Hines Ward on Richard Sherman: ‘How can you be best when you’re on a nobody?’

The Green Bay Packers found a way to neutralize Richard Sherman Thursday night. They lined up #3 receiver Jarrett Boykin on Sherman’s side of the field and simply didn’t throw in Boykin’s direction.

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Because Seattle plays sides rather than having their corners shade certain receivers, Sherman spent almost the entire night covering Boykin. The Packers essentially offered up Boykin as a sacrificial lamb in order to take Sherman completely out of the game.

What does this say about Sherman? Many would argue that it proves what a great cornerback Sherman is. If the Packers respect him that much, he must be the best.

NFL analyst Hines Ward sees it differently, and he expressed this opinion Thursday night (via Bleacher Report):

"“Sherman is on the cover of Madden, and he spent tonight covering Jarrett Boykin,” Ward said. “That’s not the matchup you want to see. How can you be best when you’re on a nobody? Sherman takes himself out of the game by not covering the best receiver. Sherman is top three, but he’s not in the class with the best.“Sherman is very good, but the Packers showed how to play him. They put Boykin on that side of the field, and Sherman covered him. The best DBs cover the best wide receivers. Sherman covered Boykin. Who is Boykin? You think Darrelle Revis would cover Boykin?“A lot of players I talk to around the league do not consider Sherman the best. They think he’s very good but not the best. I’m not knocking Sherman. I never said he sucked. He’s just not the best at what he does.”"

For Ward to be sold on Sherman, he needs to see Sherman come off Boykin and cover Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb.

One thing is certain: Sherman won’t stop thinking he’s the best just because Hines Ward isn’t sold. Sherman’s confidence will only swell after Aaron Rodgers basically stayed away from him the entire night.