Richard Sherman does not shy away from rocking the boat. Whether it’s pooping on the incessantly inept Roger Goodell for robotizing the league’s players or claiming that players can’t trust the NFL, Sherman is not in the business of making friends.
In a recent blunt interview with Jarrett Bell of USA Today, Sherman summarized the Colin Kaepernick situation, citing the injustices NFL teams have used against the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. And, as a Patriots fan it pains me to say, he hit the nail on the head.
“What is it about?” Sherman said. “It’s not about football or color. It’s about, ‘Boy, stay in your place.’”
Bingo.
“Not a lot of guys are willing to step out there,” Sherman added. “So the guys not speaking up for him are doing him a disservice. There should be a lot more guys saying something. Most guys are like, ‘I don’t want my job to end up the same way.’”
Sherman told Bell that Kaepernick would have been a great fit in Seattle, but the Seahawks decided not to sign him. At least the Seahawks didn’t engage in an awkward, clumsy, slow-motion crowdsourcing exercise aimed at determining whether fans and sponsors would revolt before deciding whether to offer him a job.
“For you to say you have to check with sponsors and fans because this guy took a knee and made a statement?” Sherman said regarding the Ravens’ apparently ongoing deliberations. “Now if you told me this guy threw eight pick-sixes last year and played like a bum, had no talent, that’s one thing. But Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett or whoever is playing for the Jets right now — whoever is starting for the Jets is terrible — have jobs. You’re telling me fans would rather you lose and put a worse player out there because a guy took a stand? That’s where it’s so troublesome to me. . . .
“Blake Bortles has shown you enough to where you don’t think Kaep would be a solid fit? Kaep has won games.”
The Ravens have the most to be ashamed about. The tone-deaf organization recently released a poll that asked fans whether or not they’d support a Colin Kaepernick signing. Meanwhile, backup QB Ryan Mallett has thrown two billion interceptions in training camp and they just signed (then waived) an indoor football league QB who never threw a pass at Stanford and completed one of three passes at Clemson for a loss of 1 yard.
A harsh reminder that winning isn’t everything in the NFL.
[h/t USA Today]