Fansided

25 athletes everyone hates (unless they’re on your team)

By Jeremy Lambert

BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 3: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots stays loose on the sideline during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 3: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots stays loose on the sideline during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 3, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 22: Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) during the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Seattle Seahawks on October 22, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 22: Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) during the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Seattle Seahawks on October 22, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Richard Sherman

People don’t like cocky athletes. Everyone wants players to “act like you’ve been there before.” They want everyone to hand the ball over to the referee when they score a touchdown. If the league was made up of nothing but Larry Fiztgerald’s, the NFL would be a better place.

But it’s not.

It’s made up of people like Richard Sherman, who will tell you how great he is and then back it up. The Seattle Seahawks were an unlikable bunch a few years ago. Their defense would take your head off and then dance on your grave. And Sherman would be the choreographer.

As time and injuries have caught up to Sherman, he’s become slightly less hated. That is, until he makes a big play or finds himself in the middle of a pass interference controversy. Then, it’s back to hating Sherman. Because he’s going to let you know he came up with the big interception or that his defense was 100 percent legal.

San Francisco 49ers fans used to hate Sherman. Seattle Seahawks fans used to love Sherman.

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That all changed in March when Sherman signed with the 49ers. The script was flipped. Now, 49ers fans can’t wait to see Sherman muck it up with Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense. And Seahawks fans immediately turned on Sherman. Even though, you know, Seattle released him.

That’s the brilliant thing about Sherman. He doesn’t try to pretend or hide who he is. He said he wanted to get revenge on the Seahawks, so he signed with a division rival. He says he’s going to shut you down. And chances are, he’s going to do it.

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