Media Week Recap: Five Conclusions

(standingosports.com)

After three straight days of live media coverage, we take a look back at what we have learned

1. Marshawn Lynch made his statement

His resistance to the media took on new meaning this week, as the Seahawks' running back spent two days reciting single answers-- "I'm just here so I don't get fined" and "You know why I'm here"-- before breaking his stonewall on Thursday to offer an opinion on the media and on the things he values in life.

"I don’t know what story you are trying to get out of me. I don’t know what image y’all are trying to portray of me. But it don’t matter what y’all think, what y’all say about me. Because when I go home at night, the same people I look in the face — my family — that I love, that’s all that really matters to me."

Touching as his opening statement was, it is doubtful whether the league office was moved toward anything other than an inclination to punish Lynch for his non-cooperation and for his deliberate flaunting of his own brand of "Beast Mode" hats. He wore the "unsponsored brand" at every appearance, despite the threats from the league to fine him, and when asked about the hats, he adjusted it to make the logo visible and mentioned you could find them online.

(thebiglead.com)

2. Russell Wilson is a good guy

The Seahawks' quarterback took him time at the podium to answer plenty of questions about football and speak openly about his faith. There may not be a better character for the NFL today, as Wilson is humble, well-spoken, and volunteers every Tuesday at a children's hospital in Seattle. Above all, Wilson is the epitome of a team-player, and a leader from the front. 

"I'm just grateful to be here, man," he said. "The best thing that we've learned is the selflessness, and playing for one another. That's the greatest thing you can learn in life, its doing things for others... We play for each other."

It is no surprise that his teammates wholeheartedly agree and echo their quarterback's sentiments on many levels. 

(bostonherald.com)

3. Stephen A. Smith believes the media is infallible

The co-star of ESPN's First Take felt pretty strongly that Marshawn Lynch had an obligation to speak to the media-- a topic that has caused much discussion across the airwaves. Arian Foster did not agree with him, however, and had no qualms about speaking his mind. 

"I've never seen anybody show up to see players talk. I've never seen anybody get a contract because they're really good in the media," said the Texans running back before Smith interrupted to prevent losing any more ground. Smith then backpedaled and pandered to the players before again trying to make his point. 

"So in other words," Smith said, adding his own to Fosters' "You have no problem with him getting away with something that other players wouldn't get away with."

"Let's rephrase that," Foster quickly corrected. "'Getting away' is a terrible way to phrase that." He then went on to ask Stephen A. if he would prefer to her the glittering generalities instead of a real answer when a player actually felt like talking. 

"I don't even wanna hear that junk anymore," said Foster. "It's getting old... I'd rather hear a players's honest opinion, i.e. Richard Sherman, than a cliche montage of nonsense, which is what it really is." 

Stephen A. then tried again to salvage his argument, but the will of God intervened and spared us from hearing any more banter on the issue. 

4. Matt Damon deflated the footballs

Jimmy Kimmel asked some of his friends to share their theories on the deflated footballs and received a lot of enthusiasm in response. In fact, he received multiple confessions to perpetrating the act, and it seems Tom Brady's* name is cleared once and for all... 

Watch the video here.

5. Nothing brings two rivals together like Mario Kart

Conan aired a clip this week in which he joined Lynch and Patriots* tight end Rob Gronkowski in Phoenix for the only game that matters... Mortal Kombat. 

The clip has multiple highlights, including Lynch teaching Conan to grab his nuts, and Gronk making using a statue's open mouth to.. Well, just check out the video here. 

Blount Rolls On

(searchingforakilismith.com)

There is a saying, "Your first impression is the last impression."

Not so for LeGarrette Blount.

Unless you are a fan of the Oregon Ducks, your first impression of the 6'0", 200-lb running back was probably not so great. He had a fantastic season for the Ducks in 2008-- setting the school record for rushing touchdowns (17) and surpassing 1000 yards in his first year with the team. But it was the 2009 season with Oregon-- opening day, to be specific-- that landed LeGarrette Blount in the national spotlight.

And man, was it a disaster!

Oregon, ranked 16 in the nation, opened the season on the road against Boise State, ranked 14. The Broncos had upset the ranked Ducks at home the previous year in a game that featured plenty of late and excessive hits-- at least according to LeGarrette Blount.

"We owed them an ass-whoopin'," said Blount in the offseason. They would have their chance on opening day, the nationally-televised Thursday night showdown.

When the game came, however, it was Boise that had the beat-down for Oregon, and again the defeated the Ducks with a final score of 19-8. Blount finished the game with negative yardage (8 rushes, -5 yards) and first-year coach Chip Kelley and his high-flying offense was held to 152 total yards.

After the game Boise's Byron Hout politely inquired about the whoopin' Blount was to have prepared.

Blount punched him square in the jaw and knocked him out cold.

Nation, meet LeGarrett Blount.

It's a hell of a first impression, if you ask me.

Blount would be suspended by Coach Kelley for the remainder of the 2009 season, his last as a Duck. After completing apologetic phone calls and letters, however, he would be reinstated with three games to go in the season. He did not record a run until the last game of the year, but managed 51 yards and a touchdown over interstate rival Oregon State.

