Seattle's Sherman fined $7,875 for taunting

[alp227]

Source: AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was fined $7,875 for unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting in the final minute of the NFC championship game against San Francisco.

Sherman's fine was confirmed by the league Friday.

Sherman was flagged after he made a choking gesture toward the San Francisco bench that he said was directed at quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Sherman had just deflected a pass intended for Michael Crabtree in the end zone that was intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith and clinched Seattle's 23-17 victory.

Read more: http://pro32.ap.org/article/seattles-sherman-fined-7875-taunting

[Auggie]

1. Should be more

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Why? ...

Didn't the "taunt" occur AFTER the game's conclusion?

Are we to expect the NFL to issue fines for post-game press conference rants? tweeter wars?

Or can we to just call this what it is ... the NFL being reactionary.

[Ptah]

5. The 'taunt' occurred right after the interception, with 22 seconds left in the contest.

[1StrongBlackMan]

16. Was he fined for the "taunt"? ...

Or, the after the game "rant" ... that is really what this is about?

[Ptah]

18. Yes he was fined for the in-game taunt.

"Act like you've been there before"

Edit to add, a penalty flag was thrown for his 'choke pantomime.

[1StrongBlackMan]

20. Okay ...

But while researching who else has been similarly fined (I found one, Golden Tate) ... I found this:

A form of unsportsmanlike conduct. Includes any "prolonged and premeditated celebrations" by players including those that use props such as the end zone pylon in a touchdown celebration. {emphasis added} - See more at: http://www.nflpenalties.com/penalty/taunting?year=2012#sthash.1GDxHk3X.dpuf

Can anyone, with a straight face argue that his "taunt" was prolonged and premeditated (noting the conjunction)?

Please! NFL just being reactionary about the post game "rant."

[Ptah]

21. He said it was in response to an off-season incident so yes, premeditated.

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. So he waited 6-8 months ...

passed up two earlier opportunities during the regular season ... on the off chance that he would be presented the chance to respond in the play-offs?

Okayyyy ... Let's go with that!

[Ptah]

26. Report: Crabtree tried to fight Richard Sherman at charity event

While Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman's postgame rant Sunday night in which
he called 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree a "sorry receiver" was awfully entertaining, he also
mentioned that Crabtree might have talked badly about him at some point.

Aside from Crabtree's refusal to confirm in the previous week that Sherman was the best
cornerback in the league and aside from perhaps some on-field trash talking, it was hard to
know exactly why the Seahawks cornerback felt so slighted.

The Seattle Times sheds light on an incident from last offseason in which Crabtree reportedly
tried to start a fight while the two were at a charity event hosted by Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

"While there, Sherman went to shake Crabtree's hand, and Crabtree tried to start a fight,
according to Sherman's older brother, Branton," writes Jerry Brewer of the Times. "'I'm going to
make a play and embarrass him,' Richard Sherman vowed that day."


http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24414782/report-michael-crabree-tried-to-fight-richard-sherman-at-charity-event

[1StrongBlackMan]

27. And he passed up ...

their December 8th game (a very intense game, where he made several great plays defending against Crabtree ... two of which were in the red-zone), on the off chance that they would meet in the play-off?

Okay.

[Ptah]

31. The point I am trying to make is that his behavior on the field was unsportsmanlike.

[1StrongBlackMan]

33. Okay. n/t

[Upton]

28. There's another side to that story too..

But a source who was at the Fitzgerald charity event—and who has no familial or professional relationship to Sherman or Crabtree—witnessed part of what happened and said it looked more like it was the other way around.

"The handshake part is legit," the source said, "but it was Sherman who tried to start the fight with Crabtree. I remember 'cause Sherman kept getting in his face and Crabtree was just laughing about it."

------

The source isn't sure what was said to trigger the kerfuffle—or who had said what. Whatever may have started it, the source said, Sherman was the one who was visibly angry that night.

"I can't shed a ton on it because I didn't hear any of it," the source said. "I actually like Richard and he was a real nice dude at the event and the game. I can only say it appeared from body language that Sherman was the instigator in it, not Crabtree."

Real story of Richard Sherman-Michael Crabtree feud

[alp227]

6. This incident was right after the interception.

There were around 25 seconds on the game clock. The incident for which Sherman is being fined is described in the OP.

