Marshawn Lynch: "Yes, I Was Expecting The Ball"

Marshawn Lynch, no fan of the NFL media, opened up more than he has to date about the end of the Super Bowl, and he did it, of all places, on TV in Turkey.

That's where he, Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams, and Browns TE Gary Barnidge are taking part in a camp for American Football Without Barriers camp, which promotes the sport's growth around the world. The video should be cued up to the 21-minute mark where Lynch is asked about the Seahawks' fateful decision to throw the ball.

"To be honest with you, I would be a liar if I didn't tell you that I was expecting the ball. Yes, I was expecting the ball. But after it didn't happen, like I told a reporter after the game, it's a team sport and I had no problem with the decision or the playcalling."

Innocuous! But after making clear that he was fine with the call, Lynch sort of feinted toward one of the earliest conspiracy theories, the one that, for either contractual or marketing reasons, claimed that the Seahawks wanted Russell Wilson to be the game's hero instead.

"I think it was more of a ... how do I say this? When you look at me, and you let me run that ball in, I'm the face of the nation. You know, the MVP of the Super Bowl, that's pretty much the face of the nation at that point in time. I don't know what went into that call. I mean, maybe it was a good thing that I didn't get the ball.

"It cost us the Super Bowl. I mean, I have full confidence in my teammates to execute that play because we've done it so many times. But would I have loved to had the ball? Yes, I would have. I would have."

OK, maybe there was something to Lynch's knowing smile as he returned to the sideline after Wilson's interception.

[via Yahoo]