Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch is penalized for shoving an official after Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters’ late hit on Oakland quarterback Derek Carr
Mercurial Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch was ejected from Thursday’s win over the visiting Kansas City Chiefs only to change into street clothes and watch the remainder of the game from the stands.
The Oakland native even returned to the locker room following the dramatic 31-30 come-from-behind victory, only to take the train home among throngs of cheering Raiders fans.
Photos emerged on social media showing Lynch in the Oakland Coliseum stands and he was later pictured riding the BART, the Bay Area’s mass transit system.
Lynch had been ejected midway through the second quarter after he shoved an official and could ultimately face a fine or suspension.
Interestingly, Lynch made contact with the official while attempting to defend a member of the Chiefs.
Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters is Lynch’s cousin and a fellow Oakland native. So when the Raiders players took exception to what they perceived as Peters’ late hit on Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, Lynch hopped off the bench and sprinted into the center of the fray.
Lynch, an Oakland native, was caught riding home on the BART, the Bay Area’s commuter train
Lynch (middle) was coming to the defense of his cousin, Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters (left), who caused a skirmish in the second quarter with a perceived late hit on Derek Carr
But even if Lynch had the best of intentions, such as breaking up a fight between teammates and his cousin, the former Cal-Berkeley star became entangled with a referee, which is cause for an immediate ejection.
‘They can say what they want, but one thing’s certain — family do come first,’ Peters told the Bay Area News Group as he headed for the Chiefs team bus.
‘I was disappointed that he ran out… I didn’t get a chance to have a conversation with him about it,’ said Raiders coach Jack Del Rio. ‘I told him you don’t leave the bench like that. That was about it. Next thing I knew, he was being tossed.’
Lynch, a 31-year-old veteran playing in his first season for his hometown Raiders, rushed only twice for nine yards in the game before his ejection.
‘I saw Marshawn come out there; that’s his cousin,’ Raiders left tackle Donald Penn told ESPN. ‘Marshawn wasn’t doing anything. He was just trying to protect his cousin, get his cousin to the sideline. They’re real close, they’re more like brothers than cousins, they’re real close. He’s going to learn. Marshawn’s smart, he’s going to learn from that moving forward.’
Peters was also seen on the BART with Lynch and can be seen in videos that emerged on social media.
Lynch, who was fined $12,000 for flipping off the Tennessee Titans defense earlier this season, can be seen on the videos with two middle fingers outstretched.
As for that fine, Lynch responded on twitter by writing: ’12k ain’t nothin to a G.’
Lynch was fined $12,000 for flipping off the Tennessee Titans defense earlier this year
Lynch came out of retirement in 2017 to join his hometown Raiders
Lynch has rushed for 9,378 yards and 76 touchdowns over 134 regular season games
In 2014, Lynch’s abhorrence of the NFL media earned him $100,000 in fines.
‘Marshawn Lynch has been fined $50,000 for violating the NFL Media Policy,’ read the NFL’s press release. ‘In addition, the league will collect the $50,000 fine that was imposed following violations of the media policy during the 2013 season but held in abeyance in anticipation of future cooperation.’
Lynch appeared to take the hint soon after. He began talking to reporters, as all NFL players are required to do, but he answered most questions with ‘I’m just here so I won’t get fined.’
Lynch has reportedly spoken to the media on only three occasions this season.
However, the five-time Pro Bowl selection isn’t completely camera shy.
The hometown star will soon be the subject of a reality show that can be seen on Facebook.
The social media site is paying Time Warner Inc’s Bleacher Report millions of dollars for a reality show on Lynch, the sports site told Reuters.
The show, called ‘No Script,’ will start streaming this month and consists of eight 10- to 15-minute episodes featuring Lynch’s various antics.
Originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2007, Lynch had his best years after being traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, ultimately appearing in two Super Bowls and winning one title. He retired after the 2015 season only to return to his beloved Raiders before the 2017 campaign began.
After being ejected during a 1999 game, former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine returned to his team’s dugout wearing a fake mustache made of eye black
Thursday’s incident was reminiscent of former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine’s famous ejection in 1999.
After being tossed in the 12th inning for arguing an interference call, Valentine returned to the clubhouse with a fake mustache made of eye black.
Ultimately he was fined $5,000 for the incident and suspended two games.
‘I wasn’t fooling anyone with that disguise,’ Valentine told reporters after receiving his punishment. ‘If [umpire] Randy Marsh saw it, I believe he would have laughed. This had absolutely nothing to do with the umpires. I did it to lighten up the team.’