Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, who attracted national attention with his post-game rant after Seattle won the NFC Championship in January, will serve as the cover athlete for the “Madden NFL 15” video game that hits shelves Aug. 15. Sherman edged out Carolina’s Cam Newton in an online vote for the honor and becomes, following Shaun Alexander in 2007, the second Seahawks player to grace the cover.
“Winning the cover is a kid’s dream come true,” Sherman said. “I would never be in the position without my fellow Legion of Boom members and teammates.”
Sherman is the third defensive player to make the cover, joining Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis in 2005 and Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu, who shared the 2010 cover with Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
The 26-year-old Sherman, a Stanford graduate, is entering his fourth NFL season and is regarded as the best cornerback in the game. He was selected to the past two Pro Bowls. Since entering the NFL in 2011, Sherman has more interceptions (20) and more passes defensed (60) than any other player.
Following the NFC Championship game, which effectively ended when Sherman tipped a Colin Kaepernick pass in the end zone that was intercepted by Malcolm Smith, Sherman, in a FOX interview with sideline reporter Erin Andrews, trashed San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree.
“I’m the best corner in the game,” Sherman screamed. “When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you’re going to get. Don’t you ever talk about me . . . Don’t you open your mouth about the best or I’ll shut it for you real quick. L.O.B. (Legion of Boom).”
Although widely criticized for running his mouth (some called him a thug) Sherman became a national celebrity. He was recently named one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine and was invited to the White House Correspondents Dinner, where President Barack Obama did an imitation of Sherman’s rant.
Last month, Sherman signed a contract extension with the Seahawks that is potentially worth $56 million over four years.
