McClain: Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch makes mockery of Super Bowl Media Day

 

PHOENIX – Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch made a mockery of Media Day at Super Bowl XLIX.

Of all the Seahawks and New England Patriots who participated in Media Day at US Airways Center, only one failed to fill his obligations – the multitalented Lynch, a portrait of defiance for the second consecutive Super Bowl.

Unlike last year when Lynch created a scene by not talking on Media Day except to a couple of reporters, he had a podium just like the other star players who are trying to help the Seahawks win back-to-back Super Bowls.

Lynch, an outstanding player whose Beast Mode mentality personifies what the Seahawks are about, was fined $100,000 by the NFL last year for not performing his responsibilities with the media. He was threatened with a $500,000 fine if he didn’t show up for his one-hour session on Tuesday.

After the Patriots’ morning session, there was a 45-minute break before the Seahawks appeared.

Thirty minutes before his scheduled appearance, the crowd around Lynch’s podium was so large it was ridiculous.

When he appeared, Lynch climbed into his seat, looked at a throng of more than 200 reporters around him, set his timer on his cell phone and then politely informed everyone that he was going to answer questions the same way.

Someone in the front row tossed him a bag of Skittles, and Lynch smiled and thanked her. Then he was peppered with questions about the game.

“I’m here so I won’t get fined,” he kept repeating.

Lynch used that response about 30 times.

He was polite and patient. He listened to the questions, even leaned forward as if having difficulty hearing, then responded with a variation of, “I’m here so I won’t get fined.”

Then, less than five minutes after he arrived, Lynch’s cell-phone alarm went off, and he said, “Time,” and got up and left.

It was like Elvis really had left the building.

Incredulous reporters stayed as if waiting for an encore performance that wouldn’t come.

Evidently, someone told Lynch he had to be available at least 4.5 minutes.

So, for the second consecutive season, Lynch created a controversy that made him the No. 1 story at Media Day.

As they did at last year’s Super Bowl, Lynch’s teammates came to his defense.

“A lot of people misunderstand Marshawn,” strong safety Kam Chancellor said. “Maybe he doesn’t want to talk to the media, that doesn’t make him a bad guy or a bad person. You can’t punish him for not wanting to talk to the media. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

The standard contract signed by every player says they have media obligations. Lynch has done interviews, including during the postseason, so it’s not like he’s consistent in his policy other than at the Super Bowl.

“You’re missing out on a great guy,” Chancellor said. “A great personality, a great player.

“That’s a guy that you can go to and ask for any type of advice. He definitely is a very caring guy. He puts the team first. He’s definitely a great teammate and a great man.”

The great teammate and great man has two more scheduled media sessions Wednesday and Thursday at the Seahawks’ hotel.

Expect more of the same.


Author John McClain has covered the NFL for the Houston Chronicle for more than 30 years. Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports editor Nick Eaton at 206-448-8125, nickeaton@seattlepi.com or @njeaton.

John McClain