[Auggie]

15. A choking gesture is the epitome of poor sportsmanship and unprofessionalism ...

that's not how the NFL wishes to portray themselves. Nor, I imagine, the Seattle Seahawks. $20,000 sends a louder message.

[thefool_wa]

8. Why exactly?

Seems fair to me. Its not like he hurt someone, he just got carried away in the moment.

People hold athletes to entirely too high a standard. He's just playing a game, the fact that there was even a fine for this is ludicrous, but oh well.

He'll probably do something totally stand up like donate an equal amount to a charity also.

Sherman is one hell of a guy.

[Upton]

9. Perhaps because Sherman has a track record..

this isn't the first time he's gone after an opponent after a game..

?3

[thefool_wa]

10. THis had nothing to do with that

He just made a choking gesture towards the sidelines. The penalty and fine are sufficient, so I assume you are just bitter your team didn't make it.

Sherman is a great player and a fine human being. He shouldn't have made the choke at Kapernick, but everything else he did was just fine.

on edit: GIANTS fan, so you are from the bay area...HAAA!!!! I know for a FACT its jealousy now. 9ers put up a good game, but as we all suspected, Seattle is the better team. Better luck next year.

[rep the dems]

11. According to a tweet he made about that game,

Brady had said something about how he would shake their hands after the Pats won. It didn't happen, so Sherman presumably had some fun with him. In this case, it was Crabtree who wouldn't shake his hand when Sherman offered it. I really don't think he'd have made the choke sign without that, even though Kaepernick absolutely choked in that game.

[thefool_wa]

12. Totally!

Sherman isn't a punk, everyone just likes to paint him that way.

[secondvariety]

14. Any team

in the NFL would love to have Sherman. Hell of an athlete and smart as a whip.

[1StrongBlackMan]

17. Punk ...

the word tossed around was "Thug." Which has become code for ... well, you know.

[thefool_wa]

19. Yeah

either way it doesn't fit.

[1StrongBlackMan]

22. Well ...

He upset a bunch of folks and he IS Blaaccckkkk!

[GP6971]

30. Sure doesn't. n/t

[Upton]

23. Sure it has..

only in the minds of those looking to be offended. No matter what Sherman says, hockey enforcers are routinely referred to as thugs...and almost all of them are white.

50 Biggest Thugs in Hockey History

[1StrongBlackMan]

25. This ain't hockey ...

and I thought the term in hockey is "goon."

Yep ... thought so. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enforcer_(ice_hockey)

[Upton]

32. Goon, thug, enforcer...whatever..

my only point is Sherman and those who agree with him are off base in suggesting the word 'thug' is some kind of coded racial epithet..because there's plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise..

[1StrongBlackMan]

34. As a Black man ...

I beg to differ.

[mountain grammy]

36. I argued with a friend over this today. I'm surprised at the overreaction to this..

and agree with your comments on this thread. I saw the "interview" (can't believe that short exchange was called an interview) after the game. That was a tense and exciting game for all the marbles and the man was pumped, his focus and enthusiasm led to an exciting and winning finish.
Personally, I was offended by Belichick's interview after the AFC game. Funny, no controversy there.

[treestar]

55. I did not know "thug" was a racial reference until a couple days ago

But then if a significant number of black people seem to think so, I don't argue and start to respect whatever the term is.

I got caught using "illegal aliens" the other day, too. That's been OK to say for 30 years at least, so it takes a while to get used to. But being white, I'd rather err on the side of not using the terms that are offensive - not being black, it's easy to say that term should not be offensive when you're white. But if it feels offensive to people, take the hint and don't use it, whatever the term.

It's all name calling anyway, so using the terms doesn't prove a damn thing anyway. Stick to the debate point.

As for Sherman, who I'd also never heard of until a couple of days ago, he has a big mouth, but so what - so do a lot of people. He seems to be a good guy and talented, so why not focus on the positive - he's also quite young and will get over his arguments with other football players eventually.

