DANNY ONEIL

The Eye-Opener: Richard Sherman still picking at old sore

Jul 25, 2017, 7:17 AM | Updated: 10:57 am

There's no benefit to Richard Sherman continuing to discuss the ESPN story, says Danny O'Neil....

There's no benefit to Richard Sherman continuing to discuss the ESPN story, says Danny O'Neil.

Anyone have a Band-Aid?

Richard Sherman could use one the way he keeps picking at a very specific scab.

He was at it again in an ESPN interview that aired over the weekend, pointing out more flaws from a magazine story that ran more than two months ago.

He admitted to cursing at quarterback Russell Wilson during a practice, but argued he’d said much worse to other teammates, and not only that, but he cursed at Wilson before a season in which the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl.

He’s right. Then again, Sherman is always pretty certain that he’s right.

Add the latest interview to the list of Sherman’s objections to Seth Wickersham’s story in ESPN The Magazine.

First, Sherman called the story a “bunch of nonsense” in a text to Sirius Radio. Then, he characterized anonymous sources as being cowardly. Then came an 18-minute press conference at the end of June and now another ESPN interview in which he argued that the intensity and competitiveness of the Seahawks’ practices was mischaracterized.

The point has been made, Richard. Your objections have been noted in the court of public opinion.

Now the question is if the cornerback is going to move on, and if so, when that might be.

Because at this point, the single most concerning thing is not anything that was reported over this offseason or what happened in the past, but Sherman’s willingness – which borders on an insistence – in continuing to dispute the story.

Wait. “Concerning” probably isn’t the right word. That makes it sound like I’m personally worried, which is not the case. From a strictly personal perspective, Sherman’s willingness to keep talking about the subject is great. But then again, I’m someone who makes a living talking and writing about Sherman and his team and he’s a seemingly endless topic for discussion and scrutiny.

Looking at it from the perspective of the team and the best interests of the season ahead, I can’t think of one good thing that would result from Sherman continuing to answer questions about it. The most charitable thing you could say is that it’s harmless. And it might be just that.

But it also could be a symptom of an inability to move on from the difficulties of last season, whether it was Sherman’s pair of sideline outbursts during games or the drama described in the ESPN article.

And as Seattle is set to begin training camp, Sherman is certain to be asked about it. The question is whether he’s going to keep picking at that scab or he’ll just forget about it and let the wound heal.

The kicker: When it comes to poise in pocket, Russell Wilson has nothing on Angie Mentink of Root Sports, who didn’t get soaked by Gatorade so much as he was smacked by it on Saturday night before completing an in-dugout interview with Ben Gamel.

Almost as remarkable as her composure was her sense of humor about the whole thing:

We asked for headlines describing what happened, and while “Purple Rain” was the most common, here was my favorite:

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The Eye-Opener: Richard Sherman still picking at old sore