Following a victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the 2014 NFC Championship, Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman declared himself “the best corner in the game.”
More than a year later, New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie still doesn’t agree with that statement, and he said as much last week in an interview with SiriusXM Radio (h/t NFL Media).
“I would have to tell [Sherman] go play in a defense where you don’t have two All-Pro safeties. That’s what I would tell him. I would tell him, ‘Go follow the number one receiver. Follow him around for a whole entire game, let’s see what you can do.'”
Sherman, being the unreserved person he is, responded to Cromartie on Tuesday. Per NFL Media’s Kevin Patra, Sherman said of Cromartie:
“That was unfortunate. You’d think that after me helping him get the Pro Bowl bid this year; we went to the Super Bowl or he wouldn’t have made the Pro Bowl otherwise (Cromartie was initially an alternate). And now he’s talking bad.”
Sherman continued, citing the Seahawks’ defensive dominance as a reason he’s not required to follow the opponent’s top receiver or switch sides:
“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. You’d think guys like that wouldn’t, who coaches a No. 1 defense to be worse? If we’re No. 1, it must be working.”
Seattle has boasted the NFL’s top defense each season since 2012, and during Sherman’s rookie campaign (2011), the Seahawks were rated No. 7. So, though Cromartie’s words don’t necessarily seem misguided, it’s not Sherman’s problem that Seattle drafted so well in 2010 by adding future All-Pro talents in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.
Although Sherman has undoubtedly benefited from his supporting cast, the Stanford product has recorded 24 interceptions since entering the league. According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, no other player has more than 15.
Your move, Antonio.
Photo: USA Today Sports