Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch Fined $5,000

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch will have a little less money to spend on Skittles at the Candy Shoppe this week as the fifth-year back from Cal has been fined $5,000 for violating the league's uniform policy, a league spokesman confirmed on Friday.

Specifically, Lynch's socks, which contained lime-green, were not up to code.

Before taxes, Lynch's $2.14 million base salary this season is comprised of weekly game checks worth $125,882, so the $5,000 is a slice of his weekly and annual income.

Lynch, who won't turn 26 until next April, will be an unrestricted free agent in March, but is unlikely to leave the Pacific Northwest. The former first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills is 31 yards away from a 1,000-yard season, which would be the team's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005 (Shaun Alexander) and his first 1,000-yard season since his Pro Bowl season of 2008.

Acquiring Lynch was a six-month effort by general manager John Schneider and his hard-running style has helped change the team's image and the club will also have the option of using the franchise tag on Lynch, which for a running back, is projected to be worth between $7.78 and $8.01 million in 2012.


Photo by Jim Bates of The Seattle Times.