Clinton Portis: Media should leave Marshawn Lynch alone

Former NFL running back Clinton Portis told the Washington Post he thinks the media should just let Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch be if he doesn't want to answer questions. 

Last week, Lynch lost his appeal of a $100,000 fine by the NFL for not speaking to the media. Several weeks after he was fined, Lynch did speak to the media but replied "thanks for asking" to nearly every question. 

"I don’t think it’s funny," Portis said. "You’re making him talk, and this is what you’re getting. He tried to walk out. He tried to avoid the media. Now you’re forcing me to say nothing. You’re forcing me to stand here and make a mockery of the situation instead of letting me walk on by … You can avoid all of that. If a guy don’t want to do an interview, then he don’t want to do an interview."

Portis said he thinks Lynch should have the right to not want to talk to the media after games, and said in his own work as an interviewer for the ACC Digital Network he will "move on to the next guy" if a player doesn't want to talk.

"I think people should just let [Lynch] be," Portis said. "Man, let him be."

The Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in the NFC Championship game.


(si.com)