When Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch blew off the media after a November game against the Chiefs, he was fined $100,000 by the league.
Lynch appealed that fine, which was made up of a $50,000 fine for that infraction and the imposition of a $50,000 fine from the 2013 season that was suspended pending future cooperation with the rule mandating that players speak to the media after games. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the appeal has been denied.
The running back will get another chance to speak with reporters after the Seahawks host the Panthers on Saturday night. Given the tenor of most of his recent meetings with the fourth estate, we’re not expecting that to be a particularly enlightening session but the lack of fines suggest that complying with the letter of the law outweighs any perceived slights of the spirit of it.
Lynch also drew an $11,050 fine from the league this year for grabbing his crotch while diving backwards into the end zone during a December game against the Cardinals. The unspoken message sent by the gesture is probably similar to the one he had for the news of both the $100,000 fine and his lost appeal.
