Missing games is the one thing that Marshawn Lynch hates more than anything else. That's why his three game suspension, which was upheld by Commissioner Roger Goodell Monday, is likely to have the desired impact the head of the league was seeking.
Speaking for the first time since it was announced that his suspension would remain at three games, Lynch sounded as if he wasn't expecting his appeal to yield much in the way of leniency.
"I can't be disappointed," he said. "I knew what I was getting myself into. I've got to face the consequences and I knew it was going to be three games so that's what it is."
When the suspension first came down in mid-March Lynch addressed the media at that time saying he hoped to learn from the incident and subsequent punishment handed down by the league. The Bills feature back seemed to understand how damaging his off the field conduct this past offseason can be for his career and the success of his team.
"It's a hard thing sitting out a game when you're not hurt," Lynch said. "Preparing, leading up to it, just the feeling you have when you know you can play and now you can't play, it's gives you that feeling that I messed up. That isn't a position I want to be in. I love being out there too much to ever want to put myself in a position like this where I can't strap up on Sunday to go be out there with my boys."
Lynch has attacked practice with the same vigorous work ethic through the course of the offseason and training camp as he has pledged that he will prepare for the season the same way he always has.
"Nothing has changed," he said. "I'm still going to show up every day like I always do and continue to ride my boys to make sure they're still bringing their 100 percent as well."
When asked if he'll have to reflect back on this punishment in the future if presented with a compromising situation again, Lynch stated that thinking twice won't even be necessary.
"That feeling is here and is not going anywhere," he said. "It's kind of becoming second nature now, almost like picking up a ball and running with it."
As for how he plans to handle missing the first three regular season games, Lynch will do what he can to support his teammates.
Said Lynch.
"I'm going to be the biggest cheerleader Buffalo has seen in a while."
