Marshawn Lynch fines

[nolemmings]

I don't have strong feelings about the refusal to speak, but the crotch grab is bush league. I think he comes off as a jerk, but if that's what he wants or least has to understand will be the perception, then so be it. It bothers me less during Super Bowl week, which is so overdone with inane questions--what's your favorite flavor of jello and who was your second-grade teacher--that sooner or later you can understand the desire to just shut up or read prepared cliches. The guy has given decent interviews in the past so this schtick is not due to some sort of insecurity or discomfort with speaking. Maybe he got burned. Either way, I would have no problem with the media--the world actually--just ignoring him.

[drcy]

A good point I read is that if Lynch doesn't want to answer questions and answers questions with a drone repeated question, why do do members of the press continue to huddle around him and ask him a series of questions? Because they want it to be an ongoing story for their ESPN Op-Ed blogs and sports radio debates. The press is as complicit as Lynch in this tempest in a teapot, and they might be disappointed if he actually started answering questions.

When someone here says Lynch is an entertainer paid a lot of money under contract by the NFL and he should follow the interview rules of employment, I don't dispute that point. It doesn't have to be an either/or argument. Both sides can be acting equally as silly.

[Exhibitman]

Granted, he isn't laying a one-punch KO on his wife, but that doesn't make his actions right either. This is about respecting your employer and your job. If doing publicity comes with the job and you take the job you owe it to your employer to do your freakin' job properly. I mean, when I was employed by a law firm if I went to court for a hearing and said "I'm just here so I don't get my pay docked" instead of actually doing what I was sent there for, I'd be fired in no time, and justifiably so. The biggest stars in Hollywood do their publicity junkets as their contracts require but this dingleberry thinks he's above it? Puh-leeze...

[Runscott]

I listened to all 5:59 of each of his three days at the podium. The first two days had me cringing in embarrassment for him - despite the excuses that Sherman, Baldwin and Carroll made for his behavior, it came across as childish and pathetic. Lynch isn't the least bit shy, so forget about that angle - but regardless of his reasons, all he had to do was give short answers for five minutes - no one could have twisted anything he said, as long as he kept it short and to the point, he would have fulfilled his obligation, and no one would think any less of him. I like Marshawn, but he should have let the NFL look ridiculous rather than drawing the "Hey look, I'm stupider" attention to himself and away from them.

He was better the third day, in that he sort of explained his actions, although his logic was nonsensical.

As far as the crotch-grabbing, I have no problem with it after watching the Gronk/Conan video. I would rather see a mild-mannered crotch-grab than some of the plain stupid dances some of these guys do. At least he didn't throw away the football

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

This is about respecting your employer and your job. If doing publicity comes with the job and you take the job you owe it to your employer to do your freakin' job properly. I mean, when I was employed by a law firm if I went to court for a hearing and said "I'm just here so I don't get my pay docked" instead of actually doing what I was sent there for, I'd be fired in no time, and justifiably so. The biggest stars in Hollywood do their publicity junkets as their contracts require but this dingleberry thinks he's above it? Puh-leeze...

I personally have no problem with Marshawn...actually I like it. To the point above, I think much of this is driven by the fact the many, if not most of the players don't respect their employer. When I say employer, I mean the NFL, as opposed to the Seattle Seahawks. I'm pretty sure Marshawn respects Pete Carroll, and probably loves most of his teammates... And you can't deny he definitely does to the job he's hired to do, which is carry the football with a fierceness very few if any can match. I think the obligation to speak is sort of silly if a guy really doesn't want to do it. Why didn't the commissioner have to speak for weeks/mths following the Ray Rice and AP incidents? He basically disappeared until things blew over.

Other Seahawks players seem to be fully on board as well. All players defend Marshawn, and Sherman's comments earlier this week I think had less to do with any concern about deflate gate, and much more intended as a direct jab at the commish. None of the other major US sports have as contentious a relationship between league office and the players. When the Ray Rice story hit its low point, players jumped got in line to destroy Goodell.. My favorite was James Harrison who'd been fined many times, tweating- "ain't no fun when the rabbit's got a gun". After years of handing out player conduct suspensions which may often justified, but for which durations seem totally arbitrary... And years of imposing rules changes which show strong favoritism toward protecting super stars, QBs, while dismissing and/or even increasing risk of injury for less important players, the players are fed up (even a punter Chris Kluwe went on an on line revolt against the league a couple years back).

