Cohen: Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch have moved on Don't read too much into Sherman's comments regarding a possible return to Seattle

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, left, walks off the field with cornerback Richard Sherman, right, after NFL Football training camp, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, left, walks off the field with cornerback Richard Sherman, right, after NFL Football training camp, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Cohen: Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch have moved on 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

In case you missed it over the weekend, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman caused a stir when asked about life after Marshawn Lynch at a youth football camp in Virginia over the weekend.

(Lynch was also in attendance, but unsurprisingly didn't get any camera time.)

Sherman's answer to a question from former teammate Michael Robinson spawned dozens of reactions around the country, some tinged with the kind of breathless water-cooler speculation usually reserved for "Game of Thrones" theorizing. But let's get one thing clear: Jon Snow has a better chance of taking a handoff for Seattle in 2016 than Lynch.

A quick review: the 30-year-old Lynch announced his intentions to retire in a tweet during Super Bowl 50. His agent subsequently confirmed those plans, and Seahawks GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll never waived in their insistence that the franchise was moving on without their former star all offseason.

Although Seattle waited until early May to place him on the reserve/retired list, that move was consistent with the tendencies of a front office that holds off on executing personnel decisions until it deems them necessary. In other words, why put Lynch on the reserve list until after the NFL draft, when Seattle added 10 draft picks and 13 undrafted free agents to its 90-man offseason roster?

The notoriously silent Lynch, who openly flouted, then mocked the league's media policies during Seattle's back-to-back Super Bowl appearances during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, has not elaborated on his post-football plans. But all indications are that he has moved on in the offseason.

Lynch has been spotted traveling the world, as well as spending much of his time building his "Beast Mode" brand in his hometown of Oakland, but his failure to file his paperwork has led some to believe he may reverse field and play again in 2016.

Sherman's exchange with Robinson on Saturday added fuel to that fire. Again, in case you somehow avoided the interview and its aftermath, here are Sherman's comments on Lynch in their entirety, per NFL.com.

"I don't put anything past (Lynch.) He's about as predictable as a pair of dice. So I don't try to call his plays. But it's obviously going to be different. We got a little sample of it last year. We had to play without him for a good portion of the season. I think we're prepared for it in some aspects. But you never really want to be prepared for that. You would hope that he comes back. In the back of your mind, you hope he comes back and plays another year. But he doesn't owe us anything. He's given us everything. He's given the game everything we asked."

First things first, Sherman calling Lynch unpredictable is akin to someone calling Sherman confident. Nothing to see here.

But the second part of the quote, where Sherman expresses his hope that Lynch "comes back and plays another year" should read as one former teammate speaking well of another. It should not be interpreted literally, as in "Sherman is angling for Lynch return."

What else what Sherman supposed to say in the situation?

"We won't miss Marshawn at all. We're so prepared that I hope he never tries to come back. He's not welcome."

The "will he or won't he" speculation regarding Lynch's retirement will continue until he either files his retirement paperwork or the 2016 regular season gets underway. Even then, Lynch's name will probably resurface after every injury to any prominent running back, particularly if that running back plays in Seattle or Oakland.

But the Seahawks are clearly moving on. In addition to bringing back free agent Christine Michael to back up presumed starter Thomas Rawls, Seattle spent nearly a third of its draft capital on running backs C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and Zac Brooks.

Neither of the five are Lynch, but Schneider, Carroll and the rest of Seattle's brain trust are clearly hoping that their stable of young backs approximates the production Lynch gave them over parts of six seasons, when he rushed for 6,347 yards and 57 touchdowns on 1,457 attempts.

Sherman's interview this weekend won't be the last tidbit that leads reporters and fans to question whether or not Lynch, arguably one of the most iconic players of his generation, is really gone. But Seahawks fans who don't want to get their hopes up might be well served to follow Schneider and Carroll's lead and move on.

Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports editor Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.