Cliff Avril talks Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett and Seahawks chemistry

In the days leading up to Super Bowl 54, former NFL champion Cliff Avril talked about Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett and the chemistry of the Seattle Seahawks.

As an NFL champion, former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril has seen Richard Sherman in the Super Bowl before. Although Sherman is now suiting up for the Seahawks’ division rival as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Avril was happy to reminisce about their glory days in Seattle.

Speaking with FanSided’s Mark Carman in the build-up to Super Bowl 54 in Miami this weekend, Avril touched on a number of topics, including his thoughts on the Houston Astros’ penalties, who he thinks will win the NBA title this year and the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Niners and Kansas City Chiefs.

His most interesting talking points, however, revolved around Sherman, Michael Bennett and the chemistry of that championship Seahawks team that won Super Bowl 48.

“That was the big key component of that [team] is everybody genuinely liked each other,” Avril said. “A lot of different personalities on that team, you talk about Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Kam Chancellor — I mean, the list is long as far as the personalities. And yet, we all could come together and play for one another, and that was unique and what allowed us to win so many football games.”

In particular, Avril noted that his favorite thing about Sherman is how normal he is in real life compared to the larger than life persona that’s in the public eye on the football pitch or on social media.

“People view him to be such a loud-mouth and all that, but when you get one-on-one with him, super smart, down to earth, just a great, giving individual,” Avril said. “The first time I met him I was like, ‘Oh, so you’re not as crazy as you sound on Twitter! Like, you’re actually a really good dude.’ I just like that about him that it can be two different things, but if you don’t know him, you would really believe what the hype is.”

Avril said Bennett is similar in that respect.

“That’s my best friend, actually, and we’re really close,” he said. “I played with quite a few guys who were like that, but Michael Bennett in particular. If you sit down and have a conversation with him, he’s another guy that will blow you away. This man, in meeting rooms will be reading history books or financial books. He’s that type of person, but also extremely smart on the football field, and sometimes people don’t like when you voice your opinions in the way that he does, and it rubs some people wrong.”