Richard Sherman Speaks on Tom Brady's Public Image and 2012 In-Game Comments

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman didn't wait until Super Bowl media day to deliver a few jabs at New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The outspoken defender provided some insight into a previous encounter between the two and Brady's public image.

The Seahawks scored a 24-23 victory over the Patriots during the 2012 regular season. Afterward, Sherman was shown jawing at Brady. Marc Sessler of NFL.com passed along the corner's comments about the incident, which he states began with trash talking from the other side.

"He was just pretty much saying we were nobodies and that we should come up to him after they got the win," he said. "So we should take that pretty well? We should just, ah, 'Cool. Can I get your autograph, too?'"

Sherman was just beginning his rise to stardom at the time. He believes the only reason it's still a talking point is because of the gap between the public's view of Brady and how the quarterback truly acts on the field. He specifically mentions the signal-caller's actions toward officials.

Sherman continued:

"

Like I said before, I think people sometimes get a skewed view of Tom Brady. That he's just a clean-cut, does everything right, and never says a bad word to anyone. And we know him to be otherwise. So, in that moment of him being himself, he said some things and we returned the favor. And unfortunately he apparently didn't remember what he said, etc., etc., but I'm sure in those moments of him yelling at the ref he's just saying, 'Good job, you're doing a fantastic job, keep it up.'

"

It's an interesting contrast to one year ago, when the Seahawks were overwhelmingly positive regarding Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Sherman complimented Manning before his team registered a 43-8 blowout victory in the Super Bowl.

He even did so again after that game:

The Seattle defense doesn't lack confidence, and it has backed up the talk. With this first barb and Deflategate, Super Bowl XLIX won't lack pregame storylines.