Lynch avoids $.5M fine by talking to the press

[RiverDog]

Heard it on NFL radio. They were going to fine Beast 1/2 a million dollars if he didn't appear in front of the press and answer their questions. He spent less than 5 minutes in the interview and avoided the fine.

I guess they found out how much it takes to make him talk. Incredible.

[curmudgeon]

Failure to speak with press on Super Bowl media day=$500,000.
Suggested fine for using tampered equipment during AFC championship=$25,000.
NFL executive management ineptitude on display=priceless!!!!!

[Hawktawk]

Publicly encouraging teammates to target an injury of an opposing player. Not a problem.LMAO

[RiverDog]

Yea, you could take any fine ever levied for any offense in the history of the league and compare it with a potential half million dollar fine for not talking to the press and find an absurd inequity of justice. It has to be one of the worst applications of making the punishment fit the crime that I've ever witnessed.

But the NFL won. Lynch did talk, however limited. Once they made it an issue, no way were they going to let him win. Same goes for his crotch grab. They'll just keep increasing the punishment until he says 'uncle'.

[Hawktawk]

Apparently there is no penalty for dropping numerous F bombs in range of the microphones and the camera or even in the referees ear. It was so bad the FCC complained to the networks but the league of course did nothing. Its a crock.

[monkey]

You guys are all correct.
It's no wonder that Sherman can't stop calling the NFL out for it's hypocrisy.

[HumanCockroach]

Interesting, the fine amount would have been the exact same amount the NFL deemed spygate ( a blatant cheating situation, that was done by Bellichick, immediately following a memo telling them not to do it) for Bellichick. 500 K. Whatever NFL, you are a crock of sh*t top to bottom.

[kalibane]

Honestly I never thought I would say this but I'm about done with the NFL and their hypocrisy. The combo of the NFL "investigating" itself for the Ray Rice incident, this garbage about not talking to the media getting a far bigger fine than dirty plays on the field... and if they don't bring the hammer down on the Pats in the offseason and I mean the Hammer. I'm checking out until Goodell is gone. The NFL is turning into a complete sham.

[RiverDog]

Honestly I never thought I would say this but I'm about done with the NFL and their hypocrisy. The combo of the NFL "investigating" itself for the Ray Rice incident, this garbage about not talking to the media getting a far bigger fine than dirty plays on the field... and if they don't bring the hammer down on the Pats in the offseason and I mean the Hammer. I'm checking out until Goodell is gone. The NFL is turning into a complete sham.

I agree with you and the others about the hypocrisy. It's insane. All they care about is money. Period. And like HC and I discussed in another thread, they're really no different than any other large corporation in the country.

But you, me, and everyone else that is a fan of the game will keep coming back because the product on the field is far superior than any other form of entertainment. The games are fun to watch, parity has created an even playing field where every team in every city has a chance to compete, and the game day experience is unparalleled in sport.

[kalibane]

I think I'm a little bit further along than you Riv. The ONLY reason I am still watching is because of the timing of it all. I've been waiting and watching for 40 years for the Seahawks to become a power. And it just so happens that the Seahawks fielded my favorite overall team (starting halfway through 2012) won their first championship and became a legitimate NFL power at the same time Goodell has presided over all this nonsense. It doesn't feel like I should have to not enjoy this time because the NFL offices are composed of a bunch of dick heads.

I had already cancelled my NFL Sunday Ticket in protest this season and if the Hawks put an exclamation point on things by showing Brady the door in the Super Bowl I really feel like I'll be ready to turn away completely until the NFL pulls its collective head out.

[monkey]

I just read the following quote, it made me chuckle:

The NFL's treatment of Lynch has turned him into a sort of football Obi-Wan Kenobi; the more the league strikes him down, the more powerful he becomes.

Perfect.

[Uppercut]

I am wondering if Lynch may have some psychological issue that gives him a talking phobia? If that is the case it BS and cruel of the NFL to put him in such a spot. What if he was a stutterer or similar? And they made him face the media and talk. Its sort of like putting some smooth talking politician out on the football field.

