Minutes after a memorable win by the Seattle Seahawks over the San Francisco 49ers, all pro cornerback Richard Sherman was interviewed by ESPN & Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews.
– [Sherman:] “Well, I’m the best corner in the game! When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you gonna get! Don’t you EVER talk about me.”
– [Andrews:] Who was talking about you?
– [Sherman:]“Crabtree. Don’t you open your mouth about the best. Or I’m gonna shut it for you real quick. L-O-B.”
Sherman was instantly discriminated against on social media through racial slurs, hate filled remarks, and sadly multiple death threats. Sherman tweeted the next day, “Last night shows that racism is still alive and well…And that’s so sad…At least some people respect MLK’s dream.” People react to what they see, and in the NFL what we see is what is on the field. It’s no question that Sherman has been a nuisance to offensive coordinators and quarterbacks since he entered the league three years ago. But the impact he has on the field is nothing compared to what he does off the field.
Sherman has hosted and participated in many charity events through his “Richard Sherman Family Foundation”, which helps as many kids as possible have school supplies and clothes. Sherman always does his best to bring out the best in others. His “Respect until you show me you don’t deserve it” attitude is quick to be judged, but it isn’t exactly a wrong moral thought process.
The Thug
Richard Sherman went to Compton’s ManuelDominguezHigh School. Yes, he was raised in Compton. This doesn’t mean he was in a gang, or did drugs. His mother Beverly Sherman was strict about what he was allowed to do. She pushed him to get good grades…really good grades. Sherman finished high school with a 4.1 overall GPA. He knows his mother is the reason he is so successful.
The label “Thug” has been a used to describe Richard Sherman. Why? Because he has dreadlocks? Because he is vocal? Because he was raised in Compton? Sherman’s hair has nothing to do with anything. But anytime you see him make a tackle or interception, the hair is the first thing you see. It’s a hairstyle, not a gang tattoo. The negative presumption behind it is purely based on racial profiling. Nobody gives Troy Polumalu grief over his hair; in fact he’s praised for it. It’s noticeable. Nothing more. His voice is loud, and he uses it to make himself heard. On multiple occasions he proclaimed himself as the best corner in the league. On multiple occasions he has backed his words up. The city he grew up in helped him realize that through hard work, anything can be overcome and no challenge is big enough to stop him.
Sherman went and graduated from Stanford. People who don’t know the standards at Stanford should really look into just how difficult it is to get accepted. He could have gone just as a student with such good grades in high school. But football was his passion, and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh saw the potential. Jim Harbaugh was a very successful coach at Stanford and character is a big part of what he looks for in his players. He wants guys who are passionate and good Samaritans. Andrew Luck was the quarterback at Stanford while coach Harbaugh was head coach. He was the perfect student athlete for Harbaugh. With a 3.8 GPA at Stanford and a Heisman trophy in his back pocket, Luck began his route to being the number one overall pick in the draft. Harbaugh set the standard of personality by example. Harbaugh’s outgoing personality and over exaggerated reactions to penalties or blown coverage’s, showed when it was time to calm down. His players learned very quickly when it was playtime and when it was game time. In his recruiting of Sherman, Harbaugh didn’t believe that this young athlete was his age. He spoke with proper grammar and fluent vocabulary. Coach Harbaugh added Sherman to the team and never looked back. He was confident this kids attitude wasn’t going to be an issue.
When Coach Harbaugh took the job as Head Coach in San Francisco, he never would have known the relationship he would have with his former players at the next level. In their first meeting Sherman addressed Harbaugh after the game in which the 49ers lost, with a friendly but hard slap on the rear. Harbaugh listened to the quick words Sherman said and turned back walking with a disgruntled look upon his face. This was just the beginning.
Sherman is a new breed of defensive back. At 6’3”, he is the tallest corner in the league. His speed is above average but not the best, his vertical is above average but not the best, his catching ability is again, above average but not the best. So what makes him such an explosive and dynamic player? According to NFL Hall of Famer and former defensive back Deion Sanders, “Sherman is very smart. What he doesn’t have physically, he makes up with his impeccable awareness and quick judgment.”
Too Quick to Judge
What we see is what we believe, and on Sunday we saw an irresponsible and unsportsmanlike act of anger and testosterone. Or was this simply a clever way to get under the skin of the opponent? This obviously won’t be the last time that these two conference rivals will face off. Was this to get the attention away from his team and all on him for the super bowl, and if so was it to be selfish or a clever way to support his team? There are simply too many scenarios to look at. The easiest conclusion is that Richard Sherman is a selfish, egotistical jerk. Let’s try not be too quick to judge. Was it what he said or how he said it? The screaming at the camera may have been a little much but the point wasn’t to scream, it was to be understood. In his words, “Don’t you EVER talk about me.” He was saying that he was disrespected, and to patronize Richard Sherman you have to back it up. He (Sherman) has. With every word out of his mouth and every whimsical phrase he blurts out, he makes sure what’s said, is done. It’s frustrating to see someone disrespect him, but have no evidence of backing it up. So yes what he did on live television was unnecessary, but it wasn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Don’t be too quick to judge Sherman. “We all make mistakes” –Pete Caroll-head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
The Apology
This all stemmed from an altercation between Crabtree and Sherman during a training camp workout. Crabtree said something along the lines of you can’t cover me. Sherman, being the outspoken character that he is, retaliated and the two players nearly got in a fist fight. The bad blood grew between the two young stars and after a very emotional “game winning” play by Sherman, he was so pumped up that this volcano like reaction came about. Sherman later sent an apology via text message to ESPN’s Ed Werder “I apologize for attacking an individual and taking the attention away from the fantastic game played by my teammates. That was not my intent.”
Like it or not, Richard Sherman is an elite corner, he isn’t going to change the way he plays, or the way he talks. It’s a weapon when used properly. He made a mistake, we all do. One thing is for sure. This won’t be the last time you hear from Sherman.