Raiders GM: 'We wanted this entire team to be Beast Mode'
The Oakland Raiders aren't just hoping Marshawn Lynch will add some punch to their rushing attack. They hope Lynch will transform the entire roster's mentality.
"One of the reasons we brought him here was the toughness," general manager Reggie McKenzie told The MMQB's Peter King. "That weighed heavily. The mentality. The presence. That toughness. We didn’t want just him to be Beast Mode; we wanted this entire team to be Beast Mode."
Lynch's hard-nosed running style is legendary, as is his eclectic personality off the field. While McKenzie probably doesn't want a team of players who are unwilling to speak to the media, as Lynch famously is, the overall point is clear.
The Raiders are ready to take the next step and become the sort of team that wins tough playoff games. Lynch is the sort of player who can help push them over that hump.