NFC Links: Lynch, Eagles, Packers

Marshawn Lynch offered fans a rare glimpse into his thought process, and it contradicts his post-Super Bowl assessment.

The Seahawks running back decided to use a Turkish television station, although CSNNE’s Phil Perry breaks down the interview, to express his stance on not receiving a goal-line carry to potentially lift Seattle to a second straight championship.

“To be honest with you, I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I was expecting the ball,” Lynch told the Turkish station. “Yes, I was expecting the ball. But in life, these things happen. Like I told a reporter after the game, it’s a team sport.”

This surprising insight comes exactly a month after Lynch told ESPN’s Jim Trotter he wasn’t dismayed by not getting a carry on a play that instead resulted in Malcolm Butler‘s game-sealing interception. Currently in Turkey, Lynch also gave weight to the notion, albeit in a roundabout manner, that Pete Carroll didn’t want him to win the MVP award.

“I mean, you know . . . I think it was more of a . . . how do I say this? When you look at me, and you let me run that ball in . . . I am the face of the nation. You know, MVP of the Super Bowl . . . that’s pretty much the face of the nation at that point of time,” Lynch said.

Lynch remains under contract with the Seahawks for one more season, although the mercurial runner has yet to accepted a reported extension offer, which clouds his future.

In other news …

• Armed with $27.6MM of cap space, the Eagles could upgrade their secondary with Broncos safety Rahim Moore and Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson as CSNPhilly.com’s Reuben Frank and Geoff Bosher express. They’re a bit more bullish on Jackson, however. Moore could be the top safety on the market if Devin McCourty exits the market early via franchise tag or long-term extension.
• Recently released by the Eagles, Todd Herremans does not intend to retire, a source told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The former fourth-round pick from Division II Saginaw Valley State started at guard for the Eagles since 2006.
• The Packers have one of the more intriguing scenarios this offseason with $32MM+ worth of cap room and Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga as perhaps the best free agents available at their position, but OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald expects both to stay. Retainer deals for both the fifth-year wideout and sixth-year right tackle will eat into at least half of that space, optimistically speaking, but Fitzgerald doesn’t think Green Bay should pay 35-year-old Julius Peppers $9.5MM next year despite his resurgence last season.