Super Bowl XLVIII: Denver's Surgical Passing Attack vs. Seattle's Brash Secondary

Breitbart ^ | January 19, 2014 | Tony Lee

[jonrick46]

Richard Sherman was speaking from the context of a feud with Michael Crabtree that goes back to last summer. Both were at Arizona star receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s charity event, when Sherman went up to shake Crabtree’s hand. According the Sherman’s older brother, Branton, Crabtree tried to start a fight. During that altercation, Crabtree “said something to me, and I told him I’d make him pay for it on the field.” His “rant” on TV, following the game, was speaking to Crabtree in reference to what he told him last summer.

After Sherman’s tip of the ball that denied Crabtree his touchdown reception, this is Sherman’s account of what happened next:

“I ran over to Crabtree to shake his hand but he ignored me. I patted him, stuck out my hand and said, “Good game, good game.” That’s when he shoved my face, and that’s when I went off.”

I will agree that Richard Sherman’s “Beast Mode” was in all of its raw form before the viewing audience. It was a glimpse into the emotional state of the players. I can understand why we do not get the micro-phoned sound of the field action. We used to, and we could hear all the grunts and pops of the field play. I imagine we would now get some pretty salty language that would turn off many an audience fresh out of their Sunday worship service. We know in Seattle that Michael Sherman does not censor his language. However, we know him as a pretty decent guy.

This speaks of the real person that Richard Sherman is:

“Navorro Bowman is a great player who plays the game the right way. When he went down, I dropped to a knee and prayed for him.”

You can read Richard Sherman’s columns in MMQB here:

http://mmqb.si.com/author/shermmmqb/

[moehoward]

Running into
On a kicking play where the defense fails to touch the kicked ball, the defense runs into the kicker/punter. If such an act occurs but is not intentional, this foul is assessed. If intentional, the personal foul of roughing the kicker is assessed instead.

Roughing
A defender, having missed an attempt to block a kick, tackles the kicker or otherwise runs into the kicker in a way that might injure the kicker or his vulnerable extended kicking leg. This protection is also extended to the holder of a place.

Looks like either could apply. But I see your point, I had thought the contact came before the kick. Both players were in the air and just came down together.

[MortMan]

moehoward, I appreciate your looking at this objectively. Having been a punter a long time ago, I do not wish any punter to be injured. In this case, I was outraged at what I was as extremely generous benefit of the doubt in what I saw as a one-sided calling of the game.

I don’t agree that either applies, but I greatly appreciate your taking a second look and debating this honestly. I apologize for wishing the Seahawks’ punter to be affected by such a ruling.

[chessplayer]

I don’t recall players in the 1960’s throwing fits like that in front of a national audience. Players took care of business on the field, not in front of a camera with a mic. Imagine what Vince Lombardi would have done to one of his players if they pulled a stunt like that.

[jonrick46]

Vince Lombardi would not have allowed his players to grow their hair long or stay out late at night chasing women. In those days, coaches would assemble their players and lay down the rules of conduct: Curfews, no drinking before game day, no arrests for bad conduct and no conduct detrimental to the league. I think the league is moving back to those strict standards.

[Teacher317]

NFC West divisional champs. Six of the last ten years.

Yeah, um, they last won their division three seasons ago with a record of 7-9

You imply that people should not be surprised to see the Seahawks in SB 48 due to recent success?

2008: 4-12, 3rd place, gave up 98 more points than they scored, 2 games out of last place
2009: 5-11, 3rd place, gave up 110 more points than they scored
2010: 7-9, only 2 games ahead of LAST place (5-11 ARIZ), but did take the division on tiebreakers)... giving up 86 more points than they scored...
2011: 7-9, 3rd place
2012: 11-5, 2nd place...

So in the previous 5 seasons, they went 34-46, had only one winning season, and from 2008 through 2011 were outscored by 288 points. This is why we should think they are on a winning tear?

[chessplayer]

Vince Lombardi would not have allowed his players to grow their hair long or stay out late at night chasing women. In those days, coaches would assemble their players and lay down the rules of conduct: Curfews, no drinking before game day, no arrests for bad conduct and no conduct detrimental to the league. I think the league is moving back to those strict standards.

---

Exactly. Back then there was discipline and self-discipline. Back then, immediately after a game, players were also still in “beast mode.” But if another player got under their skin, they took care of it on the field. They didn’t grab a mic and start screaming and screeching into a camera and brag about how great they are.

[jonrick46]

So right you are. However, I tried to look at the circumstances between Richard Sherman and Michael Crabtree. I knew something behind the scenes caused Sherman’s rant. He could have just said, “I tried to shake Crabtree’s hand and congratulate him on a good game. I know how upset he was when he smacked me in the helmet. Must have been tough for him to miss that pass.” Something on that level would have gave more insight than antagonism. Instead his reaction gave a glimpse into the culture that is brewing in the locker rooms of these teams.