ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK (TICKER) —Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch on Wednesday said he expects to be suspended by the NFL in the wake of his latest transgression.
Lynch met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday and said he came away from the meeting feeling he would be facing disciplinary action.
“I got a lot of insight out of it from commissioner Goodell, and something that he stressed throughout that meeting was that he will not tolerate any more screw-ups by me, so I think that’s sinking in to me.” Lynch said. “I honestly see a suspension coming. But that comes with the consequences.”
Earlier this month, Lynch pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and was sentenced to 36 months’ probation.
Lynch also must also perform 80 hours of community service stemming from his February arrest in Culver City, California.
While Lynch said he expected to hear from the league in about 10 days, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email Wednesday that a decision is not imminent.
“We expect a decision within the next several weeks,” Aiello said.
Lynch, 22, was arrested after police saw him and two other men sitting in a car with the engine running. Police found four marijuana “blunts” and a loaded gun which they determined belonged to Lynch.
Two other misdemeanor weapons charges against Lynch were dismissed Thursday. He must complete the community service by September 1, at which time he must appear in court to show proof that he met the requirements.
It marked the second time in less than a year that Lynch’s name has landed in the police blotter. The Pro Bowler was under investigation in June 2008 for a hit-and-run accident that occurred the previous month in Buffalo.
“Poor judgment,” Lynch said. “It’s hard when you have a target on your back. (Goodell) said he wouldn’t tolerate it. The first time was like a slap on the wrist, but this time he got to that ‘but.’
“This time, I feel it really will stick. That’s not what I came into the league, to jeopardize my chance of playing, to do something that I love more than anything is to strap up my pads all through the week leading up to Sunday, and that’s one thing that I’m not ready to give up.”
Lynch encountered legal trouble on May 31, 2008, when his SUV struck and injured an Ontario woman before leaving the scene of the accident.
But after admitting to being behind the wheel and apologizing for the incident, Lynch reached an agreement in which he would plead guilty in the case. The deal allowed Lynch to avoid a criminal charge, and the NFL did not levy any penalties against him.
“With the first incident, I’m going to say honestly, we didn’t play that out in a smart way,” Lynch said. “And with this situation, I felt that there was going to come a point where something was going to have to change. My agent said we got pro-active in knowing that this incident was serious - not saying that the last one wasn’t - but it’s time to make that change and step up to the plate and confess up to what I’ve done.”
Lynch rushed for 1,036 yards and eight touchdowns last season, his second straight 1,000-yard campaign. The 12th overall selection in the 2007 draft, Lynch has rushed for 2,151 yards and 15 TDs in 28 career games.
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