Marshawn Lynch might be the most violent running back I’ve ever seen play football, and that is absolutely a complement. He flips conventional wisdom on its head, seemingly always delivering, rather than receiving, the blow from defenders. Without him, Seattle doesn’t have two Super Bowl trips with at least one Lombardi Trophy for their troubles. Since being traded to Seattle in 2010, he’s rushed for 5,930 yards and 54 touchdowns, among the league leaders in both categories in that time. Hell, he’s caused two minor earthquakes. He’s been worth every penny and then some of the $30 million dollar contract he signed back in 2011. He’s undeniably a great player, and one of the defining running backs of his generation. So why is it so difficult for him to act like a professional?
Every single contract signed by an NFL player includes a clause stating that the player “will cooperate with the news media.” This is a low bar to meet, as proven this season repeatedly by Lynch himself. Simply make yourself available for the media to answer questions, and you’ve met the standard. The answers don’t matter. You could answer every question with, say, “Thank you” or “Yeah” and still not get in trouble with the league. I understand and have sympathy for people with social anxiety issues, as Lynch clearly does. But dealing with the media is part of being an NFL player. If Lynch really can’t handle it, he either needs to find a way to get it out of the contract or find something else to do with his life. But you don’t get to knowingly sign a contract with requirements and standards for conduct, then pick and choose which requirements and standards you’re going to follow. Right or wrong, being an NFL player requires more than simply being good at football.
Lynch also seems intent on actively sticking it to the NFL whenever given the opportunity. He repeated his “crotch grab” celebration as he scored the go-ahead touchdown against Green Bay last Sunday, the same move that he had been fined earlier in the season against Arizona for. Frankly, the Seahawks should consider themselves lucky Lynch was not flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, a penalty that could have cost Seattle the game. The NFL has already announced that if Lynch attempts to repeat the move in the Super Bowl against New England, he will be flagged. This isn’t a celebration that makes a social statement, or contains an important message; it’s a “look at me” gesture meant to taunt an opponent, and Lynch is lucky he has not been flagged for it thus far.
Recently, Lynch tweeted out that he was “embarrassed” to work for the NFL because of fines levied against a teammate. I understand and respect wanting to stick up for a teammate, and I even side with Lynch on the fine. But for Lynch to say he’s “embarrassed” to work for the NFL is almost laughable. I’d bet the NFL was embarrassed that Marshawn worked for them when he used 50 words to answer 22 post-game questions, but the only voices complaining publicly about it were the reporters.
Lynch is an amazing talent; no one who regularly watches the NFL could argue otherwise. It’s simply a shame that his talent will always be tied with controversies of his own making. Lynch isn’t being “unique” or “expressing his individuality,” he’s acting childish. Being an NFL player means more than carrying the ball on Sundays, even Super Bowl Sunday. No one is expecting Lynch to turn into Peyton Manning or teammate Russell Wilson and suddenly become the media’s best friend. But abiding by minimally acceptable standards of on-and-off field behavior is not too much to ask of anyone being paid $30 million to play a game.
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