After the Seahawks beat the 49ers 23-17 to win the NFC Championship Game, cornerback Richard Sherman went nuts on Michael Crabtree during an interview with Erin Andrews. Why? Something about hurt feelings and football. Like a page torn from a Real Housewives script, tension between the two noted players had been brewing since a charity event last summer.
"Sherman has been upset with Crabtree since last summer. Both attended Arizona star receiver Larry Fitzgerald's charity event. While there, Sherman went to shake Crabtree's hand, and Crabtree tried to start a fight, according to Sherman's older brother, Branton."I'm going to make a play and embarrass him," Richard Sherman vowed that day.
During an interview with ESPN, Sherman hinted at the drama:
"He said something personal face-to-face," Sherman said. "He knows what he said, and he knows I'm going to be tough on him the rest of his career."
Later, after the Niners lost, Crabtree took to Twitter to vent, saying:
Film don't lie... @nflnetwork @espn pull up the tape of that game and show me where this guy is the best? #fake #fake #fake
— Michael Crabtree (@KingCrab15) January 20, 2014
Though not directly responding to Crabtree, Sherman also went off on Twitter:
A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of a sheep.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 20, 2014
There was a lot of talk before the game.... Now I'm the bad guy lol.... Well if u judge my character on the field ....So many glass houses
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) January 20, 2014
Also fanning the flames of the Sherman-Crabtree saga, Crabtree did this to the noted cornerback with 30 seconds left one on first-and-10:
So, did Sherman go too far with his response? No. Because it was entertaining. (I've watched it five times so far this morning.) Plus, he's a smart guy, one who's exceptionally self-aware. What he has to say is, so far, thrilling. You should be listening. And as Deadspin's Samer Kalaf said, "Save your stale, old-fart whining about 'class.' It can't be called arrogance when the talk's backed up."
Seattle takes on Denver in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 2.
[Gif via Deadspin]