[rep the dems]

37. Yep, as a Philly fan I've been really surprised about the generally negative response

to what Sherman did/said even around here. Did he *have* to do what he did? No. But it certainly added to a rivalry that I felt had been a little overhyped given the lack of playoff history and close, meaningful games between the two teams. I understand not liking it if you're a Niners fan, but for me I had no problem with it. The guy is a great player and just because he has a beef with a rival receiver (who does plenty of talking when he's on the winning side) doesn't make him a bad person.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

43. Showing up the Patriots isn't really that wrong in my eyes

This a team that purposely runs up the score on teams they are so much better than. Up by four scores, they trot Brady out to run it up even higher.

Sorry. . .Patriots are about as classless as they come.

[Travis_0004]

51. This isn't High school football

You attempt to score as many points until the game ends.

Ask Kansas City how they feel about being up by 28 points, and taking it easy.

[GeorgeGist]

56. Huh?

[KinMd]

58. Only thing is..he was playing the 49ners

[treestar]

53. How come?

It's a specific figure, presumably arrived at under a set of rules they have. How did they determine the amount? Without knowing that, how can we know whether it should be more - or less?

[Botany]

2. $7,875

[customerserviceguy]

39. You do have to wonder

at the exact mathematical formula used. I'm surprised that there weren't stray cents at the end of that seemingly arbitrary figure.

[chelsea0011]

47. Round up, maybe?

[sendero]

49. Really...

... why not $7874.58?

[GreenEyedLefty]

3. The NFL is lame. nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. That'll learn him.

Losing five minutes pay will teach him a lesson.

[1000words]

13. Chump change

Sherman's Superbowl bonus alone will be between $45,000 (loser) and $80,000 (winner).

[rurallib]

29. NFL gets millions in publicity from his antics

[seabeckind]

35. Uppity

80 years ago he would have been dragged behind a pickup.

Obviously he doesn't know his place.

Ooops, need </sarcasm>

[warrant46]

48. Well he was only showing his displeasure with thug Crabtree and the tattooed quarterback

It reminded me of a gang fight in the inner city, or an episode of Maury

[geomon666]

38. Worth every penny.

Choke on it Niners!

[liberal_at_heart]

40. eh, whatever. I don't even care. Can't wait to see the Hawks in action.

How many of us have ever flipped the finger at the car in front of us or pushed our way through a crowded shopping mall especially during Christmas. If Sherman is an asshole, we are all assholes.

[exboyfil]

41. Thug is the wrong word

Loudmouth expresses it better. He seems to be a clean player (a very exceptional one at that). If you want a thug I give you Bill Romanowski now that is an NFL thug.

I wonder why nobody called Wes Welker a thug after his cheap shot took out one of the Patriots' best defensive players. That surely is a thug move - far more than Sherman.

[LTG]

42. The standard amount

$7875 is the standard fine for taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct. You'll find that amount regularly listed as a fine amount.

As to the after game interview, it has caused a huge response. As a comparison, earlier this season, Tom Brady chased after an official after a game. The network mikes caught him yelling at the ref, "That was f'ing bulls**t" and then demanding explanations. This caused no stir, no fine, it was barely commented on.

Popular, white, Super Bowl winning veteran quarterback commits a totally inappropriate act, including swearing at the ref, in the heat of the moment. He gets a pass on it. Nobody calls him any names.

A young, dreadlocks wearing African American, in the heat of the moment, also on national television, commits a totally inappropriate act and gets called a thug and worse.

Is it really about the act? After all, football is a highly charged, emotional, violent game, some understanding and leeway is appropriate. Perhaps there is more than the decorum of the game at work here.

[1000words]

44. You have a point

You should post more often

[alp227]

45. Actually it did get some hype.

Search tom brady swearing, or tom brady referees.

And the ultimate irony? Brady actually criticized Sherman for that post game interview!

[Cha]

46. He has some hypocritical

nerve.

[BronxBoy]

50. Another example of white privilege.....

not unlike John McEnroe chastising the Williams sisters for their supposed lack of respect for tennis when, in his day, he was one of the rudest motherfuckers in sports.

[warrant46]

52. John McEnroe needed a spanking as a child

He needs one as an Adult too.

What a boorish uncivilized dolt !!

[treestar]

54. Yes, we see things like that all the time

White - the rules are bent or it is understood you were just upset
Black - the rule book is applied to the letter.

[Politicub]

57. What stupid reasoning

Unsportsmanlike taunting? Seriously? I think the high likelihood of brain injury should be the focus and not this bread and circuses farce.