Pete Carroll refuses to believe rumors Marshawn Lynch is seriously considering retirement this offseason.

"We're always preparing for the future with him," Carroll told reporters Friday at the NFL scouting combine. "We've never thought of the future without him. Hopefully, it will work out."

Carroll's comments came two days after general manager John Schneider indicated he wouldn't be shocked if Lynch decided to quit football.

Lynch's hesitancy to commit could have something to do with his contract situation. He's entering the final year of his contract, due to make $7 million.

John Schneider would not be surprised if Marshawn Lynch retired as the Seattle Seahawks remain in the dark on his plans.

Schneider was asked if he'd be surprised if Lynch walked away.

"You know? Not really," he said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "He's a guy that kind of beats to his own drum. He does what he wants. He would never let you know one way or the other. There's been a lot of great running backs that have just walked away. So I have no idea."

Marshawn Lynch is considering retirement this offseason, according to former teammate Michael Robinson.

Robinson spoke with Lynch following the season.

"My bet would be that he plays next year in Seattle," Robinson said Thursday during a 710 ESPN Seattle radio interview. "I don't think Marshawn knows yet. I don't know what the timeline is. It's probably going to be a feel thing and we'll just see like everybody else."

Lynch held out of training camp last summer for eight days before getting changes in the structure of his contract, which has one year remaining at $7 million in 2015.

"I don't think he knew whether he was going to play last year unit almost training camp," Robinson said. "Marshawn is getting to a point in his life where he may want to enjoy other things that are important to him."

Robinson doesn't think Lynch's decision is about money, although the Seahawks have indicated they would be willing to extend his contract.

"I don't think it factors in too much," Robinson said, "but obviously this is a business. With the running back position being so devalued, I think he wants to be paid like the heartbeat of the team, which he should be.

"He knows that he has the leverage. He knows that he's the best back in the league. He knows he's a difference maker not only on the field but off the field."

Richard Sherman has praised the promotion of Kris Richard to defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks.

Sherman credited Richard with molding a cast of mid- and low-round picks -- Sherman and Kam Chancellor were fifth-rounders, Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane were sixth-rounders and Brandon Browner hailed from the CFL -- into the league's most fearsome secondary, nicknamed the Legion of Boom.

"The only first-round guy that anyone ever knew about was Earl (Thomas)," Sherman said. "Now everyone is like, 'Oh you guys have this big-time secondary.' Where were you guys at in 2011 when no one knew us from nobody.

"I think (Richard's) growth with us through that process to where we are now is the reason we respect him so much. He kind of built the giant that we are now with discipline, attention to detail, always being on it and always keeping us humble and down to earth, especially in the meeting room and making sure we understand our strengths, our weaknesses, what we do well and what we don't do well."

The Seattle Seahawks hope Marshawn Lynch will make a decision soon on whether he will continue his career in 2015.

Lynch's current deal calls for a $5 million base salary, plus $2 million in per-game roster bonuses and up to $500,000 in incentives based on rushing yards.

According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, general manager John Schneider said the Seahawks know a decision from Lynch on playing next season “may not happen overnight.”

The Seattle Seahawks have promoted Kris Richard to defensive coordinator.

Richard replaces Dan Quinn, who was hired last week as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Richard is a former USC player and former Seahawk.

Ndamukong Suh would prefer to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, which would allow him to play close to his hometown of Portland for a clear Super Bowl contenders.

The Seahawks could struggle to fit him in due to the number of their own impending free agents they must work to sign.

The Oakland Raiders are another contender for Suh and could "overbid" to land him.

Ken Norton Jr. has been named defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders.

Norton was previously linebackers coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

The promotion is ideal for Norton and will allow him to join forces with Jack Del Rio, another respected defensive mind in the NFL.

Norton began his coaching career at USC under Pete Carroll.

Earl Thomas played in the Super Bowl with a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will undergo surgery.

Thomas will be out six to eight months with the injury.

Thomas was an All-Pro safety for the fourth consecutive season in 2014.

Kam Chancellor played the Super Bowl with a torn MCL in his left knee along with a deep bone bruise on the outside of his knee.

Chancellor fell to the ground when he was hit on the knee near the end of practice two days before the Super Bowl, suffering the bruise.

Chancellor said he didn't know whether he was going to play Sunday when he went down in practice, even though he was listed as probable.

"They told me I wasn't going to be able to play," he said. "They told me torn MCL and bone bruise. I was mad. I was frustrated. But at the end of the day, I was able to play. My teammates came to me. They prayed with me. That's when it hit me. Why am I mad? I've got to be grateful for how I'm feeling right now. There are some people out there worse than me.

"I could have had a broken knee and not been able to play. So I just prayed for health and happiness. I prayed for peace and just to be able to make it to the game and play as much as I could for my teammates."