Rap music speaks louder than Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch in first media availability

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch blasted music and had little to say to reporters in his first media availability of the season on Tuesday.

Lynch only stared when asked about his contract situation and gave brief football-related answers. He said his goal for this season was “to have fun.” Asked if he can see Seattle’s offense changing this season, Lynch said, “I guess we’ll find out.”

Last season, Lynch was threatened with a fine of $50,000 for not complying with the league’s guidelines for media availability. But since then, Lynch has been in compliance.

Even though the blaring rap music was more easily heard than the running back’s responses on Tuesday, 710 ESPN Seattle host Brock Huard says that likely still counts.

“That’s not fine-able,” says Huard. “He was available. You need to be available.”

Of course, the NFL might decide they need to impose a new rule to better fit players like Lynch, but at this point, 710 ESPN Seattle host Mike Salk doesn’t think he will be in any trouble for this.

“There will be a lot of people who are furious about it. Most of them get paid to write or talk about sports for a living. I don’t think fans are going to be particularly upset.”

Salk says this isn’t all that different from what you get when an athlete not interested in providing a lot of information to reporters just spits out a bunch of clichés.

“He could have just said one game at a time over and over again and it would have had the exact same effect. It just would have been nicer and more pleasant.”

That Lynch doesn’t just go that extra step to make it more palatable is what Salk thinks people get really upset about.

“That’s essentially what people are mad at. He was being unpleasant and difficult, instead of pleasant and difficult,” he said.

While Lynch hasn’t tried to hide his distaste of the media, Seattle’s Morning News host Colleen O’Brien says his behavior in situations like this also says something to the fans.

“I respect your decision not to talk […] but while he has worked hard to achieve his career goals, he also owes a lot of that to the 12th Man. Why can’t you just be gracious and pleasant when you say your nine words to the media?” says O’Brien. “What about the fans who are listening on the radio for a word from their hero Beast Mode and just want to hear something pleasant instead of a rap song blaring and flippant answers to the media?”

Huard says there’s also the Seahawks organization to think about. Lynch’s behavior reflects on them, as well.

“It’s embarrassing to the Seahawks organization that holds itself in, I think, pretty high esteem. I think it’s a pretty classy crew recognized that way around the league. Then all of a sudden you have this ordeal.”

What do you think? Does Marshawn need to start talking more?

The Associated Press contributed to this report.