Media Day for the Super Bowl was on Tuesday. This is a day for the media to ask ridiculous questions to players and coaches. Some of these include, “what is your favorite food,” “what is your favorite snack ,” “and what is your favorite movie?“
Marshawn Lynch, starting running back for the Seattle Seahawks, answered the questions by saying, “I’m only here so I won’t get fined.” The NFL threatened Lynch with a $100,000 fine if he didn’t show up to Media Day. He showed up but may be fined by the NFL for wearing his “beast mode” hat during the interview. If the NFL determines that he was trying to promote a brand that wasn’t approved by the NFL, he will get a fine. Every time Lynch doesn’t talk to the media they make it a big deal. When he meets with them he usually won’t say much. Why should Lynch chat if he doesn’t want to?
The NFL requests that every player be accessible to the media after a game. When a player doesn’t make himself available for questions, he will be fined. Lynch was fined $50,000 this year for not talking the media. Lynch conversed and answered questions in week 12 after a 19-3 win over the Cardinals. He avoided an NFL fine that week. The answers to all the questions were “maybe, I don’t know, yeah, and no juice”. Lynch didn’t look comfortable during the interview and seemed to finish quickly.
The NFL doesn’t understand that Lynch might be afraid of the media. He could have a fear of public speaking or perhaps he wasn’t educated in college on how to deal with the media. The Seattle Seahawks could have their Public Relations person help him to be more relaxed. The other option is for the media to stop asking Lynch questions. He only provides one-word answers or one-sentence answers. It makes for a dull interview.
The NFL should help Lynch with his public speaking problem. Fining him isn’t the answer. It just hits him in the wallet.
How should the NFL help Marshawn Lynch be able to the talk to media?
Lynch makes enough $ he can hire someone to work through his fear of public speaking (if he does in fact have this fear). Same thing came up with Ricky Williams Miami Dolphins. These guys are pro athletes paid millions and part of the deal is they have to speak to the media. The Nfl and owners make $ to pay these guys by marketing them to the public – partially through media. I don’t think the NFL has any obligation to help Lynch. He makes enough $ to help himself. He is already benefiting financially from NFL marketing.
Thanks for the comment. The NFL does market these players.
If a player doesn’t want to talk to the media why not include his objection I’m his contract ? We want to see them play not talk.