NFL Conference Championships

[NavyCanDo]

22 Brief Thoughts About That Richard Sherman Interview
Tommy Tomlinson, Forbes



1. So the Seahawks beat the 49ers to go to the Super Bowl, and Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman made the game-saving play, and Erin Andrews interviewed him on the field immediately after the game, and he hollered like a crazy person.

2. Within seconds people on social media were calling him a fool, a thug, a classless jerk and many worse things.

3. Sherman is black, and so of course there was an undercurrent of race to some — OK, a lot — of the discussion.

4. Sherman graduated second in his class in high school and also graduated from Stanford. So not only is he not a fool, odds are he’s smarter than you and me.

5. His degree from Stanford was in communications … which might explain why, while he seemed to be hollering like a crazy person, he didn’t curse and looked into the camera the whole time.

6. In other words, he might have just been auditioning for the WWE.

7. Maybe 15 minutes later, when Sherman sat down with the Fox  NFL guys, he was calm and funny.

8. If you stick a microphone in a football player’s face seconds after he made a huge play to send his team to the Super Bowl, you shouldn’t be surprised if he’s a little amped up.

9. Ninety-nine percent of on-field interviews are boring and useless. The TV networks do them anyway for the 1 percent of the time they get a moment like Richard Sherman.

10. As a reporter and writer, that raw emotion — whatever form it takes — is exactly what I hope for. That’s why media people fight for access to locker rooms. After players and coaches cool off, most of them turn into Crash Davis, reading from the book of cliches.

11. But we — the media, and fans in general — don’t know what we want. We rip athletes for giving us boring quotes. But if they say what they actually feel, we rip them for spouting off or showing a lack of class.

12. It’s like we want them to be thinking, Well, that was a fine contest, and jolly good that we won. Which NO athlete is EVER thinking.

13. As a side note: Richard Sherman also called out Skip Bayless on Bayless’ own show, which trumps pretty much anything bad that Richard Sherman has done in his life.

14. So: Did you watch the game?

15. Did you see the two most physical teams in football beat each other half to death? Did you see all the brutal hits? Did you see all the players who couldn’t get up after the play? Did you see all those guys who had to be helped off the field?

 16. Did you see NaVorro Bowman, the stud linebacker for the 49ers, wreck his knee when a Seattle player fell on it? I’m not sure how you could’ve missed it — Fox must have shown the replay 20 times.

17. (I understand that it was a big play — Bowman recovered a fumble at the goal line, although the refs called it the other way. It deserved another look. But still: Can’t you crop out Bowman’s crumpled knee, or put a black bar over it, or something? After one or two replays, isn’t it just injury porn?)

18. Anyway: That was the kind of game it was. Rough and angry and so violent that at times it was hard to watch.

19. This, of course, is part of the attraction of football. And part of the reason so many players leave the sport crippled and concussed.

20. Richard Sherman made the big play Sunday. His team is going to the Super Bowl.

21. More important, he survived the carnage.

22. It seems to me that the only proper response to surviving something like that is to holler like a crazy person.

Sherman was still caught up in the high emotions of the game and the trash talking he was receiving and exchanging  all game with Crabtree.   He did cool down in his next sideline interview.    He actually has one of the best senses of humor on the squad. We in Seattle get to hear his more humorous interviews all the time. He usually has the press in stitches, but the interview he will always be known for is this one where I think the girl from Fox was frightened a little bit.
Kind of glad really. Maybe the sports media can focus a little on us now, rather than Manning, Manning, Manning. Any publicity is good publicity.
Sherman eats breakfast at the same place we do after church. We run into his there quite often.

[katzenjammer]

I gotta agree with you about the Refs.  There is no excuse for those kinds of calls, especially during the playoffs, and even more especially during a Conference championship game with two teams as closely matched as these two were.  One would think the NFL would ensure their "A" Team was on hand to call these games but apparently not.

Gene Steratore's crew is widely held as one of the top officiating teams in the league.  (Which only goes to prove that even the best can miss stuff at times.)  They knew what to expect in Seattle yesterday, and chose Gene and his team for a reason.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jrf5Sp-2XPQ

[NavyCanDo]

The Seattle/SF game was a great one, but methinks the 'Niners were robbed by the refs, who called for the homies all night. 

