Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch talks at Super Bowl media day, barely

NEWARK, N.J. — Beast Mode was in Least Mode.

Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, who this season was fined $50,000 by the NFL for refusing to speak to reporters, did the bare minimum Tuesday at Super Bowl media day, answering questions for 61/2 minutes of the Seahawks’ hourlong session at the Prudential Center.

“I won’t be satisfied with all this until it’s all over,” said Lynch, who didn’t clarify whether he was talking about the media day circus or Sunday’s game against Denver. “That’s when I’ll be satisfied. But until then, I got work. I appreciate this, but …”

He then walked away, stepping around a curtain to an area off limits to reporters. He returned some time later, and stood nearby for the rest of the hour with his hood pulled up and sunglasses on. He was mum, but hardly menacing, and nodded when asked whether he answered questions merely to avoid another fine.

He gave brief individual interviews to the NFL Network’s Deion Sanders, NFL.com and the Seahawks’ team website.

“I ain’t never seen no talking winning nothing,” he told Sanders. “Been like that since I was little. I was raised like that. I’m gonna get it. Don’t need to talk about it.”

Lynch is a key to Seattle’s success. He failed to rush for 100 yards in each of the Seahawks’ last six regular-season games but had consecutive 100-yard games in the playoffs.

Although Lynch didn’t say much, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman more than made up for it. His podium was packed with reporters, microphones and TV cameras — possibly a larger crowd than Denver’s Peyton Manning had during his session. A few thousand spectators watched from the stands, and used radios to listen to the interview sessions, which were displayed on large video boards in the arena.

“I’m not anybody’s puppet,” said Sherman, who has been a center of attention since his televised tirade after the NFC championship game. “You’re not going to just get controversial things. I’m going to be myself every time, good, bad or indifferent, and it’s not always going to be entertaining.”

Sherman, who brought his video camera to document his experience, kept talking even after the Seahawks were dismissed. He smiled, laughed and played along with even the inane questions. That included saying he had no advice for Justin Bieber, and that Ben Affleck indeed would play Batman better than he could.

As for playing the Super Bowl in New Jersey as opposed to a warmer climate, he said: “I think I’m happiest playing in New Jersey. It’s a big stage, it’s one of the meccas in the world, and I think everybody’s going to get a chance to see it.”

History can wait

Manning was asked about his NFL legacy.

That question made Tuesday pretty much a typical day for him.

“I’ve been asked about my legacy since I was 25 years old, which I’m not sure you can have a legacy when you are 25 years old, or even 37,” he said. “I thought you had to be 70 to have a legacy. I’m not 100% sure what the word even means.

“I’m down the homestretch of my career, but I’m still in it. It’s not over yet. It’s still playing out. This has been the second chapter of my career, and it is an exciting chapter. I’m certainly excited to be back in the Super Bowl on behalf of the Denver Broncos.”

Percy Harvin factor

Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin, who signed a $67-million, six-year contract in the off-season, is looking forward to playing after sitting out most of the season because of injuries.

Harvin had hip surgery in August. He suffered a concussion in Seattle’s divisional playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints and was not cleared to play in the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots.

Would a good performance in the Super Bowl salvage his season?

“I don’t know if it would salvage it,” he said, “but it would definitely just be a dream come true. “

Harvin has been characterized as the X factor in the game.

“This is not my first rodeo,” he said. “I’ve played in a lot of football games and I’ve been effective at doing that. I’m not worried about anything other than what I’ve always done, and that is go out there and play football the way I know how.”

Insider trading

As is normal for media day, there were lots of former and current players milling about and asking questions. One of them was Indianapolis tight end Coby Fleener, working for TheMMQB.com.

Fleener has special insight on this Super Bowl matchup because his Colts beat both the Broncos and Seahawks this season.

“So I think that makes us Super Bowl champions, right?” Fleener said with a smile.

Asked which team will win, he conceded it’s a tough question.

“Both very good teams, both really deserve to be here,” he said. “There’s a lot of quarterbacks in this league where you say you just can’t bet against them, and I think Peyton Manning is that guy. Obviously, it’s a team game, but to bet against Peyton Manning I just don’t think is a smart decision.”

Say what

How’s this for a forehead-slapper: Someone asked Broncos linebacker Shaun Phillips if he considers the Super Bowl a must-win game.

Phillips, perhaps stunned by the question, gave the automatic line about all games being must-win.

Let’s hope the reporter was joking.

sam.farmer@latimes.com

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesfarmer

Twitter: @latimesklein