After suiting up, Marshawn Lynch decides not to play for Fan Controlled Football league team he co-owns

Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch created a stir Saturday night when he suited up on the inaugural night of the Fan Controlled Football (FCF) league and league announcers said he intended to play a handful of snaps for the Beasts, the team he co-owns.

The FCF released a photo of Lynch wearing a uniform and issued a “Breaking News’’ statement reporting that “Beast Mode Marshawn Lynch has decided to suit up for his team. @MoneyLynch added to roster." 

Lynch, the retired NFL running back also known as "Beast Mode," hasn’t played football since suiting up for the Seattle Seahawks late in the 2019 NFL season. He still hasn’t.

Abruptly, Lynch decided against playing for his team in the FCF debut in Duluth, Georgia.

“…Basically he felt he was taking snaps away from the starter, so he was ready to run out and backed out like a true owner with empathy,’’ said Bryan Kirsch, communications advisor for the FCF. “We are trying to get him back on the broadcast to talk about it.’’

As the game came to an end, Lynch, the five-time Pro Bowler, made no appearance in the broadcast booth.

The game, played at the Infinite Energy Arena and livestreamed on Twitch, still featured a celebrity: Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, started for the Zappers.

Popping into the broadcast during the night's first game, Lynch seemed optimistic about his on-field prospects. 

"I'm going to go ahead and throw back this Caesar salad with these croutons and all this (expletive), though right. Going ahead and take me a nice fat (expletive), get my stomach all right and everything and I'm finna go out here and try to run for 200 on a 50-yard field," Beast Mode said like only he can.