Raiders news: Shannon Sharpe says Marshawn Lynch had an 'unbelievable career'

Veteran running back Marshawn Lynch of the Oakland Raiders has decided to retire, and Shannon Sharpe believes he's had quite a career.

In Shannon Sharpe's opinion, Marshawn Lynch had an unbelievable NFL career.

Amidst rumors of Lynch's retirement, Sharpe described him as “the heartbeat” of his team during the April 24 episode of “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed (via 247Sports.com's John Newby).”

Beast Mode, he was the heartbeat, he was the pulse of the team. When he ran, the defense tackled harder, they covered better, that offense flowed. He was Beast Mode.

In that Beast Quake, we saw that run against the (New Orleans) Saints. That was a 7-9 ball club. If I'm not mistaken, the Saints had just come off winning the Super Bowl the previous year, if I'm not mistaken. The Saints were favored, and he put that run on.

"Beast Mode. He was the heartbeat, the pulse of the team. When he ran, the defense tackled harder, covered better, that offense flowed. … We'd view him totally different if he gets that ball on the 1-yd line, scores & they win. But he had an unbelievable career."—@ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/Y5PQjhHcGI

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) April 24, 2019

League sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Wednesday Lynch has plans of ending his football career for good. According to the ESPN report, Lynch has “plans to move on to the next phase of his life.”

Three years ago, Schefter broke the news of Lynch's first retirement after nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks.

Lynch sat out the 2016 NFL season. He then played for his hometown Oakland Raiders for two seasons before his impending second retirement.

More on Raiders' RB Marshawn Lynch planning to retire, again:https://t.co/K8jZL8uB5K

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2019

The Bills selected Lynch 12th overall out of the University of California in the 2007 NFL Draft. He earned five Pro Bowl berths during his 11-year NFL career. He also earned a Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks in 2014.

Lynch was one of the most scintillating runners the NFL has ever seen. He led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2013 (12) and 2014 (13). He also ran for at least 1,200 yards from 2011 to 2014.

Lynch concludes his 11-year NFL stint with 10,379 rushing yards and 84 rushing touchdowns. Don't act surprised if he makes it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday.