Richard Sherman opts out of weekly press conference, doesn’t say if Seahawks punished him

RENTON – Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman opted to not hold his usual press conference Wednesday, a week after he stood by his criticism of Seattle’s offensive play-calling and the way in which he expressed it. Instead, he spoke briefly at his locker before the team’s afternoon practice.

Sherman gave some terse answers – by his standards – and also some light-hearted ones without going into much detail about what happened during a tumultuous week in which he got into a shouting match with coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell during the team’s win over the Rams and then defended his actions both postgame and days later during his press conference, after which he had a contentious exchange with 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jim Moore.

When asked, Sherman didn’t state definitively whether or not he was punished by the team.

Sherman: “Did you see me get punished?”

Reporter: “I did not, but I’m not privy to everything that goes on.”

Sherman: “Did you ask the coach?”

Reporter: “I did.”

Sherman: “What’d he say.”

Reporter: “He said it was an internal matter.”

Sherman: “Oh, OK, cool. Cool.”

Carroll said late last week that he was surprised Sherman didn’t express any regret. The two had a meeting the day after the Rams game, and Carroll said afterward that Sherman “knows that wasn’t right.” His comments at the time also left the impression that he had considered some sort of disciplinary action before the meeting with Sherman convinced him that it wasn’t necessary. When asked at the end of last week – after Sherman tripled down during his press conference – about possible punishment, Carroll said anything the team did would be handled internally.

Sherman started Seattle’s game against Arizona on Saturday.

When asked at his locker if he has any regrets about what happened, Sherman gave another indirect response.

“They already asked me that question,” he said, seemingly referring to his previous press conference. “So, already asked, answered, so you’ve got the answer to that one, right? Cool.”

Sherman said it was his decision – as opposed to the team’s – to not hold his usual press conference Wednesday. He called it a privilege for the media to get to hear from him each week in a press conference setting and that not everyone appreciates him doing so.

“It’s a privilege that I’m up there,” he said. “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.”

Sherman also gave his account of the team meeting the Seahawks held last Wednesday, the reason for which isn’t entirely clear. Carroll called it “a special meeting” on “Brock and Salk” on Monday. He said other topics were addressed but gave the impression that the Sherman situation was the impetus then said later in the day that it was only part of the reason for the meeting.

“We talked about the word team,” Sherman said. “Just guys coming together. We have a Kumbaya meeting just about every year. So just the same thing.”

Sherman said Carroll has called those meetings amid rocky situations, like after the team’s loss to Miami in 2012 (he mistakenly said 2013) and after the Percy Harvin trade in 2014. The Seahawks finished both of those seasons particularly strong, whether that had anything to do with their meetings or not. Sherman was asked if he’s concerned that Seattle lost Saturday.

“No, not concerned at all,” he said. “We’re in the playoffs. We’ve got a chance to do everything we want to do, so I think we’ll be fine.”