It's undeniable now. With a dozen former starters exiting this month, the Seahawks have completely changed. Their recent championship era is over. If they are to win again, it will be with only remnants of their previous, title-winning core.
Their team owner acknowledged that on Wednesday:
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But the first starter to exit this month says this decline away from championships in Seattle actually began two years earlier. Specifically, on the day Marshawn Lynch retired from the Seahawks.
Michael Bennett was asked by television and online sports personality Bill Simmons for The Ringer's "The Bill Simmons Podcast" this week if he and the Seahawks could feel the loss of Lynch when the thumping, one-of-a-kind running back briefly retired in February 2016 and left Seattle for good.