RENTON, Wash. — Marshawn Lynch sat at his locker on Wednesday as Seattle’s star running back talked for the first time since the start of training camp.
RENTON, Wash. — Marshawn Lynch sat at his locker on Wednesday as Seattle’s star running back talked for the first time since the start of training camp.
The Seahawks hope Lynch is on his feet and on the field come Sunday in the season opener at Arizona and not just a spectator on the bench.
“The goal is to (play). But I stay ready,” Lynch said. “So if I do, I do, and if I don’t, I don’t.”
Lynch is a bit of a question mark going into Sunday’s game with a sore back that has kept him out of the last two preseason games and most of practice during that stretch. Back spasms popped up following Seattle’s exhibition win at Denver on Aug. 18 and, while he’s receiving treatment, the problem still exists.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said the team will take a day-to-day approach with Lynch for the rest of this week. Lynch went through the team’s walkthrough on Wednesday morning but was limited in practice.
“We really won’t know until the end of the week unless something changes,” Carroll said. “The process that he’s gone through, he’s aerobically in good shape, we need to get him back his football legs and get him enough reps to do that. We’ll continue to progress throughout the week.”
The issue with his back is the latest development in a newsy offseason centered on Lynch. Coming off the finest season of his career, Lynch was rewarded in March when he agreed to a $31 million, four-year contract to stay in Seattle and bypassed an opportunity at free agency.
But the good news about him deciding to stay turned sour when he was arrested on DUI charges early on July 14 after the California Highway Patrol reported seeing Lynch weaving on Interstate 880 in the Oakland, Calif., area. An incident report released by CHP described Lynch driving a Ford Econoline van and having two near collisions with two other vehicles driving in adjacent lanes.
Lynch was charged with two counts in Alameda County, Calif.: driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and driving while having a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher. He issued an apology shortly after his arrest and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“That’s getting handled,” Lynch said. “That’s a legal matter, so I can’t speak on it. But I’m doing great as a person.”
Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He was exceptional the final nine weeks of the regular season when he was the most productive back in the NFL. Over those final nine weeks, Lynch rushed for 941 yards and nine scores.
Richardson ready to run for Browns
BEREA, Ohio — As days turned to weeks, Trent Richardson’s frustration grew — almost to anger.
Unable to play in the preseason or even practice with the Browns following knee surgery, Cleveland’s prized rookie running back was forced to work out on his own. Richardson’s dream of playing in the NFL was put on hold, and there wasn’t anything he could do but look at it as another obstacle to overcome.
“It’s been a fight,” said Richardson, who missed all of the team’s four preseason games.
He’s ready for his next one.
Richardson practiced Wednesday for the second time since undergoing his second knee operation this year on Aug. 9, and it appears the third overall pick in April’s draft will make his delayed debut Sunday when the Browns open the regular season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bears’ Urlacher goes through full practice
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher practiced Wednesday as the Chicago Bears continued to prepare for their season opener against Indianapolis.
Urlacher injured his left knee in the final game last season and has been sidelined for most of the preseason. He had arthroscopic surgery in mid-August and practiced Monday for the first time since July 31.
On Wednesday, he was listed as a full participant. That’s good news for the Bears as they get ready to meet No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck and the Colts on Sunday.
Urlacher did not stop to talk to reporters, but coach Lovie Smith says he had “a good practice.”
’Skins’ Meriweather out two to four weeks
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Redskins strong safety Brandon Meriweather will miss the season opener against the New Orleans Saints because of sprained ligaments in his left knee.
Coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday that Meriweather hurt the knee in practice on Monday. He could be out from two to four weeks.
Meriweather, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, was signed as a free agent in March. He originally hurt the knee in the first quarter of a preseason game against Chicago on Aug. 18.
Reed Doughty or D.J. Gomes are the possible replacements for Meriweather. Last week, Redskins safety Tanard Jackson was suspended for the season after a failed drug test.
Fans tell Goodell they want cheaper tickets
NEW YORK — NFL fans want cheaper tickets for preseason games and an end to blackouts. They want to be online at the game. Fans up North are looking for more cold-weather Super Bowls, and maybe even a chance to host the draft.
Got all that, Roger Goodell?
The NFL commissioner heard all those suggestions and more during an hour-long session with fans from all 32 teams before the regular season opened Wednesday with the Giants hosting the Cowboys.
The fans, winners of contests that earned them a trip to league headquarters, were decked out in jerseys and team hats for the occasion.
Cowboys: League’s most valuable team
NEW YORK — The Dallas Cowboys have become the first American sports franchise worth more than $2 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
The NFL’s most valuable team for the sixth consecutive year, the Cowboys saw their overall worth increase 14 percent to $2.1 billion. That’s about $1 billion higher than the average NFL team value, $1.11 billion, up 7 percent.
New TV contracts, the collective bargaining agreement signed last year and lasting for a decade, and higher premium seating revenue contributed to the increases.
With new stadiums in the works for the Vikings and 49ers, their values skyrocketed. Minnesota had a 22 percent increase to $975 million, while San Francisco moved up 19 percent to $1.175 billion.
New England was second to Dallas in overall value at $1.635 billion.