NFL fines Lynch $20,000 for obscene gesture

NEW YORK — The NFL has fined Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch $20,000 for making an obscene gesture during last Sunday’s NFC championship game, a person with knowledge of the fine told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The league did not specify what the gesture was in the win over Green Bay, but Lynch grabbed his crotch after scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Lynch was fined $11,000 for a similar gesture in Seattle’s win over Arizona on Dec. 21.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the fine has not been publicly announced.

Lynch has a history of drawing fines from the NFL, mostly for not talking to the media as required under his contract. He was fined $50,000 in November for repeated violations of the league’s media policy. At that time, the league collected a $50,000 fine that was imposed against Lynch for violations in 2013. That fine from 2013 was held in anticipation of future cooperation from Lynch — cooperation that has not occurred.

At last January’s Super Bowl media day in New Jersey, Lynch spent the session behind a barrier talking with teammates, autographing a football a young fan threw to him, and speaking only to NFL Network’s Deion Sanders and to Armed Forces Radio. He ignored many other questions asked from a distance by reporters, and also left for a short while before returning.

The league and the Seahawks are discussing Lynch’s requirements for next Tuesday’s media day.

Lynch also was told before last Sunday’s game he could not wear gold shoes because they were a violation of the NFL’s on-field dress code, and that he could be ejected from the game if he wore them.

Lynch’s teammate, wide receiver Chris Matthews, also was fined more than $11,000 for making an obscene gesture.