PHOENIX — Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has never been shy about publicly criticizing an opposing player or member of the media if he feels something needs to be said. Leading up to Super Bowl XLIX, however, Sherman is taking on an even bigger target.
For the third time this week, Sherman wasn’t shy about calling out NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for something the cornerback sees as a double standard.
In defending Marshawn Lynch not wanting to speak to the media a day earlier, Sherman had made the point that players are forced to be available to the media multiple times a week during the season. But the people in power, such as Goodell, are not.
Goodell does an annual press conference the Friday of Super Bowl week. However, when Sherman was asked what he might ask of the commissioner were he to attend, Sherman answered, “I would ask him why he doesn’t do this weekly instead of annually.”
During Super Bowl Media Day Tuesday, Sherman had said, “I don’t think (players) should be obligated any more than (Goodell) is obligated to speak to the media. I think that if players are going to be obligated to speak to the media then every one of the NFL personnel should be obligated to speak to the media weekly, and that’s not the case.”
And Sherman makes a valid point. The league threatens players with fines if they don’t talk to the media after games and during the week. Yet Goodell has remained silent throughout the league’s latest controversy, the New England Patriots’ deflated ball scandal.
Oh, and Sherman had a thought on that topic too, saying on Sunday that he doesn’t expect the Patriots to be punished if it is proven that they altered footballs because of Goodell’s close relationship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“I think he was just at Kraft’s house last week for the NFC Championship,” Sherman said. “Talk about a conflict of interest.”
Maxwell looking forward to being in demand
Seahawks general manager John Schneider said one of the team’s top priorities in the offseason is to talk to cornerback Byron Maxwell, who is in the final year of his deal, about a new contract. On Wednesday Maxwell said his people have already talked with the Seahawks, but he also finds the idea of being a free agent appealing.
“I mean definitely, you know, I’m the prettiest girl at the dance right now,” he said. “But yeah, it’s one of those things I’m excited about it. I would love to be here but how things work out, as far as I’m ready to see what’s out there.”
Asked if he’s thinking about his future, Maxwell said, “Yeah, of course it would be hard not to think about your future. Especially what’s in my future, how it could help my family it would be hard not to be like, ‘What could be next?’ Right now, this week, I’m focusing on this.”
Being the prettiest girl doesn’t necessarily mean Maxwell needs to be top dog on his team, however.
“It’s not even that,” he said. “I just want to help the team and really help the team win, really. And get paid while I’m doing it. I don’t think about number one cornerbacks or none of that. I just want to ball, basically.”
Seahawks healthy heading into Super Bowl
As expected, the Seahawks had everyone on their 53-man roster on the practice field, and on top of that, the five players listed on the injury report — Sherman (elbow), free safety Earl Thomas (shoulder), guard J.R. Sweezy (ankle), tackle Justin Britt (knee) and running back Lynch (back) — were all full participants in Wednesday’s practice.
In the pool report put out following Wednesday’s practice, it was noted that Sherman made a leaping interception, showing no signs of the injury affecting him. Thomas also practiced with no visible limitations because of his injury.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
