Lynch appeals one-game suspension

ALAMEDA, California — Marshawn Lynch presented his appeal to the NFL on Monday to overturn his one-game suspension for bumping an official and Oakland coach Jack Del Rio hopes to get a resolution soon.

“We expect to hear something early in the week,” Del Rio said. “Hopefully by tomorrow would be the fairest thing for the team to prepare.”

Lynch was suspended for next Sunday’s game at Buffalo without pay for coming off the sideline during a scuffle in the second quarter and then shoving a game official during Oakland’s 31-30 victory over Kansas City last Thursday night. The ban will cost him more than $100,000 in salary and per game roster bonuses.

The incident started when Oakland quarterback Derek Carr was hit late on a run by Kansas City’s Marcus Peters midway through the second quarter. Several of the Raiders offensive linemen, including Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn, immediately confronted Peters, and Lynch sprinted onto the field from the bench to join the fray. Line judge Julian Mapp tried to break up the fight, but Lynch pushed him and grabbed his jersey. Lynch was ejected and got a personal foul.

“I was disappointed we had a player leave the bench, something we talk about,” Del Rio said. “Don’t leave the bench area.”

While several players have only been fined for making contact with an official, Lynch also left the sideline to join the fray, making his infraction worthy of a suspension, according to NFL vice-president of football operations Jon Runyan.

Lynch and Peters are both Oakland natives and are so close they consider each other family. Some of Lynch’s teammates said he came out on the field as a peacemaker looking to separate Peters from the Oakland players.