Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman recently told the Vancouver Sun “half the league” takes Adderall. Then he said he didn’t say it, essentially blaming the reporter for lying about Sherman’s words in order to boost the reporter’s career.
The reporter then released the transcript of the discussion with Sherman, and there it is: “There’s about half the league that takes it.”
Some have suggested that Sherman’s comments were taken out of context, a claim that frankly makes no sense. The context is Adderall use and the quote is half the league takes it. With a prescription, without a prescription, with a therapeutic use exemption, or without one. Half the league takes it. That’s the context, and that’s what he said.
Sherman has yet to challenge the accuracy of the transcript or demand that the tape be released, and he’s probably wise not to. A talkative guy, Sherman needs to realize the importance of precision and consistency in the words he chooses. And before recklessly rattling off that the didn’t say something he actually said, he needs to be sure he didn’t say it.
Otherwise, no one will ever believe him when he says he didn’t say something that he was quoted as saying.
That’s not to say he should stop talking. He just needs to be more careful. And that’s precisely what he needs to hear from someone he trusts, or he’s going to continue to say things that will get him into unwanted controversies -- and he’ll continue to be tempted to talk his way out of trouble by denying saying what he said.
POSTED 10:37 p.m. ET: Sherman doesn’t need to demand the audio. Because the Vancouver Sun has released it. Video too. “Half the league.”