As with most things involving 
First, the Seahawks’ leading rusher politely declined the request as the players were cleaning out their cubicles in the locker room Monday. When he relented, Lynch answered questions to the accompaniment of music coming from his cubicle, head bobbing with each response.
At one point, guard
The Seahawks’ season might be over, after Sunday’s overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals in their finale, but the Marshawn Lynch show rolls on.
Lynch rushed for career-highs in yards (1,204) and touchdowns (12) in his first full season in Seattle, and over the last nine games no one in the NFL ran for more yards (941) than the Seahawks’ Skittles-scarfing back.
His immediate plans call for a return to his hometown of Oakland, where he’ll work with his foundation – First Family Foundation, which helps inner-city youth.
There also could be a call from Hawaii, as Lynch is the second alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl squad – and the Eagles’ LeSean McCoy and Bears’ Matt Forte did not play in recent games because of injuries.
There’s also Lynch’s contract situation, as he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.
“Everything is going to fall into place how it’s going to fall into place,” Lynch said. “I’d like to come back … Hopefully I can get taken care of where I’m at.”
Because Lynch likes a lot about this team, because there really is a lot to like about this team.
“I like the direction they’re going in,” he said. “A couple bright spots that really stuck out to me this year was the young offensive linemen; (rookie wide receiver)
“Just seeing all the guys who didn’t even have a shot at making the team becoming these key players for the squad. So I see them headed in the right direction.”
What did Lynch enjoy most about the 2011 season? His career-best rushing total? Scoring in 11 consecutive games, the franchise record and also longest streak in the league since 2002? The upset victories over the playoff-bound New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens?
“Just getting to meet everybody and build the relationships I built,” Lynch said. “There’s a lot of young guys and they’re looking for some older guys to kind of show them the ropes. So they kind of find the older guy and they cling on to him and try to learn as much as they can.
“So that’s just been a process of players getting to know players.”
Lynch, like his teammates, was left with a feeling of emptiness because this season’s 7-9 team was so much better than last season’s 7-9 team – which won the NFC West title and then stunned the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints in the playoff before falling the Chicago Bears in the second round.
“That’s just the way it goes sometimes,” Lynch said. “I mean, it happened like that and unfortunately we’re going home this year. That’s just how it goes.”