[RiverDog]

I am wondering if Lynch may have some psychological issue that gives him a talking phobia? If that is the case it BS and cruel of the NFL to put him in such a spot. What if he was a stutterer or similar? And they made him face the media and talk. Its sort of like putting some smooth talking politician out on the football field.

I doubt that there's an abnormal psychological condition that accounts for Lynch's behavior. IMO he simply does not like authority figures telling him what to do or how to behave. He complies only when the consequences of not complying become intolerable to him. I think that there is a little of that in all of us, at least in certain specific instances, just not to the same degree as it is in Lynch.

A while back, I related a personal experience I feel is comparable to Lynch's refusal to answer questions in a press conference when I refused to comply with my employer's insistence that I post a picture of myself on the company website and did so only when they threatened to get nasty. Of course, there may be some in here that think I may have a psychological issue, too.

[Uppercut]

Now I see they may fine him for wearing the wrong hat on media day! According to ESPN

[RiverDog]

Now I see they may fine him for wearing the wrong hat on media day! According to ESPN

Good. Keep fining him. I want him thoroughly pissed off when he takes the field Sunday.

Apparently Beast's hat was marketed as "the hat ML wore at his news conference", and sold out immediately. They fined Brian Urlacher for essentially the same thing back in 2007, but his hat conflicted with an advertising agreement the league had with Pepsi. Lynch's hat is made by New Era, a company that has an agreement with the NFL.

[kalibane]

Jesus... when is the NFL going to realize they are just going to make Lynch into a folk hero? Sure they will get their way eventually because they have all the leverage but they are getting into a pissing contest with one player who would be anonymous if they had just well enough alone.

[RiverDog]

Jesus... when is the NFL going to realize they are just going to make Lynch into a folk hero? Sure they will get their way eventually because they have all the leverage but they are getting into a pissing contest with one player who would be anonymous if they had just well enough alone.

Yea, they're making him a counter culture hero, like the Hell's Angels. I have no doubt that the league is on solid legal and ethical ground to fine him for the hat, but is it really worth it?

[mykc14]

Yea, they're making him a counter culture hero, like the Hell's Angels. I have no doubt that the league is on solid legal and ethical ground to fine him for the hat, but is it really worth it?

There also going to be making him a lot of money. The more the fine him for the little things the more people are going to want to buy his stuff.

[Hawktawk]

Just read the transcript of a conversation with Marshawns Grandpa. He raised Beast because his dad is doing life in prison. His take on the press conferences was that even in high school Lynch didn't like cameras or attention and its no different today. He said if the league is going to continue to make Lynch go through the circus of post game reporters mikes in his face he will just retire.
To me Beast clearly looks very uncomfortable in the mass media format.

I dont understand what is wrong with Marshawn interviewing one on one which he has done numerous times, including after the KC game and yet he was fined 100,000.

[HumanCockroach]

Now there is talk of fining him for what he says ( or lack there of) according to Clayton, the sanctamonious jerk. He of the Lynch "owes" the fans, and the media these answers ( though neglects to acknowledge that no fans have an issue with it)..

If the NFL fines him for answering questions in a manner they "want" they will looking at a lawsuit, and they will lose. No where does it say, he has to answer in a manner that the media and fans, and NFL like, just that he has to be available, and answer questions ( which he did).


IF that is the route they plan on taking, I would expect an enormous fine also levied on Bill Bellichick for his " on to Cincinatti" and " we are focussed on Seattle" which is EXACTLY the same thing Lynch is doing. So tired of the NFL manufacturing fineable offenses, and IMHO with their appearance already in the toilet, and the allegations they have faced in the last three seasons, they might want to stop targetting a player and a team, that is the dominant team currently, and one that doesn't appear to be falling off a cliff anytime soon..... Seatle IS the new New England, Dallas, Pittsburgh, SF whatever "model" team you want to insert, for the foreseeable future, jobbing them, fining them, and punishing them for made up offenses, isn't going to be helping their image issues anytime soon.

[RiverDog]

Now there is talk of fining him for what he says ( or lack there of) according to Clayton, the sanctamonious jerk. He of the Lynch "owes" the fans, and the media these answers ( though neglects to acknowledge that no fans have an issue with it)..

