Report: Michael Crabtree tried to fight Richard Sherman at charity event

Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) gets shoved in the face by San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) while trying to shake hands after an interception by Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (not pictured) during the second half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

At the end of the NFC Championship game, a small exchange between San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman led to an epic post-game interview from Sherman.

As everyone attempts to figure out what it was that lit a fire under Sherman and caused him to go off, details are emerging from Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s charity event over the summer.

According to Sherman’s older brother, who spoke with Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times, Sherman approached Crabtree at the event to shake his hand, but Crabtree tried to start a fight. That disrespect was all Sherman needed to make the Seahawks corner say, “I’m going to make a play and embarrass him.”

He did exactly that on Saturday and made his biggest play of the game to seal the Seahawks win and send them to the Super Bowl.

We will have to see if Sherman still has that motivation when the Seahawks and 49ers play again next year, but for now his focus will be on shutting down the Denver Broncos passing game on the biggest stage of his career.

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