Richard Sherman sticks up for Peyton Manning following Super Bowl 48

Without question, and for totally different reasons, the majority of the focus leading up to Super Bowl 48 was on Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning.

For the still young Sherman, he brought the attention all upon himself with his post-game rant on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree following the NFC Championship Game.

In Manning’s case, his attention wasn’t really something that he asked for, necessarily. With his legendary career winding down and more people focusing on his failures in the postseason rather than his accomplishments, the talk was all about where his “legacy” stood, should he and the Broncos lose this game.

Well, they in fact did lose, and in a big way as the Seahawks throttled Manning and company, 43-8, on Sunday night. And Manning himself particularly didn’t play his best, throwing two interceptions on the evening.

Still though, despite many thinking that he may be one of the more arrogant people in the world after such a big victory, Sherman went out of his way to throw some praise Manning’s way.

Then to add to it even more, he urged those naysayers not to throw any shade in Manning’s direction.

A classy move from the much-maligned Sherman, indeed.