Seahawks fan starts petition to NFL to Stop bullying Beast Mode!

A Seattle Seahawks fan has started a petition calling on the NFL to stop forcing running back Marshawn Lynch to talk to the media while holding a fine over his head.

The petition, started by Wendi Bromlie at GoPetition, is titled "Enough is enough! Stop bullying Beast Mode!"

Bromlie, exasperated, writes,

"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!"

According to Travis Pittman, KING 5 News, "All players are required by the league to make themselves available to the media after games or face fines. Lynch lost an appeal last week of a $100,000 fine for not talking to the media. He was fined $50,000 last year, but that money was held on the condition that he start opening up. The league imposed that fine, and tacked on another $50,000 when he refused to speak this season."

Pittman writes that, "Since then, Lynch has made himself available after games, but has kept his answers short and sweet. After the Nov. 23 game, he answered nearly every question with "Yeah." A few weeks later, it was "Thanks for Asking." Following Saturday's playoff win, when reporters approached him in the locker room, he asked them, "You all gonna try again?" When they did, he answered every question, "I'm thankful" even as the questions veered from football and asking him about his charity or what song he listened to on his way to the game."

Story adapted from:

http://www.king5.com/story/sports/nfl/seahawks/2015/01/12/marshawn-lynch-bullying-petition/21649041/

(Photo: KING 5 News)