Sherman insists Crabtree issue goes back to the off-season.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has apologised for his post-game rant after his personal attack on Michael Crabtree.
Sherman’s deflection of an intended pass for Crabtree in the end zone during the final minute of the NFC Championship game on Sunday allowed the Seahawks to secure a 23-17 win to earn a Super Bowl berth against the Denver Broncos on February 2.
However, the 25-year-old came under severe criticism for his post-game interview which was broadcast on national television, where he aimed his anger at Crabtree with the rivalry stemming back to the off-season.
“I apologize for attacking an individual and taking the attention away from the fantastic game by my teammates … That was not my intent,” Sherman said Monday in a text message to ESPN’s Ed Werder.
“Obviously I could have worded things better and could obviously have had a better reaction and done things differently,” he said during a different interview. “But it is what it is now, and people’s reactions are what they are.”
Sherman was rarely targeted throughout the game, but San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick looked for Crabtree with 22 seconds left to play, but it was the Seahawks star who tipped the ball which allowed Malcolm Smith to make the interception which clinched victory.
After the interception, Sherman patted Crabtree on the backside and then appeared to extend his arm for a handshake, instead receiving a shove in the face before picking up a personal foul as his celebrations continued.
Sherman then labelled Crabtree as “mediocre” in the interview, while insisting that he was pleased he had stopped him from “running his mouth”.
The two-time Pro Bowler led the league with eight interceptions this season, but had to defend himself both on social media and in a separate interview as he revealed he had received racist abuse in the aftermath of the game.
Sherman revealed that his issues with Crabtree date back to something the latter had said during the off-season, and insists that he will continue to be tough on him for the rest of his career.
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