NEW YORK

The NFL has fined Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch $20,000 for making an obscene gesture during last Sunday’s NFC championship game, a person with knowledge of the fine told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The league did not specify what the gesture was in the win over Green Bay, but Lynch grabbed his crotch after scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. Lynch was fined $11,000 for a similar gesture in Seattle’s win over Arizona on Dec. 21.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the fine has not been publicly announced.

Lynch has a history of drawing fines from the NFL, mostly for not talking to the media as required under his contract. He was fined $50,000 in November for repeated violations of the league’s media policy. At that time, the league collected a $50,000 fine that was imposed against Lynch for violations in 2013. That fine from 2013 was held in anticipation of future cooperation from Lynch — cooperation that has not occurred.

At last January’s Super Bowl media day in New Jersey, Lynch spent the session behind a barrier talking with teammates, autographing a football a young fan threw to him, and speaking only to NFL Network’s Deion Sanders and to Armed Forces Radio. He ignored many other questions asked from a distance by reporters, and also left for a short while before returning.

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Lane on Gronk

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane said Thursday he doesn’t think New England All-Pro Rob Gronkowski is that good and being physical with the tight end is important.

Asked what he thinks makes Gronkowski so good, Lane paused.

“I actually don’t think he’s that good. He’s OK. He does have a big body,” Lane said. “From what I’ve seen on tape, he doesn’t like your hands being put on him. We put our hands on him and shake him up a little bit he won’t catch that many balls.”

Lane is likely to be part of a group of Seahawks that try to keep Gronkowski under control. Gronkowski had 82 catches for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns in the regular season for New England. Gronkowski had six catches for 61 yards in 2012 when the Patriots last faced the Seahawks.

The anticipated matchup is Seattle strong safety Kam Chancellor versus Gronkowski, but the Seahawks have used cornerbacks and linebackers to cover other athletic tight ends in the past as well.

Lane said the Seahawks won’t approach Gronkowski any differently from how they defend other receivers.



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