Report: Seahawks aren’t expected to recoup Marshawn Lynch’s signing-bonus money

We detailed a few weeks ago how Marshawn Lynch’s retirement would impact Seattle’s salary cap, including how the Seahawks could potentially gain additional relief beyond what they would get if he were to instead be released.

As noted, that additional cap relief would be contingent upon the Seahawks recouping any or all of the $5 million in remaining signing-bonus money from the extension Lynch signed last offseason. It was no certainty that they would. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, they’re not expected to.

Rapoport reported as much on Wednesday, tweeting that “Both sides seem pleased with (the) outcome”.

The outcome is one that both sides could be pleased with. Lynch got to walk away on his own terms and with his $5 million untouched. The Seahawks got to end their relationship with Lynch on presumably good terms while avoiding the predicament of having to release a franchise icon.

While Seattle could have used that $5 million in future cap space, consider how messy things might have gotten while trying to recoup it. Teams don’t have that recourse with players who are released, so had Lynch known the Seahawks would be going after that money, he could have forgone retirement and instead waited for the team to release him.

General manager John Schneider said last month on 710 ESPN Seattle that the Seahawks would treat Lynch “with as much respect as we possibly can” as he contemplated whether or not to retire. Not going after Lynch’s bonus money aligns with that sentiment, and while it isn’t the more financially beneficial move, it’s the benevolent one.