Advertisement

Fred Jackson joins former Bills teammate Marshawn Lynch in Seattle

Fred Jackson joins former Bills teammate Marshawn Lynch in Seattle

Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch began their NFL careers together in the Bills backfield, combining for more than 6,000 rushing yards from 2007 until Lynch was traded to the Seahawks in 2010. 

[Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football: Sign up and join a league today!]

And when the phrase “Beast Mode” entered the national football consciousness during a bruising 67-yard run against the Saints in Lynch’s playoff debut for Seattle, Jackson was there, too, because his former teammate flew him out for the occasion. So, it’s only fitting the two will share a backfield again in a quest for the Super Bowl, as Jackson agreed to a one-year deal with the Seahawks after being cut by the Bills.

“Coming into the league, that was a guy who took me under his wing, showed me the ropes, showed me how to be a pro on this level,” Lynch told Yahoo after his TD capped an upset of New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs in 2011. “I had a tough road, and he was there every step of the way.”

There was some question as to whether the Seahawks would even bring Lynch back for another season at age 29 — and even whether he would consider retirement — but after a 1,306-yard, 13-touchdown campaign that might have ended in a second Super Bowl ring had Pete Carroll just handed him the damn ball, the organization rewarded him with a two-year extension worth up to $31 million.

Jackson’s arrival should help alleviate some of Seattle’s concerns about Lynch’s lingering back pain, lessening the number of times the latter enters Beast Mode throughout the season. And if rumors about a division in the Seahawks locker room between Lynch and Russell Wilson are — or ever were — legit, the beloved former Bills back’s relationship with Lynch and league-wide respect might help bridge a gap.

The presence of Jackson could also provide further guidance for third-year running back Christine Michael, should the struggling former second-round pick survive this weekend’s cuts. Outside of Jackson's veteran influence, though, there remains some question as to how much of an impact he will make on the field. Jackson averaged a career-worst 3.7 yards per carry during a 2014 season shortened by two games due to injury, although he still finished with 1,026 yards from scrimmage.

[Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football: Enter our $1 Million Week 1 contest]

At the very least, there’s now at least one person in the Seattle locker room who can get Lynch to talk.

- - - - - - -

Ben Rohrbach

is a contributor for Ball Don't Lie and Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!