PHOENIX -- Marshawn Lynch smiled politely, waved at the crowd and answered every question the same.
"I'm here so I don't get fined," the Seattle Seahawks running back repeated constantly for five minutes Tuesday before leaving the podium at media day.
It's not clear if his plan will work.
About 200 reporters crowded around Lynch's podium for at least 15 minutes before he arrived, but the media-shy Lynch made it clear right from the start he wasn't saying anything except variations of his scripted answer.
Lynch set a timer on his phone and told everyone he showed up just to avoid a fine. Lynch caught a bag of Skittles tossed from Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson and stopped to pick up a reporter's recorder off the floor before he walked away.
The Professional Football Writers of America was talking to the league about the session, and Lynch had been apprised of a potential fine. He is also required to be at media sessions today and Thursday.
The NFL fined Lynch $50,000 in November for violations of the league's media policy in addition to collecting the $50,000 fine that was imposed against Lynch for violations last season. The fine from 2013 was held in anticipation of future cooperation from Lynch.
"I'm fine sitting up here, but not everybody is comfortable with it so I don't think he should be forced to do it," All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman said.
Lynch's reclusiveness also was a big story at media day last year. Lynch appeared for 6 1/2 minutes, left the arena and then returned to a "mixed zone" the NFL created for players not on podiums or in microphone-equipped speaking areas at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
With the exception of briefly speaking with the NFL Network's Deion Sanders, to the Seahawks' website, and to Armed Forces Network, he did not deal with reporters that day.
Other teammates also defended Lynch's behavior.
"This is who he is," All-Pro safety Earl Thomas said. "I don't nitpick or judge, so I just accept a person for who they are."
Gronk good to go
Rob Gronkowski's ankle is fine. So are his forearm and knee.
He's way past those injuries that ruined his past three postseasons.
"Ready to roll," the New England Patriots tight end said Tuesday.
Gronkowski missed the AFC Championship Games the past two years with a broken left forearm in 2013 and a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee in 2014. In the Super Bowl in 2012, he was limited by a high left ankle sprain. New England lost all three.
The fun-loving Gronkowski was back on a Super Bowl media day platform Tuesday. His laugh and smile were present, just as they were three years ago, but questions were different.
"It feels good to be 100 percent healthy and not get a million questions like last time about my ankle," he said.
Gronkowski rehabbed obsessively, played in the opener and gradually made a greater impact as the season continued. He caught just 13 passes in the first four games, although three were for touchdowns, but in each of the next five games he had at least five catches with 100 or more yards receiving in three of them.
He also has a touchdown catch in each of his two playoff games.
"Totally back to my old self," said Gronkowski, who holds NFL single-season records for most touchdowns and yards receiving by a tight end. "Going into that Cincinnati game [six catches for 100 yards] in Week 5, everything just kicked in and I felt good."
Now, for the first time in four years, he has a healthy shot at having a good day in the final game of the Patriots' season.
"Definitely don't take the game for granted anymore," Gronkowski said. "It's an honor to be out there on the field with my teammates."
Just back it up
The Seahawks can be brash, boastful and over the top.
They also are champions, and defensive end Michael Bennett believes they have earned their right to be in the spotlight.
Problem is, Bennett believes America doesn't appreciate his team.
"People hate us because, you know, when you talk a lot of smack, people usually hate you," he said Tuesday during Super Bowl media day. "But when you talk a lot of smack and you back it up, they hate you even more. I think that's what it is.
"People hate [Richard] Sherman because he says he's the best corner and he plays like the best corner. So, it's just like one of those things where people just hate us because of who we are, but we embrace it. I like it. I like when people hate us because our stocks go up, our jerseys are higher-selling. It's pretty cool."
Sports on 01/28/2015