Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has spent most of his tenure in Seattle avoiding media interviews, which violates league policy, and as a result the NFL fined him $50,000 this week for violating the league’s media policy, and in addition they will collect on a $50,000 fine that was held in abeyance last year under the condition that Lynch cooperate with the media going forward.
The league’s media policy mandates that players be available during the week as well as in the locker room after games. Lynch did briefly talk to reporters after Seattle’s win over Oakland, but on most other occasions this season, he has been gone by the time the locker room opens to the media. Lynch regularly (and politely) has turned down media requests in the locker room prior to practice to the point that he rarely is even approached during the week anymore.
This is Lynch’s third fine for violating the league’s media policy, which states:
“Players must be available to the media following every game and regularly during the practice week as required under league rules. Star players, or other players with unusually heavy media demands, must be available to the media that regularly cover their teams at least once during the practice week in addition to their required post-game media availability.”
“Each club will open its locker room during the normal practice week (based on a Sunday game) on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to all accredited media for player interviews for a minimum of 45 minutes.”
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