Many players in the league are well payed yes, but most are not rich, nor will they ever be rich. The league/teams use these guys up for what they're worth and spit them out. I love it when guys like Ricky Williams or Tiki Barber can choose to walk away from the game whole, and fans and teams may attack them for being selfish.. However, if/when a guy blows out his knee in OTAs, a team will often make sure cut him before a deadline so they won't be obligated to pay his contract while on IR, and that just "the business". Bill Parcells once cut a guy in the preseason who'd been diagnosed with a sudden life threatening ailment. He could have stuck him on IR, assuring the guy would have a paycheck, and benefits, but he cut him. Apparently only players ever checked in with him in the hospital.

I think the "brotherhood" amongst all players has never been stronger, and I think it's in large part because many view the league office as a common enemy. Crazy enough, I think Kraft's presser, which I saw as a jab aimed directly at Goodell (a guy he'd been key in hiring and protecting through scandal) was IMO maybe in part influenced by the way he's seen players acting out towards the commish. If they don't treat him with respect, why should he?

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

Crazy enough, I think Kraft's presser, which I saw as a jab aimed directly at Goodell (a guy he'd been key in hiring and protecting through scandal) was IMO maybe in part influenced by the way he's seen players acting out towards the commish. If they don't treat him with respect, why should he?

Goodel's Q&A today was interesting. He made it clear that it was his job to enforce rules, and he also didn't back down in the least about his relationship with Kraft. I think his message to Kraft today was at least as strong as Kraft's was to him. Interestingly, no one asked Goodell about apologizing to Brady and Belichek if they are innocent. His response would have been an equally good message to Kraft, as I'm sure no apology is warranted - investigations either should or shouldn't take place, but a warranted investigation requires no apology, regardless of what is found.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Goodel's Q&A today was interesting. He made it clear that it was his job to enforce rules, and he also didn't back down in the least about his relationship with Kraft. I think his message to Kraft today was at least as strong as Kraft's was to him. Interestingly, no one asked Goodell about apologizing to Brady and Belichek if they are innocent. His response would have been an equally good message to Kraft, as I'm sure no apology is warranted - investigations either should or shouldn't take place, but a warranted investigation requires no apology, regardless of what is found.

Interesting! I'd be much more interested to keep tabs on this spat, than I am to hear disinterested player (even the cooperative ones) spout cliché after cliché. In the end, Goodell cannot win a battle with Kraft, or the other owners... but it makes me wonder if he's getting pressure from other key (in Roger's world there is definitely a pecking order amongst owners, Jed may be last) owners to go after the Pats.

[Runscott]

Same here. And I hope the NFL investigation finds no wrong-doing, just so Goodell can defy Kraft by not apologizing.

[D. Bergin]

I'd take Marshawn on my team in a heartbeat. I love the guy. Plenty of athletes are media whores and like to play up their image and speak to the press as much as possible.

The ones that aren't. Leave them alone if they want to be left alone. Pretty sure Marshawn was recruited for his athletic skills.....not his media skills.

NFL is just making a martyr out of the guy. For those that say "just follow the company line and do what you're told, you're making a lot of money".........is not a way of thinking everybody agrees with.

[itjclarke]

I'll add, from afar it seems like the Seahawks respect and almost champion freedom (on and off field) amongst their players. I think Pete Carroll, and the whole Seattle organization empower their players, and in turn inspire them as individuals, and get great loyalty from them. It's not perfect, nor can it be (Marshawn held out, etc), but in the NFL machine, it's seems pretty amazing. As a Niner fan I am pretty envious. Jed York and his crew don't inspire much of anything now.

The Steelers have had an amazing thing going forever as well, and I think that's top due to been down stability.. 3 coaches in 40+ years and you hear players say the Rooneys treat them with respect and genuinely care about them, their families, etc. IMO, that's the best way to earn true loyalty, and is definitely not the norm in the NFL.