Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Michael Crabtree's problems with Seahawks predate Richard Sherman

If you think Michael Crabtree’s issues with the Seattle Seahawks in general, Richard Sherman in particular, began in the NFC title game last season, think again. They might have just reached a crescendo with Sherman’s rant about Crabtree.

“I’m the best corner in the game,” he said after tipping away a potential game-winning fade pass from Colin Kaepernick to Crabtree in the end zone and turning it into a game-sealing interception.

“When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that’s the result you’re going to get. Don’t you ever talk about me … Crabtree, don’t you open your mouth about the best, or I’m going to shut it for you real quick. L.O.B.”

Legion of Boom aside, both Crabtree and Sherman are having subpar seasons. But Crabtree has never had real success against the Seahawks.

In nine games against Seattle, including the playoffs, Crabtree has yet to catch a touchdown pass, compared to seven TDs in nine regular-season games against the Arizona Cardinals and seven in 10 such games against the St. Louis Rams.

Then there’s this from ESPN Stats & Information: Crabtree has caught only 49.2 percent of his targets against Seattle in his career, compared to 64.0 percent against the rest of the NFL.

Crabtree’s career numbers against the Seahawks: 3.4 receptions per game. 38.9 receiving yards per game and six drops.

Keep in mind, only six of those games have come since the Seahawks drafted Sherman.

And in last January’s NFC Championship Game, while Crabtree did have four receptions, none came on the side of the field usually “patrolled” by Sherman, per ESPN Stats & Information.

But also keep this in mind: While Sherman led the league with eight interceptions last season, he has only one this season.

Neither player took questions from the media about the game in a short week.

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