PHOENIX — If it were up to Richard Sherman, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would have had a riser on Media Day alongside reluctant Marshawn Lynch.
“I don’t think [players] should be obligated any more than the commissioner is obligated to speak to the media,” Sherman said. “I think that if players are going to be obligated to speak to the media, then every one of the NFL personnel should be obligated to speak to the media weekly, and that’s not the case.
“It’s unfortunate, but I think that every team should be forced to present certain players, obviously a few of them. Obviously if someone is uncomfortable in front of the media and uncomfortable answering questions and things like that, then you have to find a way to accommodate the NFL. This is a game — you find a way to accommodate everyone else who’s uncomfortable.”
Lynch has set the league mark for uncomfortable.
“In situations like that, they should really kinda go by individual-by-individual basis, and allow him to maybe answer questions from people he’s more comfortable answering questions from in a more comfortable setting,” Sherman said. “Some people are better at sit-downs in one-on-one conversations, and then you can air it at whatever time you want to — air it for a Media Day. And some people are better at sitting in front of cameras. I’m fine with it. But not everybody’s comfortable with that, and I don’t think he should be forced to do it.”
Sherman won’t be uncomfortable if Tom Brady doesn’t throw at him.
“It’s not difficult in games like this, because you’re so locked-in every play, and every play’s a new experience and a new adventure, so you don’t get caught in a daze,” he said. “I think sometimes you get caught in a lull maybe in the middle of the season, maybe Game 7 it hasn’t been thrown at your side — but not the Super Bowl.”
Of course, Sherman said he would welcome Brady throwing at him.
“I’m a competitor, he’s a competitor,” Sherman said.
Asked about how he feels about giving Brady nightmares, Sherman said: “I didn’t know I was in his dream-sphere. I highly doubt he’s afraid of me. He’s a great player, Hall of Famer in this league and he’s been playing at a high level for a long time, but I appreciate the compliment.”
Sherman debated a reporter who seemed to be questioning his questioning of Goodell’s close relationship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“Was [Kraft] the first person to call Roger Goodell to talk about the Ray Rice situation or wasn’t he?” Sherman asked.
As for the NFL’s investigation of Deflategate, Sherman said: “They’re doing their due diligence, making sure they’re getting it right.”
Sherman was asked how he would feel if the Patriots win and are then found to have cheated to get to the Super Bowl.
“I don’t know if it would sit worse with me, honestly,” he said. “I don’t know if it had that great of an effect on any games. They had a lot of guys work hard and play hard and earn their way. They could have done that and lost games, who knows? They were able to execute and they were able to get the job done, and they’ve earned their way here.”