Raiders await NFL’s decision on Lynch appeal
Team would like to hear NFL’s ruling by Tuesday
ALAMEDA >> The The Raiders are expecting a resolution to the Marshawn Lynch situation sooner rather than later.
“I think we expect to hear something early in the week, hopefully by (Tuesday) would be the fairest thing so the team can prepare,” Del Rio said Monday at his weekly press conference.
Lynch, according to ESPN, had his argument heard Monday by NFL appeals officer James Thrash.
Lynch received a onegame suspension Friday, a day after he left the Raiders bench in the first half of a 31-30 win over the Kansas City Chiefs to intercede in a scuffle and made contact with an official.
According to the collective bargaining agreement, an appeal must be scheduled by at least the second Tuesday after the suspension was imposed.
As it stands, Lynch would be docked a week’s pay -- slightly more than $110,000 in salary and prorated bonus money. Lynch, according to ESPN, immediately filed an appeal, and a source said indeed there should be news Tuesday on whether it was successful.
Having made contact with an official, the best Lynch could hope for would be to pay a fine but be allowed to play in the game based on the contention that he left the bench to serve as a peacemaker and wasn’t intending to escalate the situation.
It happened when Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters, a fellow Oakland native who considers Lynch a mentor and close friend, was called for a personal foul against Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
When a couple of Raiders linemen took exception and advanced on Peters, Lynch sprinted from the sideline and into the fray.
Peters, ESPN reported, spoke on Lynch’s behalf in the teleconference appeal.
The Raiders have been off since the Chiefs game, and Del Rio said he has not spoken to Lynch about the ejection.
“I was disappointed we had a player leave the bench,” Del Rio said. “It’s something we talk about. Don’t leave the bench area.”
If Lynch remains suspended, he would miss the week of practice, the Buffalo game and rejoin the Raiders in Sarasota, Fla., when they begin preparations for their Nov. 5 game in Miami against the Dolphins.
For the second straight year, the Raiders will practice will stay on the East Coast and practice at the IMG Academy rather than make a cross country flight home, then double back the following weekend.
In Lynch’s absence, the roles of DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, and also fullback Jamize Olawale would be increased. Should any of those players have a physical issue, the Raiders could promote Elijah Hood from the practice squad.
Washington and Richard combined for 64 yards on 18 carries against Kansas City, with Washington contributing a 4-yard touchdown run in which he broke two tackles. Richard also had four receptions for 45 yards.
“Those two guys have a lot of heart, a lot of quickness, they were hungry for the opportunity to take full advantage, and did a nice job for us,” Del Rio said.
Although Lynch, who had two carries for nine yards before being ejected, would have been useful in late goal line situations, the style and tempo of the Chiefs game were suited to the smaller backs.
“If you’re playing a little more wide open, in some respects they give you a little more juice,” Del Rio said. “Marshawn gives you the power back when you want to finish people in tough situations, but those guys give you more than a change of pace.”
• The clock is ticking on safety Obi Melifonwu, who Tuesday will be seven days into a 21-day period during which he must either be put on the 53-man roster or finish the season on injured reserve.
Melifonwu, who had arthroscopic knee surgery out of training camp, can at the earliest play in the Dolphins game. Melifonwu was the Raiders’ second-round draft pick out of Connecticut.
The situation with firstround pick Gareon Conley remains on hold as he recovers from a shin injury.
Conley missed all of training camp, but made it on the field in Week 2 and played and played well against the New York Jets. He regressed against Washington, and has been inactive for the past five games.
“We were trying to get him going and seeing if we could get a little bit and didn’t appear to be making the kind of progress we needed to make,” Del Rio said.
Del Rio said it was too early to address whether Conley may not play at all this season.