Sherman debates reporter on Goodell-Kraft comments

Sherman debates reporter on Goodell-Kraft comments

By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/sherman-debates-reporter-on-goodell-kraft-comments/article_b1acf10a-e2ea-59bb-9c72-cc2220684756.html

PHOENIX • Things started innocently enough for Richard Sherman at Super Bowl Media Day Tuesday. As is usual for this day, the Seattle cornerback was asked questions from all directions — from the silly, to the nuts and bolts.

In the nuts and bolts department he was quizzed about how to defend New England quarterback Tom Brady. What makes tight end Rob Gronkowski so tough to cover? There were the comparison questions about himself and Darrelle Revis, the gifted corner for the Patriots. Standard stuff.

On the other side of the coin, he was asked what super power would he like to possess in the Super Bowl. (He said the ability to fly.)

He pulled three questions out of a bowl from an entertainment reporter and was asked to answer each one. With some help from the audience he correctly stated that Chris is the current bachelor on The Bachelor television show. He correctly named American Sniper as an Oscar-nominated movie. If he had to be on a reality show, his choice was Survivor.

He said hello to Seahawks fans in Mexico and Spokane. He said the most “Stanford” thing about him was his degree. And he did a salsa-style dance with a Latin American reporter.

All the while, reporters yelling: ”Richard! Richard!” to get his attention so they could get a question in. Sherman accommodated everyone — or at least tried — with a serious answer when called for, or a laugh and a smile for the lighthearted queries.

And somewhere in there amongst all the usual Media Day hijinks, he was challenged by a reporter on remarks made Sunday regarding the close relationship of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and a potential conflict of interest.

At the Seahawks’ arrival press conference Sunday, he was asked about the perception of New England as a team that’s close to the line in terms of following the rules of the game in light of the recent Deflategate controversy. As usual, Sherman didn’t mince words.

“I think perception is reality,” Sherman said Sunday. “It is what it is. Their résumé speaks for itself. … Will they be punished? Probably not. Not as long as Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell are still taking pictures at their respective homes.

“(Goodell) was just at Kraft’s house last week before the AFC championship. Talk about a conflict of interest. As long as that happens, (Deflategate) won’t affect them at all.”

On Tuesday at Media Day, he was drawn into a debate on the subject by a reporter. She told Sherman that Kraft had said Sherman didn’t know enough about the situation. She asked him if he had done his own research before commenting.

Sherman’s mood changed sharply at all this.

“It’s not difficult to do your research,” Sherman replied. “I obviously do (research).”

The reporter pointed out that Sherman is good friends with New England cornerback Brandon Browner (a former Seattle teammate). Isn’t that a conflict of interest since their teams are playing each other Sunday in Super Bowl XLIX?

“It’s a little different,” Sherman retorted. “I don’t work for Brandon Browner. So the point is invalid. I don’t work for the competitors. I don’t get to impose discipline on the competitors. How many of the (other) owners has (Goodell) been to their houses and took pictures with?

“So did all of these (owners) defend him with the Ray Rice situation? Or was it Robert Kraft? Come on. Was (Kraft) the first person to call Roger Goodell and tell him about the Ray Rice situation. Or wasn’t he?

“You’re not doing your research.”

Suffice it to say, Sherman didn’t back down from his Sunday comments. Later Tuesday, when informed of Sherman’s Media Day comments, Kraft told ESPN.com: “I think Richard Sherman is a very smart marketing whiz.”

Kraft said the party was thrown for lead sponsors of the Patriots, sponsors who helped put a lot of money in the revenue pool that is shared with the players — Sherman included.

When asked Tuesday why Deflategate mattered, Sherman replied: “I guess in a way, it’s just the integrity of the game. … If the Patriots didn’t do it, then nothing’s wrong. Nothing’s amiss. But if they did, then the integrity of the game is in question.

“That’s what the big deal is about it — I think to everyone in the league. I thinks that’s why the league is taking this so seriously. Nobody wants the integrity of this game to be damaged or to be questioned. And that includes the Patriots. They don’t want the integrity of this game to be damaged or to be questioned, and unfortunately … it’s being questioned right now.”

But in contrast to his comments Sunday, when he said he didn’t think the Patriots would be punished for any wrongdoing because of the close relationship between Goodell and Kraft, Sherman said Tuesday, “I think I have faith in the investigation.”

Elaborating on the topic, Sherman said, “I don’t know what the conclusion will be, but I’m sure they’re doing their due diligence, and if there was wrongdoing, they’ll find it. Robert Kraft asked for an apology (from the league). I’m sure they’ll issue an apology if they are found to do no wrong.”

But Sherman didn’t let his hour-long session pass without taking one more shot at Goodell. It came when asked about Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch’s penchant for ignoring NFL policy on speaking with the media.

“I don’t think (players) should be obligated any more than the commissioner is obligated to speak to the media,” Sherman said. “I think that if players are going to be obligated to speak to the media, then everyone of the NFL personnel should be obligated to speak to the media weekly. And that’s not the case.”