That vaunted 12th-man is no joke. One Seahawks fan has started a petition to stop the NFL from forcing star running back Marshawn Lynch to talk to the media.
The fan, identified online as Wendi Bromlie, has had enough of the NFL’s tactics and has started an online petition.
The headline is “Enough is enough! Stop bullying Beast Mode!”
As a 12, I am calling on the NFL to revise its media policy so that all players are given equal and fair rights as a human being without fear of financial intimidation.
As a fan, I have witnessed enough harassment and undeserving consequences regarding Marshawn Lynch due to his very obvious anxiety interacting with the media. I feel, and many agree, that what you are doing is wrong. You advocate against bullying and domestic violence, but force your players into uncomfortable situations? With a fine attached? There are other players willing to talk to the media and it should be a personal choice.
Your rules state “Reasonable cooperation with the news media is essential to the continuing popularity of our game and its players and coaches.” I don’t feel your rules are reasonable as they read currently, considering the only benefit “popularity” wise the NFL gets by bullying Marshawn is money out of his paycheck. This is not ok. And it needs to change because its unnecessary and cruel, as well as hypocritical.
Enough is enough!
The petition has acquired more than 21,000 signatures as of late Tuesday.