Last week, Marshawn Lynch was fined $100,000 for not making himself available to the media after the Seattle Seahawks-Kansas City Chiefs game. The $100,000 was actually the combination of two separate $50,000 fines; one that was imposed in 2013 for not meeting with the media and a new one for his current violation.
According to the NFL’s media office, “The NFL Media Policy mandates that players must be available to the media during the practice week at the team facility and in the locker room following all games. Star players, or other players with unusually heavy media demands, must be available to the media that regularly cover their teams at least once during the practice week in addition to their required postgame media availability.”
Lynch spoke to a couple of reporters via the phone after the Chiefs game, but that was not enough to satisfy the League. Trying to avoid another fine, Lynch had a 50 word interview after the Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals game as can be seen below.
The idea that an athlete has to speak to the media is troubling especially in light of the numerous complaints pundits and officials within the League and on teams have with guys speaking their mind on social media. If a guy says something others disagree with, then the guy receives unnecessary media attention and is the bad guy.
Most athletes do not want to be bulletin board material. And some athletes prefer their privacy. Most importantly, sometimes, a player has a bad day either on or off the field. The expectation that an athlete has to make himself available after a game–especially if he played horribly or was hurt–seems a bit much.
Hence, there are interviews like Marshawn Lynch’s. While it gave journalists something to chuckle at, there was really wasn’t anything said where a journalist could use in a story. The NFL cannot be upset; the obligation was met. Yet, from the outside looking in, it appears that interview was a waste of time.
Maybe, just maybe, there should be more flexibility in the media policy to avoid wasting everyone’s time.