Imrem: Seattle's 'Beast Mode' a godsend for media

Difficult athletes are good copy, too, so Marshawn Lynch was a godsend Tuesday at Super Bowl media day.

Heck, the last thing anyone wants to do all week is write about football.

Lynch, the Seahawks' star "Beast Mode" running back, would be a story regardless. If he talked, he would be a story. If he didn't talk, he would be a story.

During his career Marshawn Lynch has had enough brushes with impropriety, on and off the field, for the NFL to be concerned about him.

But his refusal to play the media game? Get over it.

NFL policy on facing the media should include, "You have the right to remain silent." If Lynch or any other athlete doesn't want to be interviewed, so be it.

Easy for me to say, of course. A columnist doesn't have to talk to anyone who doesn't want to talk to him or her.

Reporters are another story, so to speak. They need quotes.

If a columnist doesn't get any, sometimes all the better. He or she is even freer to write what's rattling around in his or her head.

One question often asked is, "What if everybody was like Lynch and didn't talk to the media at the Super Bowl or anywhere else?"

The answer is easy: Not everybody ever is going to be as anti-social toward journalists as Marshawn Lynch.

Take the Seahawks. Russell Wilson has no problem talking. Richard Sherman likes being heard. Michael Bennett will talk forever if given the opportunity.

Some speak because they feel obligated to. Some think it will lead to endorsements or a TV gig. Some just like to.

As long as an athlete is respectful when he consents to an interview or declines a request, he should have the option to do either.

No, Marshawn Lynch isn't always respectful. Just move on, though. Nothing to hear here. Athletes in general don't have much to say anyway.

Sometimes if an athlete doesn't talk, he's hurting only himself. Instead of telling the story from his viewpoint, he leaves it to others to tell it from their viewpoint … never a good idea.

Another question often asked is, "Don't fans who pay an athlete's salary have the right to hear from him?"

Well, as Lynch moseyed away from his media-day session, Seahawks fans in attendance cheered him despite not hearing from him on this day or on most days this entire season.

The media are wrong to assume anything about the public. Some fans do want to hear from players; some couldn't care less.

Defenders say Lynch isn't comfortable discussing himself, football or international politics.

Lynch did climb up to his assigned podium Tuesday and by ESPN's count gave this response 27 times: "I'm just here so I won't get fined."

One report stated that the NFL was prepared to fine Lynch $500,000 if he didn't make an appearance. So he showed up for about the required five minutes.

"You all can ask all the questions you want," Lynch said, reiterating that he would answer the same way.

Seattle teammates were left to field questions pertaining to what and why Lynch is what and who he is.

They mentioned that Lynch is a great teammate and his foundation does considerable good for charity.

"It's him," safety Kam Chancellor said, "and you can't fault a guy for being him."

It'll be interesting if the Seahawks win, Lynch is voted the MVP, and he is asked to make an acceptance speech.

Whatever Marshawn Lynch says or doesn't say would be another compelling story.

mimrem@dailyherald.com