Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks running back who is at the center of one of the biggest, and silliest, stories of the Super Bowl, is done with us now.
Lynch participated in his final required media session of the week, and after making headlines for ducking out early both at Tuesday’s Super Bowl media day, then again during Wednesday’s availability, Lynch was a bit more cooperative this time around, talking for nearly eight minutes with fullback Michael Robinson seated next to him.
Robinson, one of Lynch’s closest friends on the team, joked, “I’m like a prop,” as he sat down with Lynch.
From there, it was a mostly normal Q&A session with Lynch.
On this being the last day of team media sessions: “It’s going to be good to get back to football. Very good.”
On some of his best games coming in the playoffs and what he attributes that to: “I’m not sure, man. It’s not like I prepare any different, so I couldn’t tell you.”
On when he knew Russell Wilson would be good: “You just hope for the best for him. It was probably during the preseason when he started showing flashes of it, and then his work ethic just took over. That was probably something that he knew a long time ago, but for me, just watching him progress, knowing he can still get better.”
On how much his stiff arm helps his running game): “I would just say that’s another weapon.”
On whether his stiff arm is conscious or a natural reflex: “Everything I do on the field is just a reaction.”
Directed at Michael Robinson, on what defenses have to do to stop Lynch: Robinson: “I got a question? I got a question, yeah! From what I hear he’s the best in the league. He’s the hardest to bring down. There are a lot of good backs out here, but just from a straight physical standpoint, the guys I talk to just don’t believe there’s another guy in the league doing it like that.”
Directed at both Robinson and Lynch, on the challenges they see in Denver’s defense: Robinson: “The previous 24 teams had to stop the run too, so it’s just one of those things. They know they have to stop us. We know we have to run the ball. We’ll see what happens on Sunday.”
Directed at Lynch, on why Denver’s defense is so good: Lynch: “What’s his name? Pot roast. (Terrance Knighton.) Big boy. They get to the ball. They rally to the ball. They’re a good defense, that’s what I say.”
On being comfortable getting blocks from his wide receivers: “I just know where they’re supposed to be, and they’ll be there on time, then it’s all reaction. It’s by design.”
On preparing for the game mentally with all the distractions this week: “I’m SR, bruh. Stay ready. So it ain’t no getting ready.”
On whether that mental preparedness is because of his background in Oakland: “I would say so. It prepared me.”
On his offensive line’s effectiveness: “Since I’ve been here, they’ve only been getting better. I think they take pride in that. For me, with a win and no rushing yards, it’s a good day. So I’m pretty sure they were effective somewhere. You don’t just win the game with one person. If I was off, somebody was on, so they contributed to something.”
On the efficiency of the Seattle offense: “Explosive plays. Plays over 20 yards.”
On whether he likes the possibility of Sunday’s game being a 2-3 yards per carry day with less explosive plays: “Yeah. Sounds like a fun day. I mean I get to run into a lot of people.”
On what he thought of offensive line and assistant head coach Tom Cable when he came to Seattle: “Well, being from Oakland, all I knew about him was that he punched people. That’s my type of person.”
On if he thinks his biggest strength is his ability to break tackles on the run: “No, I just think my overall game.”
On it being more difficult to keep focused this week with all the distractions: Robinson: “I’m married with four kids, man, so my week is the same.”
While Seahawks players say this Lynch-not-talking storyline isn’t a distraction as they prepare for the Super Bowl, many of them would rather Lynch didn’t have to deal with all of this.
“Just because he doesn’t want to talk to the media doesn’t mean he’s not going to show up on game day,” wide receiver Doug Baldwin said. “I think it’s all obnoxious and absurd rhetoric. It’s stupid to me.”
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Lynch, “I think there’s a lot of information coming your way. He’s telling a lot about who he is and what he represents and stands for, sometimes in the silence, not always with his words that he says.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
