NFL teams
Terry Blount, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Richard Sherman shrugs off criticism

NFL, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said he cares as much about people's opinions "as the dirt under [my] shoe," and also was critical of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson while speaking to NBC's Bob Costas in an interview that aired before Sunday's game.

Sherman also was asked if his rant about San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree after last year's NFC Championship Game affected how people view him.

"I really could care less," Sherman said. "People are going to have their opinions, good, bad or indifferent. This world is full of people who make criticisms and judgments of other people. One day, they'll too be judged.

"At the end of the day, I'm pretty happy with the man I see in the mirror. I know who I am and what I'm about. People that know me also know who I am and what I'm about. People who don't know me, judge me off what they see on the field or in interviews -- I really could care as much about their opinion as the dirt under my shoe right now."

Sherman also had strong comments about Peterson.

"You give up eight touchdowns in a year, it's hard to put you in that discussion [of best corners in the game]," Sherman said of Peterson. "If I gave up that many touchdowns, I think I would be benched on our team. We have a level of accountability and that's what we strive for. You can't give up big plays like that and still play."

Sherman was asked if he'll watch Peterson Sunday night from the sidelines.

"I really don't care what happens in his game," Sherman said. "I'm concerned about what we're doing, the win-loss category and what the scoreboard looks like. I think at the end of the day, the tape will speak for itself. I don't know if everybody's compared on an even scale, and I don't know if [Peterson] should be mentioned with us [the best cornerbacks in the league]."

Sherman said he still is motivated by being overlooked in the NFL draft, even after receiving a four-year, $56 million contract from the Seahawks before the start of the 2014 season.

"You want to punish everybody who overlooked you," Sherman said of being a fifth-round draft choice in 2011. "Every little bit of criticism you got, at the end of the day, you want it to sound like noise and ignorance. You want their criticisms to sound like they don't know what they're doing. They're not doing a great job, and hopefully, get them fired."

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