Home Just writing this column so I don’t get fined
Local

Just writing this column so I don’t get fined

Contributors

SuperBowlXLIXLogoMarshawn Lynch lived up to his end of the deal. You know, being a jerk.

Nobody at this point cares what Lynch has to say, and no, him saying 29 times some version of, I’m just here so I don’t get fined, isn’t funny.

The world isn’t a worse place because he pulled that stunt at Super Bowl Media Day, the dumbest of dumb ideas perpetrated on us annually by the NFL, which among other dumb things of late has professed its ready access to videotape in the manufactured Ballghazigate “controversy” after claiming not to seek videotape in the Ray Rice elevator fiasco.

Seriously, “reporters” asking players questions about who the halftime entertainment was, what kind of trees they would be, and the like, just plain dumb.

Technically speaking, Lynch answered the dumb questions that came his way. Or anyway, you know, he responded.

His teammates talked more about him than he did, variously talking up what a great guy he is, how he does nice things for the community, the usual clap-trap.

Richard Sherman lambasted Beast Mode’s critics for attacking a guy that his teammates know to be a good guy, which is fine.

What would it have hurt Lynch to have shown that side?

Nobody’s asking him to do anything out of the ordinary. Just be a slightly decent human being and play along for five minutes.

He does that, of course, and then we all forget the nonsense that he’s trying to create around himself and focus on his work on the field, which is, beastly is a good word.

Turning 29 in April, just short of 2,700 carries in college and the NFL, there aren’t many runs left in those legs, maybe a year or two before reporters stop going through the motions to try to ask their stupid questions.

At which point, I’m just here so I don’t get fined will subtly turn to I’m just here in the studio so I can keep getting paid from football.

Can’t wait for the insight to follow there.

– Column by Chris Graham

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.