Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch fulfilled his contractual obligation by speaking — if you want to call it that — to reporters for just over four minutes at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday. That may not be enough to keep him from getting fined.
According to a report from ESPN.com, the NFL is reviewing whether the hat Lynch wore during Media Day with his “Beastmode” logo on it was permissible. If Lynch was promoting a brand that is not approved by the league, he could be subject to a “significant” fine.
For comparison, Brian Urlacher was fined $100,000 by the NFL in 2007 when he wore a hat with the Vitaminwater logo on it at Media Day. The NFL has an official drink deal with Pepsi, which owns Gatorade.
Adam Schefter and Darren Rovell note that Lynch’s Beastmode hat does not represent a brand that competes with a league sponsor, so the situations are not identical. Given that the league has not hesitated to fine Lynch for other stuff he has done this season, it’s possible they will pile on.
Was it worth it? Lynch’s hat was selling on his Beastmode clothing line website and was sold out as of Wednesday morning.
In any event, the one phrase that Lynch chose to answer all questions with on Tuesday could end up being very ironic.
