PHOENIX — This time, it was Marshawn Lynch who asked the questions.
The Seattle running back bashed reporters in an awkward exchange Thursday. Lynch has answered each question this week by repeating one-sentence phrases, including “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.”
He had a lot more to say Thursday, starting with a question.
“What are y’all here for?”
“I mean all week, I done told y’all what’s up,” Lynch continued. “And for some reason y’all continue to come back and do the same thing. I don’t know what story y’all trying to get out of me.”
“So y’all could go and make up whatever you want to make up because I don’t say enough for y’all to go and put anything out on me. I’ll come to y’all event. Y’all shove cameras and microphones down my throat. … So I’ll just sit here for the next three minutes and look at y’all the same way you’re looking at me now.”
Seahawks players are done with media obligations until after the Super Bowl. And that’s just fine with Lynch.
Carroll gets clarification
During the playoffs, the New England’s unusual substitution patterns raised eyebrows.
In games against Baltimore and Indianapolis, the Patriots frequently put players with jersey numbers ineligible to catch passes into eligible positions. They also put eligible-numbered players in ineligible positions to confuse opposing defenses.
The tactic was slammed by Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, who compared it to cheating. Impartial NFL observers have also criticized the tactic.
“The NFL is going to have to do something about the Patriots’ ineligible-eligible substitution game,” former Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy told ProFootballTalk. “It is nothing but an intent to deceive and they are doing it very well. They’re reporting so fast and going so quickly the defense can’t respond. In fact, the officials can’t keep up.”
Thursday, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he voiced his concerns about the tactic to the NFL.
As a result, the league has instructed referees on Sunday to make a special gesture indicating when an eligible-numbered player is ineligible. An official will point to the player before the play and wave his arms, much like the signal for a missed field goal.
“We’ve been preparing for it every day because we don’t want to be caught in mishandling on our end,” Carroll said. “It’s really on us to see it.”
HGH test irritates Thomas
Seahawks safety Earl Thomas thinks the timing of a supposedly random test for human growth hormone Thursday is suspicious.
Thomas, who dislocated his shoulder in the NFC Championship on Jan. 18, said Wednesday his shoulder now feels perfect.
Thursday, he implied he was targeted by the league because of his rapid recovery.
Thomas tweeted: “Yesterday I said my shoulder was a 10 … Wake up the next morning and I have a blood test for HGH … League office distraction”
The NFL started testing for HGH in October and randomly selects six players from eight NFL teams each week.
Sherman baby watch
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman will become a father any day. His girlfriend, Ashley Moss, is about to give birth to their son, whose due date is next week.
Sherman was asked what he’ll do if Moss goes into labor on Super Bowl Sunday.
“I think he’s going to be a disciplined young man and stay in there until after the game,” Sherman said. “He’s going to do his father his first favor.”
Sherman said arrangements are in place in case the baby arrives early.
“I would not like to miss the birth of my son,” Sherman said. “But hopefully we won’t have to cross that bridge.”
