ESPN magazine features The Beast

The annual ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue is now available and this year it features Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.

Lynch also did an on-line interview with ESPN to promote the issue. But don’t look for any thoughts on the Seahawks in the interview, which is devoted to other topics, such as Lynch’s love of swimming.

“Michael Phelps wouldn’t have been on the Wheaties box if I stuck with swimming,” Lynch said. “I’ve been swimming since I was a little kid. I still swim. I’m the best. I am Olympic caliber right now, hell yeah.”

The involvement of the usually media-shy Lynch in the project drew this humorous reaction from teammate Doug Baldwin on twitter: “Shawn won’t talk to the press but he’ll pose naked..? … This fool.”

The Body Issue, which debuted in 2009, features athletes in nude and semi-nude photos.