Maybe you don't recall this missed call that would have been a severe blow against the 49rs. This has got to be one of the cheapest hits ever I have seen - an inactive 49r in sweats taking out Seahawk Jeremy Lane on the side line.   This guy should have a huge fine against him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QelncOU3DHU

[flowers]

Maybe you don't recall this missed call that would have been a severe blow against the 49rs. This has got to be one of the cheapest hits ever I have seen - an inactive 49r in sweats taking out Seahawk Jeremy Lane on the side line.   This guy should have a huge fine against him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QelncOU3DHU

Great game. Do you happen to know the type of injury the Frisco player got. I know it had to be a broken leg, but what is the official injury?

[NavyCanDo]

Great game. Do you happen to know the type of injury the Frisco player got. I know it had to be a broken leg, but what is the official injury?

Torn ACL.   It was a horrible thing to watch over and over on replay.

[flowers]

Torn ACL.   It was a horrible thing to watch over and over on replay.

yes it was

[musiclady]

Sherman was still caught up in the high emotions of the game and the trash talking he was receiving and exchanging  all game with Crabtree.   He did cool down in his next sideline interview.    He actually has one of the best senses of humor on the squad. We in Seattle get to hear his more humorous interviews all the time. He usually has the press in stitches, but the interview he will always be known for is this one where I think the girl from Fox was frightened a little bit.
Kind of glad really. Maybe the sports media can focus a little on us now, rather than Manning, Manning, Manning. Any publicity is good publicity.
Sherman eats breakfast at the same place we do after church. We run into his there quite often.

It was more like "BRADY, BRADY, BRADY!"  I'm SO glad the Brady worship by the commentators with their man-crushes has stopped for a while.  It's nauseating.

As for Sherman, if he IS a good guy, and a smart guy, it's a shame that he left an indelible negative impression on millions with that out of control 'communication' after the game.

That's gonna stick with him for a long, long time......

Yesterday was a good day of football (bad reffing notwithstanding).

I hope the Super Bowl is half as good a game as both championship games were.

[Chieftain]

Torn ACL.   It was a horrible thing to watch over and over on replay.

yep...especially in slow mo...made my knees hurt just watching it.  Not as bad as when Joe Theissman got his tho......

[evadR]

yep...especially in slow mo...made my knees hurt just watching it.  Not as bad as when Joe Theissman got his tho......

T's leg was actually broken. Being a skins fan, I was watching the game when it actually happened.
LT was jumping around waving his arms frantically trying to get help onto the field. We thought one of the Giants thugs had actually shived him.
Super scary.

[musiclady]

yep...especially in slow mo...made my knees hurt just watching it.  Not as bad as when Joe Theissman got his tho......

Watching Joe Theissman's compound fracture was the stuff of nightmares.

I saw it happen, then had to watch it over and over again.

Ugly stuff.

[Saltbag]

My prediction....
Denver 27
Seattle 17

[DCPatriot]

Watching Joe Theissman's compound fracture was the stuff of nightmares.

I saw it happen, then had to watch it over and over again.

Ugly stuff.

Lawrence Taylor, Giants' linebacker was clearly distraught, frantically motioning to the sideline. 

[DCPatriot]

[andy58-in-nh]

Naaaah... not really.

In our hearts, we all knew the Pats were lucky just to be there. The injuries to key starters in so many positions finally caught up to us, especially on defense. And no pressure on Peyton Manning equals: a very bad day. Then, there's the fact that NE team management was never willing to obtain (i.e., pay for) a wide receiver any bigger than a Smurf, or more dependable than a '79 Ford Pinto. And of course: our two best tight ends are currently (a) in the hospital, and (b), in jail.

So, all in all, there's disappointment, but not too much "boo-hoo" around these parts.  After all, the Red Sox are World Champions and we're still enjoying the glow from that achievement.

[NavyCanDo]

SHERMAN RESPONDS

After jawing with Michael Crabtree, giving a passionate post-game interview, and celebrating in the locker room with teammates, Richard Sherman sat down and wrote an article for Sports Illustrated.

In the column he details the final moments of the dramatic NFC Championship Game, the interview, and many different fan reactions.

On what transpired between Sherman and Crabtree, the cornerback claims he tried saying “good game,” but was rebuffed. He also offers a backhanded compliment to Colin Kaepernick.


I ran over to Crabtree to shake his hand but he ignored me. I patted him, stuck out my hand and said, “Good game, good game.” That’s when he shoved my face, and that’s when I went off.

I threw a choking sign at 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Why? Because he decided he was going to try the guy he was avoiding all game, because, I don’t know, he’s probably not paying attention for the game-winning play. C’mon, you’re better than that.

In regards to his interview, Sherman explains that he was in the heat of the moment, and that his self-aggrandizing proclamation was layered.


