Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch — who made the catchphrase “I’m just here so I won’t get fined” prior to the Super Bowl — finally opened up to the media about the infamous play in the game.

But it took for Lynch to be on a promotional tour in Turkey.

Lynch is in Turkey helping the non-profit organization American Football Without Barriers, which supports the growth of American football in countries such as China, Brazil and Turkey. Lynch is in Turkey, along with former Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams and Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge.

“Beast Mode” sat down for a 27-minute interview with a Turkish sports network.

“I’m just here so I don’t get fined,” Lynch joked before getting serious about why he wanted to work at a Turkish youth football camp and help promote football.

“With the camp, I do this back at home myself, in Oakland, Calif., and when I got the word they were doing something here, it gave me a chance to spread my wings,” he said. “I hold a camp at home, like I said, with about 850 kids and it’s been growing. This is an opportunity for me to come out and spread my brand as well. I’m here, like I said, to spread football across the world and at the same time help people in need.”

The interview eventually got around to the Seahawks’ final offensive play in Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots. On that play Seattle coach Pete Carroll decided to call for a pass at the 1-yard line instead of handing the ball off to his star running back. Russell Wilson’s pass was intercepted by Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler to seal New England’s 28-24 Super Bowl victory.

Ismail Senol of NTV Spor, Turkey’s leading sports network, prefaced the question to Lynch with, “I have to ask this so I won’t get fined.”

“To be honest with you, I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I was expecting the ball,” Lynch said. “Yes, I was expecting the ball. But in life, these things happen. Like I told a reporter after the game, it’s a team sport.

“I had no problem with the decision of the playcalling. I mean, you know … I think it was more of a … how do I say this? When you look at me, and you let me run that ball in … I am the face of the nation. You know, MVP of the Super Bowl … that’s pretty much the face of the nation at that point of time. I don’t know what went into that call. I mean, maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t get the ball. I mean, you know, it cost us the Super Bowl. I mean, I have full … I have full confidence in my teammates to execute that plan because we’ve done it so many more times. But would I love to have had the ball there? Yes, I would have. But the game is over, and I am in Turkey.”