We’ve heard plenty from Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman since he knocked a pass into linebacker Malcolm Smith’s hands in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game.
Much of what we’ve heard has been none too kind about 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, but Crabtree’s not the subject of Sherman’s first apologetic comments since Sunday night’s takedown.
“I apologize for attacking an individual and taking the attention away from the fantastic game by my teammates,” Sherman said, via Ed Werder of ESPN. “That was not my intent.”
Coach Pete Carroll was asked about Sherman during both a radio appearance on 710 ESPN and in his press conference on Monday and his answers in both spots dealt with Sherman’s emotional nature and that perhaps this could be a learning experience about when to take a moment to collect yourself. Carroll said he spoke to Sherman, who expressed his regret about taking attention away from the team’s accomplishments.
“When you really love somebody and care for them, you do everything you can help them be everything they can be,” Carroll said on the radio. “At times they are going to make mistakes and break your heart, but if you love them, you stay with them. You give [them] the best chance to be all they can be. Richard is a wonderful spirit. He’s got an amazing heart, and he has great sensitivity. He goes all the way to the end of the spectrum when it comes to expressing himself.”
Love Sherman or hate him, you can’t argue with Carroll’s final point.