Fans disappointed with Marshawn Lynch
By DERIK WAGNER NeXt Correspondent
Updated: 07/02/08 8:54 AM
Buffalo, we have a problem. No, the Bills are not moving to Toronto in the near future. In all likelihood, a major contributing factor to whatever success the Buffalo Bills will have this upcoming season will be due to the performance of running back Marshawn Lynch, who pleaded guilty to a traffic violation Friday. The plea agreement was arranged so that the charge was a violation as opposed to a charge of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, a Class A misdemeanor. He paid a total of $150 in fines and had his driver’s license temporarily suspended. Lynch will get his SUV back and will not have a criminal record.
At least he’s sorry. People are usually pretty sincere when they apologize a month after hiding behind their lawyers and the Fifth Amendment, right? Would he have been remorseful if law enforcement hadn’t obtained enough evidence to press charges?
Last season, I watched Lynch run with incredible tenacity and heart, running with authority and fighting for the tough yards. I thought to myself, “Yes! I like getting rid of Willis Mc- Gahee even more now!”
McGahee lost that tenacity after his successful rookie season and had off-the-field issues, fathering multiple children with different women and the infamous comments about how the Bills should move to Toronto.
I was hoping that Lynch’s play on the field would correspond with his personality off the field. Maybe him buying his mother a house was all show. Why didn’t he step forward and confess that he was driving the car that hit Kimberly Shpeley if he unknowingly struck her as he claims? That would have shown that he cared and was a guy with good character. Instead, he’s saying what he has to now that he has been caught. I used to really respect Lynch
for the way he played. Now I’m wondering if he’s going
be like McGahee, who I despised after his first season. Even if Lynch doesn’t insult Buffalo and still
plays like he did in the previous season, I have a hard time rooting for a guy who committed a crime –I mean a violation –and then committed a moral crime for not coming clean. I’m sure there are other fans who feel the same way.
Lynch needs to rectify his tainted image. He needs to stay out of legal problems, perhaps get involved with a charity organization. Otherwise, if he scores a touchdown in the postseason, it’ll feel pretty awkward.
Derik Wagner will be a sophomore at Canisius High School.
