Colin Kaepernick’s season is finished, but that didn’t keep him from showing up in New York Thursday and issuing a little smack-talk directed at Seahawks CB Richard Sherman.
In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, Kaepernick criticized Sherman’s post-game rant following Seattle’s 23-17 win against the 49ers in the NFC Championship.
Per the newspaper’s NFL columnist, Bart Hubbuch:
“His comments were ridiculous,” Kaepernick said of Sherman. “If you have to tell people how good you are, then how good are you really?”
On San Francisco’s final offensive play of the NFC title game, Kaepernick tried WR Michael Crabtree in the back corner of the end zone from 18 yards. Sherman, who was in coverage, jumped, twisted, and tipped the pass to teammate Malcolm Smith for a game-saving interception.
“If I throw the ball one foot farther, it’s a TD and now you’re the goat, Richard Sherman,” Kaepernick said.
After the interception, Sherman flashed the choke sign to Kaepernick before coming off the field. Sherman was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. The NFL fined him $7,875, the standard amount for a player penalized for taunting.
“Did that make you feel better about yourself?” Kaepernick said, speaking of Sherman. Then go ahead, because I’m not worried about you.”
The interception sent the Seahawks to Super Bowl XLVIII. Minutes after the end, Sherman was so excited he launched into a self-praising speech during an interview with Fox reporter Erin Andrews. He declared himself the best cornerback in the NFL, then called Crabtree a “sorry receiver.”
Kaepernick doesn’t agree with either assessment. Instead, the usually reserved quarterback added more spice to the most bellicose rivalry in the NFL.
“(Sherman’s) afraid of our receivers, and that’s something I’m looking forward to exploiting next year,” Kaepernick said.
Here’s what the national media is saying about the Seahawks.
- Sherman has been polite and introspective during interviews in the week leading up to Super Bowl XLVIII. He’s credited his teammates and admitted that taunting the 49ers after beating them in the NFC title game was probably a mistake since it took attention from his teammates. Sherman, however, hasn’t been able to avoid the limelight, even with many focused on Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch’s reluctancy to speak with reporters.
- Sports Illustrated writer Ben Reiter thinks the Broncos should throw at Sherman early in Super Bowl XLVIII, similar to how the Falcons attacked Seattle’s secondary in the 2012 NFC divisional round. Atlanta won that game, 30-28, with a late field goal. In the first half, QB Matt Ryan threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to WR Roddy White with Sherman in coverage.
- During the regular season, Sherman wrote a column in SI.com’s MMQB website ranking the five smartest quarterbacks in the NFL. He was effusive in his praise of Peyton Manning, ranking him No. 1, but added that the future Hall-of-Famer “throws ducks.” Wednesday Sherman stood by his evaluation. Manning, meanwhile, retorted with a smart-aleck response.
- The New York Post was at it again with another exclusive story Thursday, revealing that a lawsuit filed by sports memorabilia collector Eric Inselberg alleges that the New York Giants and QB Eli Manning have been passing off unused helmets and uniforms as “game-worn.” According to documents acquired by the Post, the Giants and Manning, Peyton’s younger brother, allegedly sold “fake items” to mislead fans and collectors. Barry Barone, the team’s dry cleaner since 1982, regularly goes to his Park Cleaners store in East Rutherford, NJ, to dirty up jerseys so they look used, the suit alleges.
- Each day this week, the Empire State Building is doing a light show using either Seahawks or Broncos colors. Fans dictate whether it’s going to be blue and green, or navy and orange, by tweeting the hashtag #WhosGonnaWin, then posting a prediction for Super Bowl XLVIII. How is the winner decided? The scholars at MIT have developed a social media algorithm that determines the nightly champion.
7 Comments
Hope he enjoys kissing his biceps for the next eight months. Maybe he can give himself a hickey.
Okay, Kaepernick, I get it. Your team lost and you feel disrespected. You’re due a little payback.
I mean really, declaring yourself the best cornerback in the game (an opinion shared by a lot of people, but still), that’s nearly as bad a mocking the opposing QBs signature celebration (some might read THAT as self-aggrandizing).
And you are right, one foot further and Sherman’s the goat. But it wasn’t one foot further and you ARE the goat (in fact you turned over on three consecutive possessions, are you the triple goat?) Why it’s almost as if you (dare I say it?) choked… again.
Sherman’s afraid of your receivers? That explains why you targeted him a grand total of twice in the entire game. Brilliant quarterbacking there, Slim!
As I said, you are entitled to a little payback, but try with your feet planted in reality next time.
For those who are superstitious, if the Seahawks lose, it will be know as the Sherman jinks.
Geez, Kaepernick is about self promotion at least as much as Sherman is. You can see pics of him showing off his biceps almost every day online or in the media. So if his pass to Crabtree went one more foot it’d be a T D then why didn’t you throw it a foot farther Colin?
I highly doubt Sherman is afraid of the SF receivers when they almost had a complete turnover of their WR corps going into this season and will probably do so again in the offseason.
Hey Kap! U mad bro? Seriously look how bad mouthing Sherman worked out for Crabtree.
Lyrics from an old rock tune
“Its my party and I will cry if i want to ,cry if I want to ,cry if I want to, you would cry too if it happened to you”
Except its not even your party ,Colin.What are you doing in New York?
I liked him better when he was telling Russ to go get yourself a ring….apparently he cant drown it out after all like is suggested in his headphones commercial…. Go shave that other eye brow Colin. Face it you lost . Bbbbbaaaaah sez the goat.
one more foot and that pass is out of bounds….