GET YOUR BUTT UP TO THE VMAC MARSHAWN!

This is a statement Lynch gave after being arrested on the suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

The Seattle Seahawks 2013 organized team activities (OTA) are in full swing at the VMAC (Virginia Mason Athletic Center) in Renton, where the Seahawks workout facility is located.  First, the Seahawks conducted a mini camp with the veterans that lasted three days, followed by a rookie minicamp, also three days, which is how it's been for the last three years.  The Seahawks are perhaps on the precipice of a season to be remembered and every single veteran and rookie was present for phase 3 of the off-season protocol developed by the recent collective bargaining agreement reached between the NFLPA and the NFL.  Well, every single player was present for phase 3, the first phase where rookies and veterans report at the same time and the first OTA where coaches can also be working with the players on the same field.  Head coach Pete Carroll was delighted to see all of his 90 man roster present for this most recent OTA.  Every player except for Marshawn Lynch.  By league rule, the first three OTA's are considered "voluntary", and Marshawn Lynch utilizes the full extent of the term voluntary as he has never attended any of the voluntary OTA's conducted by the Seattle Seahawks team.

As the Seahawks prepare to answer the critics and put together what could be the best Seahawks football team in its franchise history, you'd like to see every single player on the roster present for all of the team activities, voluntary or required.  Marshawn Lynch has always been a strange cat, marching, not to the beat of his own drum, but to a completely different band.  He rarely takes an interview on a radio or television and simply doesn't involve himself with the media in any way if he can avoid it.  Lynch is more likely to talk to the media after a tough loss than after the Seahawks  trounce their opponent or if he himself has a particularly great game.  The teams starting fullback, Michael Robinson, produces his own behind-the-scenes video montage of the Seahawks players off the field, "The Real Robinson Report", but each time he points the camera or microphone Lynch's way, the halfback turns his back, walks away or sometimes simply pulled the hood of his jacket over his head to avoid being part of the Seahawks effort to personalize the players.  Yes, Lynch is one-of-a-kind, and many people feel like he deserves a pass for some of his idiosyncrasies or his complete oddball way of relating to other people of his same species.  But, the pro-bowl halfback has been with the team long enough to become one of the true leaders and many believe that he should be setting an example, not only on the field, but off as well.  Each of the Seahawks seasons that Lynch has been on the team, he has posted very good to excellent statistics.  He shows up big in big games and always seems to give 100% effort with each carry and with each game.  He catches the ball out of the backfield surprisingly well and is equally difficult to tackle after a reception as he is breaking through the offensinve line and dancing around linebackers and defensive backs. Each of his last two seasons he has eclipsed the 1000 yard marker and last season rushed for nearly 1600 yards.  Lynch is beginning to show signs of wear on his body, however.  He hasn't missed any gametime with Seattle, though they pamper him throughout the week because of a chronic back problem, as he suffers from back spasms that are likely related to his style of relentless, tackle breaking running style.

So, does Lynch deserve a pass for these so-called "voluntary workouts" at the team facility in Renton, Washington?  He's missed the voluntary workouts each of the years he has been in Seattle, and even during the required work out team activities, he is often seen in sweats, standing on the sidelines while the rest of the team goes through walk-throughs and seven on seven drills or real drills with the first team offense.  Years ago, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson stated that there are some players that produce on the field and it is that every player is evaluated by what they contribute to the team, and those players will obviously be treated in a different manner than those who don't.  Has Marshawn Lynch produced so much on the field that he has carte blanche with Pete Carroll to miss voluntary team workouts and conditioning activities?  Or is it a poor decision to separate himself from the rest of his teammates, back injury or no back injury?  This football team is in better condition, roster wise, than any Seahawks team in the franchises 38 year history.  Having the most accomplished and statistically successful players setting the example for every player on the roster younger or perhaps a rookie seems to be something any coach would encourage, if not outright demand.  Lynch was rewarded with a very lucrative contract extension last year, and no one can argue that he played up to the details of his multimillion dollar, multi-year contract terms.  However, it just seems like Lynch is reluctant or completely antisocial with his fellow Seahawks players when it comes to game preparation or any other kind of organized team activity.

It has been said that; "What makes a champion is;  people who are willing, if not eager, to do the large and small things that losers are not willing to do."(paraphrased). I believe in that notion and that's why I wonder what coach Pete Carroll believes about Marshawn Lynch choosing not to show up with his fellow teammates, especially as they prepare for such a season of hope and expectations.  I've asked myself; Would Barry Sanders skip out because the workouts are voluntary?  How about Earl Campbell, or Jim Brown or the great Walter Payton? Would Dick Butkus, Jack ham, Jack Lambert or Ray Nitchke pass on a team activity just because it was voluntary?  Champions take every opportunity to improve their craft, every moment and every detail to become the best.  When Marshawn Lynch chooses to miss out on an activity with the rest of his entire roster of teammates, rookies and veterans, head coach and all the assistant coaches, that tells me that Marshawn Lynch doesn't desire to be any better than he already is.  He claims he's working out to a personal workout schedule in his hometown of Oakland, but if he can work out in Oakland, why can't he workout in Renton with the rest of his compatriots?  I think it looks bad in Seattle and perhaps one of the problems that seems to be coming out as a symptom, and that is the immaturity of a very young football team without enough strong on and off field veteran leaders.  Russell Wilson is one of the most dynamic and steady leaders in the NFL after just one year in the NFL, but it's the older veterans who have the juice to be able to police the entire team for those selfish enough to violate NFL rules and in turn hurting their team and themselves by using banned substances.  Marshawn Lynch, whether he likes it or not, needs to be in Seattle supporting the team even if he isn't taking full participation in all the drills on the field.  It just looks bad and Marshawn looks bad and he looks more like a guy out for himself, not for his team.  Most players interviewed have said that Lynch is a great teammate and always gives his best for the football team.  However, there are many ways to support your football team and we've seen many different players affect their football team without even stepping onto the field.  Ray Lewis, in Baltimore, while he was out with an injury to his shoulder, was still on the field during practice and on the sidelines during games leading his team.  I know that Lewis and Lynch are two different personalities and I don't expect Lynch to begin behaving like Lewis, but you have to get some sort of leadership from the veteran players on your football team or you end up having the younger players doing things like Seattle is experiencing.  Using performance enhancing drugs is just stupid in the NFL.  All 32 teams are subject to the same drug testing protocols and every player is subject to random drug testing no matter who they are, or whether they are veterans or rookies.  Bruce Irvin was simply playing a game that he could not win.

Should Marshawn Lynch get a pass because he is a superstar, pro-bowl halfback?  I don't think anybody gets a pass, although I do understand that some players will be treated differently based on their production on the football field for their respective team.  Seattle hopes to be one of the few teams who will compete for a Lombardi trophy and you've got to know that head coach Pete Carroll would like to have 100% participation even in the OTA's that are "Voluntary".  That's what good teams do and that's what veteran superstars should be doing.  Come on, Lynch, it's time to start behaving like a veteran on a team that believes it can win its first Super Bowl victory.

Hey Marshawn… Do you really want to wear a Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks, or you content with your ridiculous mouth grills you blew thousand of dollars on after signing your big contract last year?