Seahawks’ Richard Sherman declines to speak to local media

RENTON – Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is apparently done speaking to the local media at large, at least for now and maybe for a while. When approached in Seattle’s locker room Wednesday, Sherman told one local reporter that he was only going to speak with a national reporter, ESPN’s Ed Werder, and that he would post on his social media accounts.

And so the Sherman saga continues.

To review: It began three weeks ago when he shouted at coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell on the sideline during Seattle’s win over the Rams. Sherman doubled down on his criticism of the offensive play-calling after that game and tripled down days later during his weekly press conference, after which he had a contentious exchange with 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jim Moore.

Last week, Sherman did not hold his weekly press conference, calling it a “privilege” for the local media to hear from him in that setting. He instead spoke briefly at his locker and did not give a definitive answer when asked if the team had disciplined him. Sherman spoke to reporters after Seattle’s regular-season finale against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

Sherman has had an excellent relationship with the local media throughout his career. That was recognized last year when he won the “Good Guy Award” from the Pro Football Writers of America. But that relationship has reached a breaking point on Sherman’s end.

It’s been an eventful season for Sherman beyond that. Most notably, he also got into another sideline shouting match earlier in the season, that time with defensive coordinator Kris Richard during Seattle’s win over Atlanta.

Wide receiver Doug Baldwin, a college teammate at Stanford and maybe Sherman’s closest friend on the team, was asked where Sherman’s head is at amid everything that’s gone on with him this year.

“Sherm’s always focused despite what distractions might be going on around him that he himself might have created, he always seems to find a way to center himself and focus back on the task at hand,” Baldwin said. “He’s done an excellent job in the locker room, and to his credit, he’s done really well. I expect nothing less of him in the game. He’s going to play really well because that’s just who he is.”

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