among the 12s. But would he have still been admired had he stuck around another year or two?
Drop Marshawn Lynch in the middle of Seattle, and locals would swarm like a group of would-be tacklers. They wouldn’t try to take him down, though. They’d probably just wrap their arms around one of the most iconic — and iconoclastic — athletes in the Emerald City’s history.
Beast Mode — who will take on his former team as a Raider in London on Sunday — will be forever beloved in Seattle. And it is for the following three reasons:
1) He was likely the most influential player in transforming the Seahawks into a championship-caliber franchise.
2) His anti-authority, march-to-the-beat-of-his-own-subwoofer attitude struck a chord among fans.
3) He got out just in time.
I’ve been thinking about that third reason a bit lately, because the first two are beyond well-documented.