The Enigma that is Richard Sherman
1The Seattle Seahawks victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday was overshadowed by the post match interview with Seahawks corner Richard Sherman and his calling out of 49ers Reciever Michael Crabtree. Fox Sports coverage actually cut short the interview due to his so called show of gloating and disrespect to the opposition. Most would view the interview as Sherman being a thug, and also confirming some views that players are really gangsters who can play football, however lets put another viewpoint on this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioo1iUdwAlU&feature=share&list=UU1XniBsm_c6TSne2R7dn4Dg
Sherman is only in his third year in the NFL and his statistics show that he is quite right in declaring he is the best corner in the game. Since he entered the league he is:
• 1st in picks (20)
• 1st in passes defensed (61)
• Opp QB Rtg when targeted 39.4 (1st)
Sherman graduated from Stanford University with a communications degree (perhaps he knows how to talk ??!!) which again is something not all can claim. Stanford is one of the USA’s premium colleges and its academic record speaks for itself. Seahawks Receiver Doug Baldwin also attended Stanford and both he and Stanford were college football teammates coached ironically by losing 49ers coach John Harbaugh. That’s where some if this pent up talk started. Claims that Harbaugh was a bully to his players have surfaced and Sherman perhaps was letting him know that he won on Monday and Harbaugh did not.
The calling out of 49ers Receiver Michael Crabtree also has some history. After the game Sherman told reporters “I was making sure everybody knew that Crabtree was a mediocre receiver. Mediocre,” Sherman said. “And when you try the best corner in the game with a mediocre receiver, that’s what happens. Game.”
Sherman has been upset with Crabtree since last summer. Both attended Arizona Cardinals star receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s charity event. While there, Sherman went to shake Crabtree’s hand, and Crabtree tried to start a fight, according to some there. “I’m going to make a play and embarrass him,” Richard Sherman vowed that day. Nostradamus?
Crabtree’s NFL career has hardly been a stellar one considering his College career at Texas Tech. He scored a record number of touchdowns for his college team based around the arm of quarterback Graeme Harrell (who never made it in the NFL), and once he was was drafted 10th overall he held out from actually signing a pro contract, as he thought he was worth more then what’s was offered. By September 9, 2009, Crabtree set a 49ers record by becoming the longest rookie holdout in franchise history. A total of 22 touchdowns over 5 seasons ( albeit he was injured for the majority of this season) perhaps proves Sherman is right. Mediocre.
At the end of the day Richard Sherman certainly knows how to market himself into his own brand and one piece of advice to Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos quarterback, in the Superbowl where he will face the Seahawks. Don’t throw the ball to anyone Sherman is defending.