01-20-2014, 08:48 AM
OF - I'm not sure I would savage him, as I don't make a habit of following and commenting on the likes of DeSean Jackson, Marshawn, or any other non-Stanford athlete. I'd probably role my eyes at him during interviews by grudgingly respect his ability, as I do Marshawn, who by all accounts is also a good member of his community.
The reality is that Stanford football can't stay elite if we have "uncompromising standards" when it comes to things like personality. I don't want anyone who's dirty, cheats, or doesn't take school seriously. But I'm open to a wide range of personalities and characters on the team, as long as they are bought in on the team concept, as a I think Sherman is. You need to be able to combine and balance the gravitas and humility of an Andrew Luck with the brashness and rawness of a Richard Sherman. THey grew up in different circumstances and developed very different skills to survive/thrive. Stanford football should respect and value the diversity they bring.
And in the end, what was so bad about what Richard Sherman did? He just said on camera what 99% of players will say to the opponent. Does it make Richard worse because he was honest and public? If you found out that Andrew Luck had said something like that to an opposing corner off camera, would you lose all respect for him? It's a boast made in the heat of the moment. What's the big deal? (Again, that's not the behavior I model for my kids, but in the professional arena, is it really that out of bounds?)
The reality is that Stanford football can't stay elite if we have "uncompromising standards" when it comes to things like personality. I don't want anyone who's dirty, cheats, or doesn't take school seriously. But I'm open to a wide range of personalities and characters on the team, as long as they are bought in on the team concept, as a I think Sherman is. You need to be able to combine and balance the gravitas and humility of an Andrew Luck with the brashness and rawness of a Richard Sherman. THey grew up in different circumstances and developed very different skills to survive/thrive. Stanford football should respect and value the diversity they bring.
And in the end, what was so bad about what Richard Sherman did? He just said on camera what 99% of players will say to the opponent. Does it make Richard worse because he was honest and public? If you found out that Andrew Luck had said something like that to an opposing corner off camera, would you lose all respect for him? It's a boast made in the heat of the moment. What's the big deal? (Again, that's not the behavior I model for my kids, but in the professional arena, is it really that out of bounds?)