Lynch entered the 2007 season as the starter at running back for the Buffalo Bills. In his first game of the regular season on September 9, 2007, he gained 90 yards on 19 carries and scored his first touchdown in a 15-14 loss to the Denver Broncos. His breakout game came on November 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Lynch's success on the ground was instrumental in keeping the touted Cincinnati offense on the sidelines, as he rushed 29 times for 153 yards, including a 56 yard touchdown run. Lynch also completed a touchdown pass to tight end Robert Royal, the first touchdown pass completed by a Bills non-quarterback since 1981.^[13]

Lynch injured his ankle the following week against the Miami Dolphins and missed the next three games. He returned to play on December 9 for the Bills' second season game against the Dolphins, rushing for 107 yards and making his first career fumble. The game marked the first time that the Bills' offense produced two 100-yard rushers since 1996, as Fred Jackson also rushed for 115 yards.^[14] Lynch went over the 1,000 yard rushing mark on December 23 against the New York Giants, scoring a touchdown in the 38-21 loss which resulted in the Giants clinching a playoff berth. This made him the fourth Bills rookie to break the 1,000 mark, and the first since Greg Bell in 1984.^[15] He finished a successful rookie season with 1,115 total rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

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Personal

Lynch's cousin is former Cal wide receiver Robert Jordan of the San Francisco 49ers, who is also the cousin of JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders.

Lynch's uncle, Lorenzo Lynch, had an 11-year career in the NFL.^[16] Lynch was nicknamed "Money" in college.^[17]

Lynch has embraced the Buffalo community, in stark contrast to former Bills RB Willis McGahee, as noted by an interview with ESPN's Kenny Mayne.^[18] In the video interview, which has become an internet sensation, Lynch talks about his love of Applebees, and his teammates joke that he loves chain restaurants. In the video, teammate Robert Royal states that "Marshawn has been a fresh of breath air."

In another video at a Nike football camp, Lynch coined the famous phrase "Beast Mode" used to express brute force and superhuman capabilities on the football field. Lynch also uses terms such as "Stupid Fast" and "Solid" to express is physical ability on the fooball field.

On June 14, 2006, Lynch was the victim of mistaken identity when unknown assailants shot at his car outside his high school alma mater as he was about to visit his little sister on her graduation day. He was not the intended target of the shooting, and no one was injured. The shooter phoned Lynch's mother to apologize.^[19]

On January 25, 2007, Lynch was accused of sexual assault by his former girlfriend. The incident reportedly happened on December 13, 2006, outside the woman's home in Emeryville, California. On January 29, 2007, an Alameda County Deputy District Attorney who specializes in domestic violence cases declined to press charges, citing a lack of evidence and "grave inconsistencies" in the alleged victim's accusations.^[20] Lynch was never arrested or charged.

On March 3, 2007, an Alameda County judge threw out a restraining order that Lynch's ex-girlfriend had issued against him because it was obtained improperly.^[21]

Lynch is currently under investigation for his involvement in a hit and run accident on May 31, 2008 in which his 2008 Porsche SUV struck and injured a female pedestrian in Buffalo before leaving the scene.^[22][23]

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References

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External links

• Marshawn10.com: Cal's Website for Marshawn Lynch
• Official Cal Bears Homepage
• ESPN.com Player Card
• Marshawn Lynch News and Video at SportsUltra
• Sports Highlight Videos of Marshawn Lynch on mReplay
• Reluctant Poster Boy Cal Tailback Marshawn Lynch Has Honors, Gaudy Stats and a Dynamic Style of Play That Makes Him Primed for the Spotlight—Only He Doesn’t Seem to Want It