Oregon would earn a Rose Bowl berth-- a loss to Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes-- and then Blount was off to the draft.

2009 Regular Season statistics: 2 games played, 46 rushing yards, 8 games missed with suspension.

(joebucsfan.com)

Blount went undrafted in the 2010 but signed a contract with the Tennessee Titans. He was later cut and picked up by Tampa Bay, where he spent three seasons and rushed for 13 touchdowns. He was traded to the Patriots* for a 7th round draft pick (read: nothing) and would be one of the rotating cast of running back's featured in Belichick's offense in 2013.

His most important contribution to the season in New England* came in the playoffs against the Colts, where he rushed for 166 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Blount then signed a 2-year deal with Pittsburgh, but was arrested in the offseason with fellow running back Le'Veon Bell for possession of marijuana. Neither player was suspended, but that was not the end of Blount's troubles in Pittsburgh.

He averaged 6 carries a game through 11 games as a Steeler and was so frustrated that he left the game against the Titans early. Pittsburgh released him the next day.

Eventually he was claimed off the waivers by New England* and played out the final 5 games of the season with the Patriots*, and again managed to trounce the Colts in the playoffs, finishing the AFC Championship game with 148 yards and 3 touchdowns.

For Blount it has been a strange route to the Super Bowl. His public image and reputation was as bad as it could be, and his short career has featured plenty of questionable behavior. Somehow he managed to overcome (much to the chagrin of the Indianapolis Colts) and on Sunday he will have a chance to win football's greatest prize.

Richard Sherman: Compliancy Defied

(presnapreads.com)

Perhaps you have never heard of Richard Sherman.

Perhaps you have yet to take note of the three time All-Pro, the former defensive player of the year, and the self-professed "best corner in the game."

Perhaps, but I doubt it.

Richard Sherman has become one of the most prominent players in the game today. He is a master of marketing, and once noticed on the field, wasted no time before making himself known off the field as well.

He has won the Super Bowl and the Madden Cover, and now leads a Seattle defense in a quest to become the first repeat champions in over a decade.

Though now instantly recognizable, it was not always so. Many came to know Richard Sherman in 2012, following a game against the very team he will face on Sunday.

In that game, the Patriots* were seeking to add to a 13 point lead in the 4th quarter, and were in the red zone on the verge of doing so. Brady's* pass was intercepted by Earl Thomas in the end zone, and the Seahawks took advantage of the momentum swing to score 14 unanswered points, eventually defeating New England* by one point.

It was a chirpy game that ended in dramatic fashion and became known as the "U Mad Bro?" game due to a picture posted on Twitter by Richard Sherman.

@RSherman25

When asked about that interaction after the game, Sherman had this to say:

"Me and Earl walked up to him and said, 'We're greater than you. We're better than you. You're just a man -- we're a team.' That's the Brady Bunch; this is a defense. We've got 11 players out there to play great ball, and we're never going to let one man beat us." 

Sherman added an interception of his own in that game as well, but felt there were more opportunities to force turnovers that the Seahawks' let slip through their hands. He also expressed frustration that Brady*, like many other quarterbacks, tended to shy away from Sherman's side of the field.

"Every TV timeout, I went up and said it right to [Brady]: 'Please keep trying me. I'm going to take it from you.' That was when they were winning. He just gave me that look and said, 'Oh, I'll see you after game.' Well, I made sure I saw him after the game."

This week, when asked to recount that interaction, Sherman pointed the finger at Brady* and went on to assert that Brady's* "Golden Boy" image was nothing more than pretense. 

"I think people somehow get a skewed view of Tom Brady," Sherman said. "That he's just a clean-cut guy that does everything right and never says a bad word to anyone. We know him to be otherwise."

Sherman has always been one to speak his mind, and perhaps more surprising is the fact that the league has let him do so. He has slandered the Golden Boy*, implied collusion between the NFL commissioner and the Patriots' owner, and even harshly criticized the hypocrisy of the the commissioner's fines, media policies, and player safety initiatives.

And yet the punishments levied on his teammate Marshawn Lynch, repeatedly, for not speaking have been much harsher.

Sherman certainly denies the NFL its preference for comments and post-game interviews. But the league's silence on Sherman's antics implies another league policy toward intelligent and well-spoken players. 

Fear. 

The league is afraid of players like Richard Sherman, who graduated from Stanford and was featured as a keynote speaker at the Adobe Summit conference in the offseason. Players like Sherman are able to see the business side and call the commissioner on his political motives. Punishment would be validation, and the league does not want a martyr on its hands.

(zimbio.com)

So the league targets players like Marshawn Lynch who, despite his dexterity and skill on the field, has a hard time with "the King's English" and is visibly uncomfortable in media appearances. His reaction seems justified in his own mind-- he does not want to be there! But league policy mandates his attendance, and he complies reluctantly.

Neither player exemplifies the ideal podium persona that the league desires. And that is fitting, given the team they both play for. Pete Carroll has turned his merry band of misfits into repeat contenders, and on Sunday they will have their chance to take the Lombardi Trophy home again. 

