Richard Sherman hits back on critics after 49ers' win: 'I get tired of hearing the excuses for why I’m great'

Jarrett Bell | USA TODAY

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Let Richard Sherman tell you. He’s still one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks.

The crafty 49ers veteran intercepted Kirk Cousins during the divisional-round playoff romp against the Vikings and was quite proud to note that the turnover came while he played man-to-man coverage against Adam Thielen.

“I get tired of hearing, ‘Oh, man, he’s a zone corner,’ “ Sherman said, warming up to his theme. “I get tired of hearing the excuses for why I’m great. It was man coverage. I covered the man. I picked the ball off. In the playoffs, in big games, I show up. I show up year in, year out, whether it’s 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Unless I tear my Achilles. I’m out there and I’m doing my job on a high level.”

Sherman is right. He was recently named to another all-pro team, adding to the résumé he built as the ringleader for the Legion of Boom with the Seahawks – whom he could face in the NFC title game, pending on the outcome of the other NFC divisional playoff game at Green Bay on Sunday.

Yet Sherman, 31, still carries around a big chip on his shoulder like he used to.

Which means added spice on the big stage, just like old times.

When someone asked why he doesn’t think he gets the credit he deserves, he went into full defensive mode.

“It’s odd,” he said. “It’s like people got frustrated that I was so confident early on in my career. I was so confident … that people wanted me to fail. When I didn’t fail, it’s like, ‘How do we tear him down in other ways? How do we rip his game apart?’ Because I’m too consistent on a year-in, year-out basis.

“Since I got in the league, every category that matters to a corner, I’m No. 1 in: Completion percentages, interceptions, touchdowns against, yards, passer rating. If that was any other corner, it wouldn’t even be a conversation. But I get tired of it. In the playoffs, I’ve played in 13 games now, zero touchdowns given up, three interceptions. Like, show me somebody else doing that? Then I’ll enjoy the argument. But there isn’t.”

Go ahead, take his word for it.

Just don’t ask if he’s looking forward to seeing the Seahawks next weekend with a trip to Super Bowl LIV on the line. That’s when the loquacious one hits the mute button.

“Doesn’t matter,” Sherman told USA TODAY Sports when asked which team he’d like to face in the NFC Championship Game. “I’m not rooting for anyone. I only root for my team.”

Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.