WHILE IT WASN’T quite Marshawn Lynch at his “I’m just here so I don’t get fined” best, the Oakland Raiders running back did everything in his power to dodge questions about sitting during the US national anthem in their pre-season game with the Arizona Cardinals.

Bestmode was speaking at a Raiders media briefing last night, and he was inevitably asked about the ‘elephant in the room’ regarding his decision to remain seated.

I think that elephant just left the room cause a little mouse ran in here. Didn’t they say elephants are scared of mouses or something? That motherfucker left, cousin.”

Trying a different tack, the assembled journalists asked Lynch how he’d feel if fans wearing his jersey (#24) stood for the anthem. He chose instead to talk about different run plays the Raiders run:

“When we run ’74′ or something like that where I’ve got to scan and read both sides, that’d be pretty difficult. But for the most part, I’m a veteran so I can make it work.”

And so on, and so on.

Lynch was, however, willing to talk about how it feels to be back playing football following a year in retirement.

“To be honest, I would say just getting my mentality back.

Waking up early and having to go and do something physical in order to get my body back to playing ability was probably the hardest thing for me because I’m not a morning person.”

It’s unlikely that Lynch will ever reveal his reasons for sitting during the anthem, he’s never been the type.

That doesn’t mean reporters won’t continue to try to find out.

Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:

Bennett and Lynch stay seated as anthem protest spreads