Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports
If Beast Mode was done for good on Sunday, Marshawn Lynch parted the NFL with words of wisdom to the next generation.
Shortly after the Seattle Seahawks lost to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round, the usually reserved Lynch took to the podium to answer a few questions from reporters. As expected, Lynch first answered with quick, one-word, responses.
Then something triggered him to open up.
The five-time Pro Bowl decided to use the platform to tell young players to start preparing for their future now. In his words, the young guys need to “take care of y’all chicken.”
Marshawn Lynch in … Marshawn Lynch out.
(FYI: Chicken = money) pic.twitter.com/WxksSWOPJX
— Keith Jenkins (@MrKeithJenkins) January 13, 2020
Don’t confuse chicken, with actual poultry. Lynch was referring to money.
He emphasizes to young players today to start planning ahead for retirement now, and to start taking care of their bodies and minds. Lynch, who briefly retired, before returning to the Oakland Raiders and then Seahawks, knows that a player’s life in the NFL is limited, and that you have to start putting away for life after football now. And if you’re not staying healthy now, what the use of having the money even if you did save, if you can’t move around and enjoy it.
“It’s a vulnerable time for a lot of these young dudes, you feel me?” Lynch said. “They don’t be taking care of their chicken right. If they was me, or if I had the opportunity to let these young [guys] know something, I’d say take care of your money, because that s— don’t last forever. Now, I done been on the other side of retirement and it’s good when you can get over there and you can do what the f— you want to.”
Watch your chicken, young fellas. It’s great advice.