It was loud, it was in the moment, and it was just a small part of the person I am. I don’t want to be a villain, because I’m not a villainous person. When I say I’m the best cornerback in football, it’s with a caveat: There isn’t a great defensive backfield in the NFL that doesn’t have a great front seven. Everything begins with pressure up front, and that’s what we get from our pass rushers every Sunday.

Read more at http://gamedayr.com/sports/richard-sherman-sports-illustrated-article-95222/#bC6SEzIjTlckLF7M.99

[sinkspur]

Lots more Denver fans today after that Sherman hysteria.

The scenario is set:  The good guys (Broncos) take on the villains (Seahawks).

And just why DID Pete Carroll have to pay anybody to play for USC?  That's never been answered and many college football careers ruined by ole Pete,  who just happened to high tail it out of town before the NCAA got there.

[musiclady]

Lots more Denver fans today after that Sherman hysteria.

The scenario is set:  The good guys (Broncos) take on the villains (Seahawks).

And just why DID Pete Carroll have to pay anybody to play for USC?  That's never been answered and many college football careers ruined by ole Pete,  who just happened to high tail it out of town before the NCAA got there.

Pete Carroll is the main reason that many of us who might have been more or less neutral, will be cheering on the Broncos.

[NavyCanDo]

I just hate having it be a distraction from what was an epic battle and a come from behind win for Seattle. The focus now should be on what is a rare  Super Bowl match-up, the #1 Defense vs. the #1 Offense and both teams are #1 seeds. Who could ask for more?

They did meet during pre-season with Seattle winning 40 to 10,   but post season is on a whole different level for everyone, so expect the Super Bowl to be much a much tighter game.    Percy Harvin will be playing so Seattle's passing game will be a factor.

[NavyCanDo]

Lots more Denver fans today after that Sherman hysteria.

The scenario is set:  The good guys (Broncos) take on the villains (Seahawks).

Believe me us Hawk fans are not comfortable with our team being portrayed as "villains".  That is not our team, that is not the fans,  and never has been.
We hated the news that Pete Carroll was going to be our new head coach - but with what he has been able to do with the Seahawks since he got here in 2010 we are willing to overlook his USC past. At the time the Seahawks were at their low point. They weren't winning, they were not filling the new stadium, TV ratings were down, and there was serious talk of the team being sold and moved. Carroll like him or not has proved his leadership. And Sherman was a jerk yesterday, we admit that and he himself has apologized. 

[evadR]

Carroll like him or not has proved his leadership. And Sherman was a jerk yesterday, we admit that and he himself has apologized.

hear hear

[Chieftain]

Let's just hope the NFL makes damned sure they bring their "A" team to referee this Superbowl.  There should not be any doubt in a game because of a lousy call by a Ref. 

No Lingerie League rejects, please...!!

[DCPatriot]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202086455340335


Absolutely make you smile!     

[mountaineer]

My prediction....
Denver 27
Seattle 17

That sounds about right, though the margin of victory may be wider. We'll see if Wilson shows up.

[Chieftain]

That sounds about right, though the margin of victory may be wider. We'll see if Wilson shows up.

yah, he'll show up...let's hope he gets some stick-em on those gloves of his.  In any case, this contest will be about Seattle defending against Peyton Manning's arm, and Denver trying to defend against Marshawn Lynch and his incredible running game.  Seattle showed last weekend that they have no qualms about letting Marshawn run the ball every single time, and when he is pounding against your defense every time, it wears them down quickly.  Marshawn starts out making 4-5 yards on a carry, the 7-9 yard third down conversion runs, then 11-12 first down carries on first down.  Eventually he finds a hole all the way through the backfield and he's gone for the endzone.

My biggest concern is penalties.  The Superbowl is about who can play the best technical game of football, and Seattle is the most heavily penalized team in the NFL despite their record.  If they cannot control the stupid penalties, specifically the Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Un-necessary Roughness, Roughing the passer/kicker, and so forth, then they do not deserve to win and likely will not.  You simply cannot give your Superbowl opponent 100+ penalty yards and still expect to win.

We shall see....

 

[NavyCanDo]

That sounds about right, though the margin of victory may be wider. We'll see if Wilson shows up.

When they last  played in September Seattle clobbered the Broncos 40 to 10.    Yes it was pre-season but both teams played the starters and played with full intensity.   Seattle waited until the margin was secure before making personnel changes.
A Bronco’s win at the SB is not a foregone conclusion just because the media says it is.