They always say the sequel is never as good as the original.
Take Richard Sherman and his current war of words with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens . A wide receiver vs a defensive back. It’s
interesting, but nothing like Sherman’s feud with 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, which the Pickens spat feels like a sequel to, except this sequel finally gives us some backstory on what led to that fateful moment following the 2013 NFC Championship Game.
Everyone remembers Richard Sherman amped up after the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers in that game. There was the tipped pass, the interception, and the Seahawks officially punching their ticket to the Super Bowl.
And then there was a quote by Sherman saying not to talk about him.
Followed by fans collectively saying: “wut?”
Through the years, bits and pieces of what exactly prompted Sherman to go off as he did surfaced. Shortly after the game, Sherman said it was something in Arizona during the 2014 offseason and to “ask him [Crabtree]” about it.
As time went on, we learned it had something to do with then-Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s charity event. We knew there was some trash talk, but the details weren’t made. It was also a bit ambiguous, considering Crabtree was recovering from a foot injury and would be in a walking boot at the time.
Now, we have context. Now, we have answers to just what was said.
Sherman discussed the outburst and just what Crabtree did to set him off. He was a guest on the Closed on Sunday’s Podcast hosted by Patrick Surtain and Terrion Arnold. I was initially going to paraphrase, but since Sherman can explain some decade-old questions, I have transcribed his entire answer in full below:
“It’s a long story. In the offseason, and I don’t know what you all do because everyone is different. [former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver] Larry Fitzgerald used to have a softball game in Arizona where he’d invite a bunch of guys, a bunch of celebrities, a bunch of former players and artists; Snoop Dogg used to come, Ashanti, you know, NBA players, WNBA players, everything. And we’d play a little softball game for charity to raise money for his charity. Then he’d have a little after-event for all the sponsors. You’d shake hands, kiss babies, and then you’d go on about your day. You’d show up, and then you invite him to yours, your charity event. So everybody is showing each other love. You battle on the fields, it is what it is, but there’s a lot of respect.
“During these events, a lot of guys used to come out; guys you’d play against. Kyle Williams, who use to play on the Niners, I think Roddy [Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White] used to come out, Julio [Former NFL wide receiver Julio Jones] came to maybe one, obviously Larry used to play. Just a bunch of guys that you’d run into. Imagine that you’re playing against some of the Packers receivers coming out and some of the Bears receivers coming out, Justin Jefferson coming out. There’s respect, but everybody understands we’re going to keep the field stuff on the field and we are going to keep it respectful here. Everyone jokes and when we get on that field again it is what it is.
“And Crab couldn’t keep it on the field. He had a couple of drinks that night, he was feeling himself—and mind you, this is a couple of years in. We’ve already played maybe five, six times. And so he was feeling like—I don’t think he’s had ever had more than 60 yards in a game that he’s played against our team in any of the games. I didn’t really think he was like that.
“And Earl [former Seahawks safety Earl Thomas] did. Earl had a lot respect for Crab. Like, a high level of respect. Because he had to play him all the time in college in the Big 12. Remember—you guys are too young—but there was a huge game between Texas Tech and Texas where Crabtree caught the game winner with two seconds to go. Like, double coverage, walkoff, real crazy. So Earl had this “this might be one of the best receivers ever” respect for him.
“So he would talk to me all the time before we played them and be like, ‘You gotta watch out for Crab man, he can take over at any time.’
“He, I don’t see the guy like that. I’m in front of him. You both know, when you step in front of a dude after 10 plays. You either think—you know what you think of him; not what he did against everybody else. I know what I feel, and I don’t feel threatened.
“So during that event, we go back to the event. We’re all sitting there, talking it up, chopping it up like a group, laughing about the game. T.O. (Terrell Owens) and Donovan McNabb had did something and T.O. got emotional about the game like it was a real game. We were shooting jokes and cracking up. And Crab is off to the side drinking, but kind of mean-mugging, like he’s plotting. Like he wants some issues, like real life issues. Not like, ‘I’m going to talk mess to you and play a football game,‘ it’s like, you want smoke-smoke.
“Eventually, he makes his way over—and we’re not even talking football, we’re talking about a bunch of other stuff—and he’s like, ‘Yeah, Sherm, you got me f**ked up. Next game I’m gonna have—watch I can’t wait until I’m back on the field. I’m gonna have seven for 150 and two tugs on you.‘
“I said, ‘Ok, aint nothing wrong with confidence, it’s easier said than done. It aint happened yet. I don’t know if you have that collectively. But you can feel how you feel.‘
“And so I leave it at that. But it was almost like that irritated him more that I was so nonchalant about it. And then he starts talking like ‘You’re lucky we’re at this event. Or’ I’d put hands on you type stuff.
“I’m like, “Hey, you know what I’m going to do? Because I aint going to fight you. I’m not going to do all of that. I make too much money to be sitting here trying to fight you. Anytime I see you on that football field, I’m going to do my best to embarrass you as much as I can. I’m going to try to ruin you.‘
“And that was the next year. So we played them twice that year and in the NFC Championship Game”
And after the Championship Game, we now know where this came from:
There’s something about saying smoke-smoke. In fact, it’s so lovely it will probably be grafted to my vocabulary.
It also shows you 49ers fans live in the twilight zone. In a turn of events that would make the WWE green with envy, Crabtree would leave in free agency the following year for the then-Oakland Raiders. Some cryptic comments about 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was having a down year in 2015, would surface, and fans began to lose their love for the wide receiver. The drama surrounding his rookie contract didn’t help matters much either.
Sherman did the exact opposite. As a vocal cornerback for what was then a heated rivalry, many 49ers fans perceived Sherman as a villain of sorts. Things changed once Sherman was brought to the 49ers in 2018—in fact, we had to figure out a way to get fans unblocked from his X account shortly after signing. Now, despite his divide between the Seahawks and the 49ers, fans love him and vice versa. Sherman often outright refuses to choose sides or make a pick when the two teams play divisional games.
As for Crabtree, well, he lost favor with the 49ers long before Sherman gained any. He departed in the 2015 offseason to go to the then-Oakland Raiders. That alone left fans miffed, but it’s hard to fault a player wanting to get paid. Unfortunately, Crabtree then called out Colin Kaepernick, saying the then-49ers QB wasn’t “hungry” enough. Kaepernick had his own set of problems, with a down year and having a head coach in Jim Tomsula. Not to mention, Kaepernick always had praise for Crabtree whenever he was at the podium.
Sure, Sherman vs Pickens was interesting, but it was nothing like Sherman vs Crabtree. Is it better with the context? Who knows. As much as he got under 49ers fans’ skin back then, it did make for some entertaining football during the Jim Harbaugh years.
