Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman acrobatically tipped Colin Kaepernick's ill-fated pass into the arms of linebacker Malcolm Smith and -- just like that -- the Seahawks were MetLife-bound.
Because he's Richard Sherman, he did none of this quietly. Minutes after vanquishing the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game, Seattle's premier defender unleashed a postgame tirade -- centered on 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree -- that even your Aunt Millie has seen by now and has an opinion on.
But why all the Crabtree angst?
After Sherman told reporters postgame about a vague remark Crabtree made during the offseason, the cornerback opened up to NFL Media columnist Michael Silver:
"Sherman explained that he was angered by something Crabtree had said to him while the two were socializing with other players (including then-49ers receiver Kyle Williams, now with the Kansas City Chiefs) at a function associated with Fitzgerald's charity softball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., last April," Silver wrote. "Sherman wouldn't share specifics, saying only that '(Crabtree) said something to me, and I told him I'd make him pay for it on the field.'"
When Sherman saw Crabtree as the potential recipient of Kaepernick's final throw, he knew his moment had come.
"That's when the big-time players step up, in big-time situations, and I was able to do it for my team," Sherman told Silver. "Once (Crabtree) stuttered, I knew it was coming to him, and I thought, 'Finally. It's been long enough... I can't believe they'd try me. He doesn't have a chance.'"
Want more? Do yourself a favor and check out the rest of Silver's Sunday night conversation with Sherman.
The "Around The League Podcast" recapped all the Conference Championship week action.
