Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie recently fired shots at Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. To no shock, Sherman has fired back.
It’s actually a little surprising it took Sherman so long to respond.
Via the Associated Press, Sherman called Cromartie’s remarks “unfortunate” during a Tuesday media availability. Cromartie had questioned Sherman’s status as a top cover corner because he stays on one side of the field and doesn’t follow the offense’s best receiver.
“I think it’s one of the things that’s just the ignorance of the public,” Sherman said. “How many great left tackles do you see switching to the right side because there’s a great D-end [switching] to the right side? You don’t see it. Great players stay on their side and do what they’re supposed to do. How many guys have you seen switching from side to side on a No. 1 defense? We’re the No. 1 defense for a reason.’'
While calling the public ignorant may not be the smartest way to deal with Cromartie’s comments, Sherman has a point. Greatness shouldn’t be defined by whether a guy plays in one spot or moves around. Sherman routinely takes away his half of the field -- and when the offense refuses to throw at Sherman (like the Packers did in Week One of the 2014 season) it becomes even easier for the rest of the defense to do its job.
Meanwhile, at a time when receivers have traded bravado for boredom, cornerbacks continue to be the new divas of the NFL, chirping at each other and generally adding a little WWE-style intrigue to the game. It helps make an already interesting sport even more compelling.