Why Everyone Should Chill Out About Richard Sherman: An Obligatory Two Cents

Say what you will about the theatrics of Richard Sherman's post-NFC Championship end zone celebration and interview with Erin Andrews yesterday.  Let's first acknowledge that this was an instant classic between two incredibly talented teams who left it all on the field and penned the best chapter yet in this young rivalry.  From the first strip-sack of Russell Wilson to Sherman's superbly athletic deflection in the end zone to clinch the Seahawks' Super Bowl bid, this was the defensive battle royale we hoped for all week long.  It certainly beat the pants off of that rout in Denver earlier in the day, anyway.

I admit my first visceral reaction to Sherman's WWE-style takedown of Michael Crabtree was to cringe.  The guy had just made one of the most astonishing plays I've ever seen--right up there with the handful of last-second TD passes embedded in every obligatory playoffs highlight reel in existence--and he decided to spend his first moments of victory stomping on the [playoff] grave of the opponent he very clearly had already gotten the better of?  I thought, What else is there really left to say about the 49ers when you've already made your point loud and clear on the field?  And also, Erin Andrews really needs a drink and a new set of eyebrows.  But after a tidal wave of internet outrage and backlash to the backlash that presently seems to eclipse anything else these two teams and their army of Pro Bowlers did yesterday, I figure I'll hop on the opinion bandwagon and hopefully give you some reasons to chill out about Richard Sherman and get ready for [potentially] one of the best Super Bowl matchups we've had in a long time:

1) It Was Just a Postgame Interview, For Goodness' Sake - Underscoring some things I hinted at above, it's more than a little bizarre that Sherman's very brief (2 question!) interview with Andrews seems to have given everyone amnesia about the rest of the game.  And if you reread the transcript of said 2-question interview, he says nothing outside of the realm of ordinary NFL trash talk and nothing violent or profane at that.  Rather, the outrage seems to come from the tone (yes, an intentionally loaded term) of Sherman's answers, despite the fact that the guy had made the biggest play of his life just seconds earlier.  I'm certainly not saying it was a great interview by any means, but it's pretty unrealistic to assume every player in that situation would naturally turn off the adrenaline and emotions of the moment to give the standard "how does it feel?" answers we've grown to expect and immediately forget.  To suggest that his feisty comments somehow make him a "thug" compared to the many former and current players who have legitimate felony-class criminal records is knee-jerk to say the least.  Caveat: Sherman's choke-hold symbol in the end zone was definitely not a classy look though.

2) Richard Sherman Actually Is the League's Best Cornerback - We tend to give athletes in more glamorous positions a little leeway when they boast about being the best, why not the league's best cornerback who said as much on Sunday?  He led the league in interceptions this year and over these past two seasons combined despite the fact that the ball comes his way far less than it does to his other teammates in Seattle's secondary.  He's also among the best at deflecting balls for interceptions and boasts the lowest QB rating in the league when passers try to target the receiver he's covering.  And despite being drafted in the fifth round in 2011, he's already made the coveted All Pro roster two times in three years.  So for all of the talk, Sherman sure does tend to back it up better than most, and it turns out he's not competing for Ms. Manners' affection. There's just no refuting the facts even if you hate his personality.

3) You Are Absolutely Going to Want to See This Guy Face Off with Peyton Manning - Whether you want to see Richard Sherman eat his words or pick Manning's receivers apart two weeks from now, this is going to be one of the most intriguing matchups we've ever had in a Super Bowl and you have Sherman to thank for punching the Seahawks' ticket.  For all of the attention Manning [deservedly] gets for outwitting his opponents, Sherman is a brilliant foe when it comes to game strategy.  If you're not impressed after watching this, you have a bigger chip on your shoulder than he does (Confession - Upon rereading this, I grabbed a bit more from this Deadspin article than I intended, so proper citation):