Marshawn Lynch will plead guilty to reckless driving charge

Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) warms up prior to Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Marshawn Lynch, who was arrested in July 2012 for driving under the influence, will plead guilty on Friday in an Oakland, Calif., courtroom, according to Terry Blount at ESPN.com.

The decision will help Lynch avoid a public trial, according to his attorney Ivan Golde.

“We are resolving the case Friday by pleading to a wet reckless,” Golde said on ESPN.com. “We have a strong case for trial and could win the case, but the last thing he needs is to go through a public trial.”

Golde worked in December to get the trial date postponed until after the Super Bowl and he succeeded.

He believes that the lesser charge of reckless driving and Lynch’s cooperation may help the running back avoid suspension.

“I can’t speak for the commissioner [Roger Goodell],” Golde said, “but my feeling is Marshawn is OK and will avoid a suspension.”

Lynch rushed for 1,257 yards in 2013 and tied a career-high with 12 rushing touchdowns. He scored a rushing touchdown in each of the Seahawks three postseason games, and ran for 288 yards in the playoffs.

He was a major reason the Seahawks finished the regular season with the 4th-most rushing yards per game in the NFL (136.8).

Lynch was arrested on July 14, 2012 for weaving between lanes on a highway in Oakland. After being pulled over, he failed a breathalyzer test. His blood alcohol content level was at 0.08, the lowest level above the legal limit in the state of California.