Sherman avoids bait of controversy from media

By Brady Henderson

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Known for baiting quarterbacks into throwing interceptions and even wide receivers into losing their cool, Richard Sherman has been on the other end of it this week as reporters have tried to goad the Seahawks’ outspoken cornerback into a headline-worthy response.

Sherman hasn’t taken the bait.

Richard Sherman has mostly steered clear of controversy during Super Bowl week, even when the media has asked him to respond to other players’ comments about him. (AP)

And on Thursday, as the Seahawks conducted their final player availability session before the Super Bowl and the latest opportunity arose, he continued to show nothing but deference.

Here’s the back story: Last month Sherman wrote that Peyton Manning sometimes throws “ducks”, this at the end of a section in a column for theMMQB.com in which he listed Manning as the smartest quarterback in the NFL.

Asked about the “duck” comment Thursday, before the Seahawks conducted their media availability, Manning responded: “I believe it to be true as well. I do throw ducks. I’ve thrown a lot of yards- and touchdowns-ducks, so I’m actually quite proud of it.”

Any comeback, Sherm?

“Oh, I agree,” he said, his face lighting up. “That’s exactly what I said. That’s what I said. It sounds like a repeat of what I said.”

Later in his interview session, Sherman referred to Manning as the “best quarterback in maybe NFL history.” He called Seattle and Denver the two best teams in the league.

Not even the subject of Darrelle Revis could elicit an inflammatory remark. Sherman called the Buccaneers cornerback a “great guy” and said they’ve “squashed all the nonsense” since their back-and-forth Twitter feud last offseason.

So, does Sherman still feel that he – and not Revis – is the best cornerback in the league?

“As a corner at the cornerback position, I think every one of them out there is going to say that they’re the best. That’s the way you’ve got to play the position,” Sherman said. “I’m sure every corner out there that’s playing good football right now – the Joe Hadens, the Patrick Petersons, the Darrelle Revises, the Aqib Talibs, the Alterraun Verners – feels like they’re the best corner in football. In order to play this game at the highest level, that’s how you’ve got to feel. That’s the confidence you feel.

“Now, they may not go out and say it out loud and proclaim it like I do, but I’m 100 percent sure they feel that way.”

Nice try.

Follow Brady Henderson on Twitter @BradyHenderson.