Report: Lynch didn’t ‘win’ appeal, could be fined additional $50K

As has been widely reported, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was fined $50,000 by the NFL for refusing to speak with the media this season.  The league requires that players speak with media every week and Lynch had refused to do so until recently.

Lynch claimed that he won an appeal of the fine on his Facebook page, and also announced that any money given to him by fans – to help out with the fine – would still be passed along to charity, a pledge he also made on his Facebook page:

"To all the 12s I appreciate your support. Wanted you to know I appealed the fine & won, but I’m still going to match all donations made at http://www.gofundme.com/626xk0 & donate it to a local Seattle charity. Thanks to Loren Summers for starting the site, we’ve talked & after the deadline, even if $50k isn’t met & all contributions are given back, I’ll donate the matched total # anyway. #12thman #Seahawks#BeastMode"

A grand gesture by the talented back, indeed.  You do have to consider that he made $7 million in salary this season, so any fan donations aren’t really needed, albeit a nice gesture as well if that money goes to charity.

However, now it appears that the fine wasn’t exactly overturned and could end up being more.  The league reportedly delayed the collection of the fine and has stated that any further violation will result in an additional $50,000 fine on top of the original, via NBC Sports’ Mike Florio.  So, Lynch could be fined as much as $100,000 if he continues to avoid the press.

So no he didn’t “win” the appeal, per say, but instead got away with a warning that could turn into even worse punishment.