Report: Marshawn Lynch could retire, or follow Tom Cable elsewhere

Marshawn Lynch could save the Seattle Seahawks a few dollars.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport is reporting that people with a direct knowledge of Lynch's thinking said that the 28-year-old running back could opt to retire this offseason.

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Why? Back pain certainly is one issue, as it's something that has plagued him consistently the past few seasons. But the report seems to suggest that Lynch still loves football and would need to fill a void in his life if he were to walk away.

The Seahawks are expected to part ways with Lynch in the offseason, according to multiple reports, because of his salary (a minimum of $5 million) and because of his personality and what the Seahawks wanting to build in the locker room being at odds. If Lynch retired, the Seahawks would not be on the hook for his salary.

One other interesting nugget: Should Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable land a head-coaching job elsewhere, Lynch could opt to follow Cable there. They have built an extremely close bond over the past few years, but it might be a stretch for Cable — who compiled a 17-27 record as the Oakland Raiders' head coach over parts of three seasons — to land another head gig.

Lynch pondered retirement prior to this season after the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, but he was coaxed back to training camp when the team offered him a bump in his pay. Still, it hasn't been the smoothest ride this season.

Although he has run the ball extremely well, closing in on his sixth career 1,000-yard rushing season and scoring 12 touchdowns (nine rushing), Lynch also was reportedly unhappy with the Percy Harvin trade, has not willingly spoken to the media and spent the Week 12 halftime on the field in Kansas City — reportedly too hurt to walk inside — while his teammates were meeting in the locker room.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm

from Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/report--marshawn-lynch-could-retire--or-follow-tom-cable-elsewhere-144524812.html