Richard Sherman ditches the podium, calls it a privilege

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is the most gregarious and outspoken member of the team. So it was a departure when he didn’t hold his standard Wednesday afternoon press conference at the podium at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Instead, he spoke briefly to media members at his locker room just before practice started, his answers much shorter than usual.

This came a week after his controversial podium press conference last Wednesday, in which he was asked a series of questions about his sideline rant at offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell during the Seahawks’ 24-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, and after the press conference was over he threatened to ruin 710 ESPN radio personality Jim Moore’s career.

Here’s some of what Sherman had to say Wednesday:

– When asked about why he didn’t do his podium as usual he said, “It’s a privilege for me to go up there. You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.” He said it was his decision, not the team’s, not to go to the podium.

– When asked if he was punished for the incident with Moore he said, “Did you see me get punished?” When told, “No,” he said, “Did you ask the coach?” When told, “Yes,” he said, “What did he say?” When told coach Pete Carroll said he was keeping it in house he said, “Cool.”

– The Seahawks held a team meeting following Sherman’s outburst against the Rams, with Sherman describing it as the kumbaya meeting, something the team has every year. He said, “It happens every year at different times. The Super Bowl year it happened after Miami. The year after I think there was some big locker room deal we had and it happened after that. The other year we traded Percy [Harvin] and it happened after that. Every year it happens, so it’s going to happen.” Sherman said those meetings are always called by Carroll, and Sherman said, “They’re effective. Just a different element for some guys. Older guys kind of see it every year, younger guys it gives them something different.”

So a very different — and much less entertaining — Richard Sherman on Wednesday. We’ll see if this is a temporary thing or if it’s more permanent.