Report: Seahawks not expected to ask Lynch to repay $5M bonus

The Seattle Seahawks aren't expected to go after the $5 million in signing bonus money paid to Marshawn Lynch prior to the running back's retirement, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

Lynch signed a three-year, $31-million deal last offseason. That deal included a reported $7.5 million in signing bonus money - money that Lynch could be forced to repay if the Seahawks decided to go down that avenue.

Instead, it appears the team is happy to let Lynch keep the money he didn't necessarily earn under the strict terms of his contract.

It's possible both the Seahawks and Lynch had an under-the-table agreement that the team wouldn't seek repayment of bonus money paid to Lynch if he decided to retire before the expiration of the contract.

By not seeking bonus money, the Seahawks set a mildly dangerous precedent for any future players who opt to retire ahead of schedule, but they also preserve their relationship with Lynch, who will almost certainly go down in history as one of the franchise's all-time greats.