PHOENIX — Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has broken his media boycott.
Sort of.
Lynch arrived at the final media session of the week for players Thursday and gave a nearly two-minute statement in which he lectured reporters.
It was, by far, the most revealing and honest public moment Lynch has shared in the Seahawks' past two Super Bowl appearances.
"Hey, look, I mean, all week I done told y'all what's up. And for some reason, y'all continue to come back and do the same thing that y'all did," said Lynch.
"I don't know what kind of story y'all are trying to get out of me. I don't know what kind of image y'all are trying to portray of me. But it don't matter what y'all think, what y'all say about me, cause when I go home at night, they same people that I look in the face, my family, that I love, that's all I really matters to me."
Lynch paused to chuckle before continuing.
"So you all can go and make up whatever you want to make up, cause I don't say enough for you all to go put anything out on me," he added. "But I'll come to y'all event and y'all shove cameras and microphones down my throat. When I'm at home in my environment, I don't see y'all. But y'all mad at me. If y'all ain't mad at me, then what are you all here for?"
Like he did at his two previous media sessions this week, Lynch started a timer on his cell phone for five minutes. He referenced the countdown several times Thursday as he was peppered with a range of questions, requests for "shout outs" — "Shout out to Oakland," Lynch said — and a request to say something in Spanish.
"Hola," he said.
Lynch was asked again about his decision to wear a hat that bears his "Beast Mode" logo, an unlicensed product that could lead to a fine by the NFL after the Super Bowl. He just adjusted the hat on his head to better display it.
Asked where fans could purchase the gear, Lynch promoted his personal website.
"I ain't got nothing for y'all though. I told you all that," he said again.
"You all should know that. But you all will sit here, like right now, continuing to do the same thing. I'm here preparing for a game, and y'all want to ask me all these questions, which is understandable. I can get down with that. But I told y'all, I'm not about to say nothing.
"So for the remainder of my three minutes, because I'm here, I'm available for you. I'm here available for y'all. I done talked. All of my requirements are fulfilled. So now for the next three minutes, I'll just be looking at y'all, the way you're looking at me. Thank you."
When the five minutes were up, Lynch walked away, with a trail of television cameras following him.