That's a very good point. I know of no fans, certainly no Seahawk fans, that have a problem with Lynch not talking to the press. Speaking for myself, I am not dying to hear what Marshawn has to say. It's only the media and league officials that get their briefs in a wad when Lynch stands them up.

Honestly, does anyone that has friends from another fan base know if their fans are upset with Lynch's media silence? The Pats/Niner/Steeler/Cowboy fans I am friends with don't give a rip.

[HumanCockroach]

I have not met, or spoken with anyone amongst several teams fanbases that care one way or another, if ANY player talks, much less a "specific" player. I have friends that cover the entire spectrum of fanbases ( yeah, even Niner "faithful" ) and not a one has voiced any concerns over what Lynch does or does not say, in fact at this point almost to a man ( or woman) they all find what he is doing at the stupid media dog and pony show, as the MOST entertaining thing about it.

Ultimately, the only complaints I've seen are from the internet "tough guys" that some how feel bigger if they go on line and call someone dumb, or spout off about kicking him out of the league, or insisting that answering with short phrases repeatedly isn't doing his "job" ( my guess is a whole lot of people that watched him either carry their team around the stadium, or fans that are scared he is GOING to).. beyond that? No one.

[HawkDawg]

Wonder what Mars Inc. paid him for the Skittles interview? $500,000? Take that, plus the $500,000 he saved by showing up for the interview, it makes for a million dollar day for The Beast!

[RiverDog]

I have not met, or spoken with anyone amongst several teams fanbases that care one way or another, if ANY player talks, much less a "specific" player. I have friends that cover the entire spectrum of fanbases ( yeah, even Niner "faithful" ) and not a one has voiced any concerns over what Lynch does or does not say, in fact at this point almost to a man ( or woman) they all find what he is doing at the stupid media dog and pony show, as the MOST entertaining thing about it.

That's been my experience, too. I mean, think about it: If Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady doesn't say a word after a game, is it going to bother any of us? Besides, these athletes get over exposed so quickly anymore it wouldn't surprise me that the league would be better off monetarily if they didn't do so many interviews with them. I'm so damn tired of seeing/listening to Peyton Manning humming "Nation Wide is on your side" that I could throw up every time I see it. There is such a thing as a law of diminishing returns associated with exposing athletes to the press.

[Hawktown]

That's been my experience, too. I mean, think about it: If Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady doesn't say a word after a game, is it going to bother any of us? Besides, these athletes get over exposed so quickly anymore it wouldn't surprise me that the league would be better off monetarily if they didn't do so many interviews with them. I'm so damn tired of seeing/listening to Peyton Manning humming "Nation Wide is on your side" that I could throw up every time I see it. There is such a thing as a law of diminishing returns associated with exposing athletes to the press.[/quote]

I also know of not one person that cares if ANY player talks or not.

I too Am so tired of that stupid commercial. My wife and daughter LOVE to start humming/singing it just to get at me, sometimes when they haven't even heard it!

[kalibane]

It's all media driven. You should have heard Stephen A. Smith getting all sanctimonious and arrogant about how irresponsible Lynch is for setting an example for all those youth he helps in Oakland that says you can buck the rules and how he's doing a disservice to them and the fans. And implied that the NFL needs the players to answer these questions in order to help promote the league or else they wouldn't be getting paid millions of dollars.

Made me want to puke. Fans DON'T care. The only people who really care are the media types (especially those who worked the beat like John Clayton and Stephen A. Smith ) who need a quote to make their deadlines.

Further the media covers the NFL because if they don't their readers go somewhere else. Football didn't need papers to write about them... they didn't make the NFL what they are. The sport and fan interest in the sport drove the media to cover it in order to increase circulation/readership and up ad rates.

There are some days where I really wish I could actually sit down and debate these clowns.

ETA: Come on now be fair about the Nationwide Commercial... it's totally worth it for all the Peyton Manning Jokes that can be made with that jingle.

"The L.O.B. destroyed my dreams"