Marshawn Lynch draws a crowd but doesn’t say much at media day

PHOENIX – “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.”

That’s about all that Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch had to say during Super Bowl media day on Tuesday, the same answer he gave to every question during the 5 minutes he spent at a podium inside the US Airways Center. His opening statement was the only thing remotely expansive.

“Hey, I’m just here so I don’t get fined, so ya’ll can sit here and ask me all the questions ya’ll want to,” he said as he settled into his seat, addressing the large crowd that began gathering 20 minutes before he arrived. “I’m going to answer with the same answer. So ya’ll can shoot if ya’ll please.”

Lynch’s ongoing reluctance to speak to reporters is again a leading story during Super Bowl week, and with the reported threat of more fines from the NFL for not complying with the league’s media guidelines, Lynch satisfied his requirements – technically – like only he could.

Not even Deion Sanders could get Lynch to crack. It was Sanders – the hall of fame cornerback and current NFL Network personality – whose one-on-one interview with Lynch at last year’s media day produced the now-famous line, “I’m just about that action, boss.” On Tuesday, Sanders’ questions got the same response as everyone else’s.

Lynch set a timer for 5 minutes then left the podium as soon as it went off.