Marshawn Lynch is going to be a Seahawk for a long time

This is a bigger signing by the Seahawks than you think. By re-signing Marshawn Lynch, Seattle has corraled themselves a solid yards producer and scorer... somebody who is now coming into his prime as a running back. At just 25, the Seahawks' four-year contract should cover the best four years of Lynch's career.

This is a smart, smart signing, and it's surprisingly cheap. That 17 million dollar price tag is just 4.25 million a year of guaranteed money. If he hits all the contract requirements, its only 7.75 million per year. I don't think fans or the front office is going to complain about that price tag, even if Lynch is average for the next four years. Ask the Tennessee Titans how paying their running back lots and lots of money is going for them.

It also gives the Seahawks a marketable star, and a clear weapon on offense. Here's what Sports Press NW had to say about the signing...

A major deed on the Seahawks’ off-season to-do list was done Sunday night when leading rusher Marshawn Lynch was signed to a deal that, according to multiple media sources, is potentially worth $31 million over four years, with $17 million guaranteed.

The Seahawks were up against an NFL deadline Monday for placing franchise tags on players. But the tags are for a single year and both sides wanted more contract length. If the Seahawks did not reach a deal at all, he would have been an unrestricted free agent March 13.

“We are excited to keep Marshawn as an important part of what we are building,” general manager John Schneider said in a club release. “This is what we were hoping for when we acquired him from Buffalo.”

Lynch, 25, has been the most productive running back since Shaun Alexander’s 2005 season helped the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. In 2011, Lynch had career highs in rushing yards (1,204) and touchdowns (13) and also scored in a club-record 11 consecutive games. That broke by two Alexander’s mark, also in ’05. Lynch, also had 100-yard totals in six of the final nine games to spark a second-half surge that helped the seasons to a 5-3 record in the second half.

Seahawk fans are a little pumped about this one...