Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman is a beast. He's a 6'3" corner with a higher standing vert than Vinsanity when he won the dunk contest back in 2000. According to ESPN it takes him 2.7 seconds to get up to 20mph in a sprint. He's the best corner on the best defense in the league - making him arguably the best corner, period. And he has shown that time and time again as he leads his team and his defense all the way to the Super Bowl. The numbers speak for themselves.

I remember this girl in high school who seemingly thought the world of herself. She was very attractive and received all kinds of attention from every guy around her. It always seemed as if her confidence was through-the-roof. In hindsight, however, she was always telling people how beautiful she was, arguing with less attractive girls, and defending herself before everyone. Unfortunately for her she began sleeping around and seeking attention in some unhealthy ways. I don't know what happened to her or where she is today, but I do hope that she is doing well.

I can't help but wonder, if she knew she was so beautiful, why did she have to tell everyone she was? I'm pretty sure I knew it before she said anything. I'm pretty sure everyone knew it before she said anything. Talking about it did nothing to enhance her beauty or even the objective awareness of it. If anything, the debates, fights, cocky claims of superior beauty did more to detract from her appearance rather than enhance it.

Richard Sherman has the same flaw. On Sunday night he made a great play running stride-for-stride with a pretty good receiver and deflected Colin Kaepernick's pass to seal the victory for his team. He's made a name for himself by consistently making such plays each year that he has been in the NFL. We have all seen it. We have all read about it. Sports talk radio has spoken about and Sportscenter has acknowledged and analyzed it. So why does he have to tell us?

It may be opinion, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most will agree: people who constantly feel the need to justify and defend themselves are annoying. Richard Sherman has consistently revealed this character flaw and it causes me to wonder why he is so insecure. Nobody thinks he's a bad player. Nobody. Yet he rants about how great he is, not in playful affirmation of his greatness (like Muhammad Ali) but more like the pretty girl in high school who unnecessarily feels the need to justify herself. Watch him antagonize and take personal jabs at ESPN First Take host Skip Bayless: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6x-O3kb1sI

Skip Bayless can't play football, nor does anyone really take his opinion seriously. Is there any need for Sherman to get so worked up and aggressive with him? Reminds me of an adult I once saw arguing with elementary-aged children.

Here's the rant that really got this conversation started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFYuwWCqmeU

If Crabtree is such a "sorry" receiver, whom Sherman would also later call "mediocre", then why is Sherman so amped about beating him? I don't remember any instance of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or many other truly great athletes flying off the handle about their success over "mediocre" opponents. If you are truly great, everyone will simply watch your destruction of "sorry" players and acknowledge your greatness in light of it - talking about it only makes me wonder if it will remain true.