Should Marshawn Lynch’s ‘silence’ result in a fine?

With just eight words, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch stole the show at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday.  But should his “antics” get him fined just days before the big game?

If there’s anything Oakland, California native and current Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has done is piss people off, whether it be on the field or in his post-game interviews.

Which is why he’s the perfect candidate to speak on Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday … right?

Marshawn Lynch stayed his four-and-a-half minutes at his podium on Media Day, the minimum he has to stay and, in typical Marshawn Lynch fashion, answered every question with just seven words: “I’m here so I won’t get fined.”

As expected the latest one-liner from Lynch took off on social media faster than a speeding bullet, with one big question to follow: should, or will Lynch get fined for his latest “media appearance.”

On Wednesday’s scheduled media session, his approach to the media was no different.  This time, he gave the media a similar line: “You know why I’m here.”

Let’s be honest, with everything that happened in the NFL this season — the domestic abuse cases, the child abuse case with Adrian Peterson, “DeflateGate” and now this – which do you believe is more necessary of a fine?

The NFL is also considering fining Lynch for wearing his “Beastmode” hat by New Era, a cap not licensed by the NFL.  He wore it during media day yesterday and wore it again during the Seahawks media session on Wednesday.

Over the last two seasons, Lynch has been fined $100,000 for failing to comply with the league’s mandate that players talk to reporters.  Lynch was also fined $100,000 this years for refusing to speak with the media as well (apart from the “yeah” and “thanks for asking” bits).  Fair, considering those times he was fined for, he left without saying anything.

But for the NFL to fine him, technically for speaking to the media on Media Day or even during the Seahawks media session Wednesday, would seem ridiculous.  Technically, he spoke, didn’t say anything relatively stupid or anything that could hurt the “integrity” of the shield or the NFLPA and stayed the minimum amount of time he had to stay.

Also, if the NFL is to fine him for wearing a non-licensed NFL hat during an interview, then they better check up on Tom Brady and his “TB12” hat as well.  Or those times Tony Romo wore a non-NFL licensed cap in his post-game press conferences.

To his credit, he does give the media a warning before he starts his antics with them.  After the divisional win against Carolina, he warned: “Y’all wanna try again, huh? Y’all are going to try again? That’s what we are going to do, we are going to try one more time?…Y’all can try all y’all want.”  During Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday, he told the reporters he’ll answer with just one answer.

Here’s a bit of the irony of fining Lynch: the less he talks, the more people talk about him and the NFL, and if it’s one thing the NFL loves, it’s publicity.

Besides, his boss, Seahawks general manager “John Schneider voiced his approval of Lynch’s antics.

“I kind of love his act,” he said.  Keep in mind this is the same guy who signs Lynch’s checks.

“Under Goodell, the league continues to put players like Marshawn Lynch in a position to be mocked by the media, which seems to get a kick out of seeing people struggle on camera,” teammate Richard Sherman said about the situation.  “As teammates, we’re angry because we know what certain people do well and we know what they struggle with.

Marshawn’s talking to the press is the equivalent of putting a reporter on a football field and telling him to tackle Adrian Peterson.”   (Or, in this case, tackling Marshawn Lynch.)

Honestly, I would love to see Goodell try to tackle Peterson or Lynch and think that would be a fair bet to get Lynch to talk.  At least it would make for a great YouTube clip.

However, it’s worth mentioning that while he’s been relatively silent on camera, he’s been loud on the field.

Since arriving in Seattle, Lynch has ran for 5,930 yards with 54 touchdowns, running for over 1,000 yards and for more than 10 touchdowns in each of his four full seasons with the Seahawks.  He could break the 10,000 yard rushing mark next year if he can run for just over 1,300 yards, a feat he’s done twice in the last four years.

So he didn’t talk about the game or answer any of the questions by the media on Tuesday.  Given the variety or “reporters”, can you even blame him?

Besides, as everyone around the NFL knows, Lynch is “all about that action, boss.”

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