If that occurs, and the Seahawks are able to defeat the Partiots* despite the league's attempts to suspend Seattle's star players, and his reluctance to punish the Patriots* star quarterback, then perhaps Marshawn Lynch will have something to say at his next press conference-- inspired by his teammate Richard Sherman and directed at the commissioner, Roger Goodell:

"You Mad, Bro?"

The Curious Case of Marshawn Lynch

(wn.com)

Super Bowl week is upon us! 

In seven days over one-hundred million people will tune in to watch the Seahawks battle the Patriots* in the biggest game of the year. There is no lack of drama or buildup in any year, but this year especially has yielded some of the most interesting and controversial story lines leading up to kickoff.

Many fans know of the history of both teams: the Seahawks are attempting to repeat for the first time since the Patriots* accomplished the feat in 03-04, and the Patriots* are seeking their first title since, having lost their previous two appearances to the New York Giants. And it would be difficult to find an American unaware of the current Deflategate scandal surrounding the game. But not everyone may be familiar with the players involved in the final game of the season-- their stories, their personalities, their quirks-- and so before we begin the show, let us introduce some of the main characters in the best drama on television.

We begin with Beast Mode.

(rantsports.com)

Marshawn Lynch, running back for the Seattle Seahawks, was drafted in 2007 by the Buffalo Bills. Despite being a four-star athlete in high school, and a preliminary Heisman Trophy candidate in college, the former Cal Bear found himself in a slump in 2009. Suspended the first three games for misdemeanor weapons charges, he was eventually replaced as the starter and did not surpass 100 yards rushing during the entire season. He was eventually traded to Seattle in 2010.

Lynch has found a home in Seattle, and despite the frequent rumors that he is on the way out, his teammates and fans love him. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his 4 full seasons with the team, and lent to lore the "Beastquake"-- a 67-yard touchdown run that had fans cheering so loudly that seismic activity was recorded in the area around the stadium.

If the fans love him, the media certainly does not, as Lynch has showed a reluctance to speak with the media that has cost him over $150,000 in fines and penalties. As a result, he has adopted a "one-word answer" policy at times--  responding only with "yeah", "I'm thankful", and "thank you for asking"-- and drawn the ire of the league as well. 

His on the field actions have earned him multiple fines as well, as he has a habit of grabbing his crotch at the end of touchdown runs, a stunt which has cost him $30,000 alone. The league will be keeping a close eye on Lynch in the Super Bowl, and has announced as much, for his gestures seem as defiant as they are celebratory. 

To be fair, they are reserved for only the most exceptional scores, including Beastquake, Beastquake 2.0, and the comeback touchdown that helped defeat the Green Bay Packers just last week. 

This week all eyes will be on Lynch again, as players are contractually obligated to speak with the press on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Lynch, fresh off a $20,000 fine, has been advised to be on his best behavior by his head coach. Last year he refused to speak with most reporters, remaining silent during his appearances and hiding to avoid the spotlight in the week approaching the game. His lone interview came courtesy of Deion Sanders, who had to sneak backstage and coax the suddenly soft-spoken Lynch into answering a few questions about being there. That interview gave us another fantastic Beast Quote: "I'm just 'bout that action, Boss", and surely I am not the only one excited to see his reaction and responses during media week. 

Yes, Beast Mode is surely a sight to see on and off the field, but if I have not yet convinced you, here are five reasons (in no particular order) why the Seahawks running back has become one of my favorite players today.

1. Skittles

(sports.yahoo.com)

Marshawn Lynch loves Skittles, and frequently eats them during games as a way to keep his energy up. This has earned him endorsements, more nicknames, and the continued adoration of his fans, who have been known to shower the field with Skittles when he scores a touchdown. He also once wore a pair of Skittles cleats-- a move that earned him another $10,000 fine from the NFL. 

2. Ghost Ride the... Cart

gifsoup.com

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Lynch has been indoctrinated with Bay Area culture. Example A is this clip from his days at UC Berkely, in which he hijacks an injury cart after the game and proceeds to go stupid doo doo dumb. 

3. He loves Applebees

Marshawn Lynch is no "larger than life" figure. He stays among the rest of us and can be spotted frequently at his two favorite places: Applebees and Dave and Busters. He enjoys a good game of Skee-Ball, and as a professional athlete he is even allowed to work the soda gun from time to time. 

4. He wears gold cleats

(cbssports.com)

Well, kind of. He at least tried to sport golden shoes in the NFC Championship last week, but the league intervened and threatened to suspend him from the game if he rocked anything but the league-approved uniform. Perhaps this explains why the under-inflated balls slipped under their noses. Lynch would appear in the uniform color cleats, but during some of his runs the astute observer could identify a unique hallmark of his shoes-- the soles were solid gold. 

5. He wears gold teeth

Ever the Bay Area ambassador, Lynch also has admitted in interview to wearing grills under his mouthpiece during games, including a diamond crusted "Beast Mode" and an emerald "Seahawks"mouthpiece. 

Beast Mode, I salute you! 

For an inside look at the life and upbringing of Marshawn Lynch, check out the E60 piece that tells his unique story here.