As heartwarming and incredible as Peyton Manning's record-breaking season was following multiple neck surgeries, he's not the only story heading into Super Bowl XLVIII. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has remained in headlines thanks to his amped up sideline interview with Erin Andrews following Seattle's NFC Championship win.
While such attention being trained on one team for actions that were perceived as negative may be a distraction for many teams, Sherman thinks the exact opposite is true for his Seahawks.
"I definitely think it helped," Sherman said. "Everybody getting the chance to see the craziness, the tons of media in our press conferences. Things like that definitely can help us get ready and get focused now that we're here this week."
In the wake of his rant directed at 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, whom he called "sorry" and "mediocre," Sherman was labeled by many on social media as a "classless thug," and became the target of racial epithets. He's used that venom to turn the conversation toward usage of the word thug, claiming it was the new way to call black players the N-word. Also, Sherman said he's enjoying the endless conversation sparked by his shouting.
"I'm enjoying it, man," Sherman said. "You're constantly learning and growing as a person, learning about how the world works and how what you say and do affects people and affects kids, especially. It's fun to learn new things about people, the bad, the good, and to have that open dialogue."
Sherman admitted that he knew his interview would blow up in the media, but said at the end of the day games and championships are decided on the field, not in front of microphones.
"I think you're always cognizant as a football player that what you say is going to get attention," Sherman said. "Especially in today's world, where everybody's looking for a story. But in the end, it's all going to come down to who plays the best football on Sunday."
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