Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, a longtime critic of President Donald Trump, took a play right out of the Trump administration’s playbook by denying he said something he was recorded saying.
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Cari Champion, Sherman was asked about a December exchange with 710 ESPN Seattle radio host (and seattlepi.com columnist) Jim Moore in which he threatened to have Moore’s credentials revoked after becoming irritated at Moore’s line of questioning.
The incident was caught on audio recordings by several different media outlets — including seattlepi.com — but in his interview with Champion, Sherman said the interaction was reported inaccurately.
“Nobody ever knew what I said,” Sherman told Champion. “Once again, ‘sources say.’ Who was there? Did anybody see it? Who was there? Who said it?”
“So it was not correct?” Champion asked.
“Nobody knows,” Sherman answered. “Nobody knows what was correct. All you hear is ‘he say, she say.'”
Champion pressed: “Well, I’m asking you, was it incorrect?’
“It was incorrect how they portrayed it, yes,” Sherman said, splitting hairs. “It gets to the point where nobody needs the truth anymore. Nobody cares to know what the truth is. You could just fabricate a story and go with it. Then I got to defend a fabricated story. After a while, you just get irritated of defending stories that don’t exist. So it’s like, ‘Why would I talk to you when I can write my own story?'”
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Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman #25 is seen at the NFC Practice on Wednesday January 25, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman #25 is seen at the NFC Practice on Wednesday January 25, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Atlanta.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) enters the field before the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) enters the field before the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 14,
Seahawks corner back Richard Sherman gestures to the crowd during the first quarter of Seattle’s NFL wildcard playoff game against Detroit, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at CenturyLink Field.
Seahawks corner back Richard Sherman gestures to the crowd during the first quarter of Seattle’s NFL wildcard playoff game against Detroit, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at CenturyLink Field.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, left, bobbles a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt, right, in the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, left, bobbles a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt, right, in the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Seattle.
Sherman largely boycotted local media after the incident with Moore, telling reporters ahead of Seattle’s wild card win over the Detroit Lions that he was declining to speak with them because, “You pissed me off.”
On Dec. 20, Moore asked Sherman about the latter’s sideline outburst at offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell after Sherman disagreed with Bevell calling for a pass play on the 1-yard line in a Dec. 15 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Moore asked Sherman if he believed he had a better idea for a play call at the 1-yard line than Bevell did.
“No, I just had a prior experience, so we talked about it,” Sherman bristled. “But let me guess, you have a better play call. Let me guess, you have better experience.”
“No, I don’t have a better play call,” Moore replied.
“Then you should probably stop,” Sherman said.
When walking off the stage immediately following the press conference moments later, Sherman again took offense to Moore’s line of questioning in the exchange.
“You don’t want to go there,” Sherman said to start the exchange, which was captured on audio. “You do not. I’ll ruin your career.”
“You’ll ruin my career?” Moore asked. “How are you going to do that?”
“I’ll make sure you don’t get your media pass anymore,” Sherman said.
“Is that right?” Moore asked.
“Yes,” Sherman said, walking away. “Yes it is.”
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.
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