The last time the Cincinnati Bengals played the Seattle Seahawks, Richard Sherman was making the first start of his NFL career.
After the game, Sherman didn’t waste any time in showing his willingness to call out opposing players and express his opinions that would become a trademark over the next few seasons.
Sherman intercepted Andy Dalton once on a pass intended for star receiver A.J. Green and tipped another pass intended for Green into the waiting arms of safety Kam Chancellor in the team’s 34-12 loss to the Bengals.
In the locker room after the game, I asked Sherman his thoughts on Green and the Bengals offense.
“He’s probably one of the most overrated receivers out there,” Sherman said of Green. “He wasn’t anything special. Dalton is a good quarterback, he makes good decisions, but A.J. Green is just a lot of noise talking and bad routes.”
Sherman chuckled when reminded of the comments on Wednesday.
“I remember that. I remember that,” Sherman said. “That was my first game, wasn’t it?”
It was indeed. Sherman was getting the chance to start for the first time as Marcus Trufant was out with a back injury and Walter Thurmond had broken his leg the week before.
Now four years later, both Sherman and Green are perennial Pro Bowl selections and among the best at their positions in the league. Sherman’s thoughts on Green have changed a little since then as well.
“I have a ton of respect for him,” Sherman said. “Obviously, I was hyped up that day, I’m always hyped up after the game. We’ve had conversations, and his resume speaks for itself. He’s had a fantastic four or five years since we’ve played him, so you have to give him all the respect.”
Green had four catches for 63 yards against Seattle that day with the longest coming on a 43-yard touchdown over safety Earl Thomas. The two teams meet again this week for the first time since that meeting in 2011.