Sherman still receiving criticism for Crabtree rant.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has dismissed the tag of being a “villain” after his recent controversial post-game interview.
Sherman tipped away a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, which Malcolm Smith was able to intercept to seal a 23-17 win.
Just minutes after the game ended, the 25-year-old was interviewed on Fox Sports and began to rant about Crabtree following a bust-up the pair had been involved in back in the summer.
However, Sherman has since apologised for the manner of his interview, but insists that he was merely showing passion on the field rather than acting “like a thug”.
“We’re talking about football here, and a lot of people took it further than football,” Sherman said, according to ESPN.
“I was on a football field showing passion. Maybe it was misdirected and immature, but this is a football field. I wasn’t committing any crimes and doing anything illegal. I was showing passion after a football game.”
His comments became a national rage and sparked a negative reaction social media websites, but Sherman continues to insist that he hopes his reputation and actions don’t have a negative effect on his teammates and the franchise.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson has come out in defence of the cornerback, as the Seahawks prepare to face the Denver Broncos at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on February 2.
Wilson suggested that while his friend may have made a mistake, he remains one of his closest friends and that he is still an “unbelievable football player”.
With Peyton Manning a popular choice across the country, some pundits have labelled the Super Bowl match-up as “The Villains versus The Virtuous”.
However, Sherman dismissed the notion that he will be affected by the negative talk surrounding him, and he will be fully focused on helping his team win as the Seahawks hope to continue to dominate defensively.
COMMENTS