Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said the NFL won’t punish the New England Patriots for the scandal surrounding their deflated footballs.
We’re officially less than a week away from the Super Bowl and Richard Sherman was predictably the first in line to serve up a memorable quote during Media Week. He didn’t hold back in an interview when asked about the headline-hogging scandal that has embroiled New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady alike in advance of their Super Bowl matchup with Sherman’s Seattle Seahawks.
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When asked about the punishment the Patriots can expect for 11 of their 12 game balls being deflated below league requirements during their AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Sherman scoffed at the notion the team would get punished, citing the cushy relationship between NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“Will they be punished? Probably not,” Sherman said. “Not as long as Robert Kraft and Goodell are taking pictures at their respective homes. I think he was just at Kraft’s house last week for the NFC Championship. Talk about conflict of interest.”
You can check out the full video of the interview below.
There’s something about hearing Sherman blast heat that is unparalleled in the sporting world. Such bombastic words are laced in reasoned restraint when he cuts into his upcoming opponent early and often, even noting the team’s history of accusations.
“The perception is the reality,” Sherman said when asked about the idea that the Patriots are ‘habitual line steppers‘ as noted by Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Chris Canty. “Their past is what their past is,” Sherman said before making note of his belief that the team will avoid punishment.
Note that Sherman does not say he believes the Patriots to be guilty. He doesn’t accuse them of anything, though he certainly doesn’t defend them either. In truth, he probably wouldn’t say anything about this incident if it didn’t involve the team that stands between his Seahawks and a second straight championship.
But it’s Media Week and Richard Sherman hasn’t met a mic he didn’t like to use to needle at his opponent. If he has to sit there and take all those interviews, he might as well use it to start taking shots at the Patriots in advance of what promises to be one of the best championship matchups in years.
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