Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman sat down with Josina Anderson for an exclusive interview aired by ESPN on Monday, July 24. During their chat, the headstrong cornerback was critical of the media's sensationalizing of relationships in the locker room but was also willing to admit a factual claim or two that may not have reflected well on him. He vehemently rejected the notion that his characterization of his relationship with Russell Wilson, as simply professional, speaks to a deeper problem. But when asked whether he really told Wilson "You f**king suck," after intercepting him during a practice scrimmage, Sherman gave confirmation and insists that at the time he stood on the statement.
"That's 100% true. And I've said worse. And I've said worse to Doug, and I've said worse to Kearse. Because iron sharpens iron as one man sharpens another," Sherman told Anderson. "I'm sorry that, our competition, the way that we sharpen our iron isn't pretty and cordial. I'm sure if you went to see bad teams they'll get along great," he said.
Anderson's questions touched on assertions made about Sherman by ESPN's Seth Wickersham in a piece entitled, "Why Richard Sherman can't let go of Seattle's Super Bowl loss." The article cites several heated confrontations initiated by Sherman that some would say put his leadership to question when the team needed it most. Fans will recall that they'd go on to drop the 2015 title game to New England in heartbreaking fashion when late in the 4th quarter, Wilson threw an interception at the goal line.
"The reason that article was such nonsense is because you tried to create a rhetoric around something that was totally false. If you told me that that moment derailed our season, and we went straight downhill from there, then I'd say, 'Wow, he's on to something. That's incredible, like, that's a great story.'," Sherman told Anderson. "But what happened was we were a yard away from winning another Super Bowl."'
