In the last several weeks, there have been plenty of questions concerning former Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch's future with the team. There hasn't been any concrete He is set to enter the second year of his two-year, $9 million deal that has a $1 million roster bonus that will come into effect on March 18.

Despite this chatter, head coach Jon Gruden has remained persistent in his message of having the 31-year-old on board in his first campaign back on the sidelines. According to Paul Guitterez of ESPN, Gruden once again aired that sentiment on Wednesday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine stating that he is excited for the opportunity to get to work with Lynch.

“He's still a beast that's hard to bring down,” Gruden said of Lynch at the NFL combine in Indianapolis on Wednesday. “And one of the reasons I'm excited to be with the Raiders is to join forces with Lynch. But we'll see what happens. Obviously, we have to take a look at the entire roster. But I'm counting on him. I'm counting on him being a big part of our football team.”

These comments fall in line with the 54-year-old's recent stance concerning Lynch calling for him to be the Raiders “feature back” next season. The five-time Pro Bowler has proven that he still has plenty left in the tank in his first year back from retirement rushing for 891 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games played. This included recording more than 100 rushing yards twice, and more than 60 yards in each of the last seven games he took the field.

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This has only further given the sense that there is a strong desire from the Raiders to have Lynch back for at least another season. It may just be on him to decide whether he wants to continue his NFL career after going through the physical grind of an entire season. If Lynch chooses to step away once again, the Raiders are rumored to have interest in pursuing either Le'Veon Bell or Carlos Hyde in free agency.

It is all shaping up for a resolution to this situation being determined at some point prior to the start the new league year next month.