Not for the first time, Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks shows how little regard he shows to the aspect of talking to the media in his sport, preferring to prove himself on the field then spend hours talking to reporters during the Super Bowl Media day.

Lynch spoke for 6 minutes and 20 seconds before retreating to a back wall at the Prudential Center. He ignored the media from that point onward except for a very brief interview with NFL network. Everyone he spoke to got the same answers from him: It’s not about what he says, it’s about how he preforms during the game.

My fans aren’t worried about what I’ll say. They just want to make sure I show up to perform. Media day just ain’t my thing. No need to talk about it. Was raised like that. … Game time, though, I’ll be there.

Lynch was actually fined $50,000 at the end of the regular season by the NFL for not speaking to the media once during the entire season. However, that fine was held in abeyance after Lynch promised to speak. He did so before both weeks of the playoffs. The terms of Lynch’s fine being put on hold was that the $50,000 would be collected and that he also would be fined another amount if he didn’t talk to the media.

So did he fill his obligation in SB media day according to the league? Players are required to participate and he participated (league spokesmen Greg Aiello)

Pete Carroll is aware of this “problem” but says there’s not much to do about it: Lynch doesn’t like talking to the media, it simply isn’t a part of who he is, as opposed to teammate Richard Sherman, who seems he can’t go more than 24 hours without saying something that catches an ear and an eye, with the media relishing the opportunity to get more golden nuggets from him.

He doesn’t feel comfortable in settings like this. And he doesn’t like to do things he’s told to do. Fortunately that hasn’t been a factor for our football team. But in this setting, he becomes something of a recluse and he doesn’t want to be part of it. We try to respect him as much as we can.

So will the NFL fine him? The largest fine  in Super Bowl media day history is believed to be the $100,000 slapped on Brian Urlacher seven years ago for wearing a hat with the logo of Vitaminwater, a non-league sponsor. From what we know about Roger Goodell, he doesn’t miss an opportunity to take money from players.

Here is a guy who focuses on playing the game, nothing else; a true, 100% professional who is here to play football and treats it with complete respect and focus. But he isn’t playing “the game”, even though there are plenty of other guys completely happy to speak for him. The world can live without Lynch speaking about things he doesn’t want to talk about, and Goodell should focus on other things, far more important.

Images: Source