Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch will likely receive a $500,000 fine for the interview - or lack of interview - he gave Super Bowl reporters on Tuesday's media day. Lynch, who has a history of being uncooperative with reporters, answered every question asked of him with a variation of, "I'm here so I won't get fined."
ESPN's Ed Werder reported the league threatened Lynch with a $500,000 fine if he failed to make himself available to reporters on Tuesday. Lynch did appear before reporters for 4 minutes, 51 seconds, but the interview was reminiscent of the interview he gave during last year's Super Bowl media day.
Lynch arrived at the podium, sat down and set a timer on his cell phone. He then answered 29 questions from reporters with, "I'm here so I won't get fined," offering slight variations throughout his brief interview. When the interview reached the 4:51 mark, Lynch called "time" and exited.
Although Lynch wasn't exactly forthcoming in his interview with reporters, he did technically meet the obligations stipulated in his contract.
"NFL contracts merely require players to make themselves available to the media, an obligation Lynch apparently satisfied with his single answer," Jeff Legwold of ESPN wrote Tuesday.
Tuesday's session with the media was similar to one Lynch had at the previous Super Bowl media day, where he answered each question with: "I'm just 'bout that action, Boss."
It's uncertain if Lynch can be fined for his interview on Tuesday, but if he were fined, it wouldn't be the first time he had to pay the league. Lynch received a $50,000 fine, along with a $50,000 fine retroactively imposed on him from last season, in November for violating the league's media policy. He also received an $11,050 fine in December and a $20,000 fine in January for making a crotch-grab gesture during a game, according to ESPN.
He's contractually obligated to appear before the media on Wednesday and Thursday.
