Peyton Manning has been pegged as the scapegoat for the Denver Broncos’ blowout loss in Super Bowl XLVIII, getting plenty of hate from fans and media alike for a subpar performance. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman seemed confused by the negativity, though, and was quick to back the future Hall of Famer.
“People don’t have the right to bash him,” Sherman said on ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning on Tuesday. “After the season he had and everything he did, everything he accomplished in his career and this year as a football player.”
Manning led the Broncos’ offense to a number of NFL records this season, but he also set a few of his own in the process. The NFL MVP set NFL records with 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns in arguably the best season by any quarterback in league history. But, even after such an incredible campaign, Manning still faces criticism for what many viewed as a “choke artist” performance in his third Super Bowl appearance.
Sherman wasn’t going to let Manning be disparaged for his phenomenal season, or career for that matter, though, praising the Broncos’ quarterback for all of his accomplishments.
“He’s a Hall of Fame player,” Sherman said. “He’s a living legend. He’s a record-holding quarterback. He’s a Super Bowl champion. He’s been a Super Bowl MVP. Really, you know, people have bad games, and I think that maybe if you want to criticize his play on the field that’s fine, but don’t call him some of the things that they were calling him.”
Sherman, who suffered an ankle injury during the fourth quarter on Sunday, noted Manning, who apparently checked in on the injured Sherman after the loss, as the “classiest person/player” that he has ever met.
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Watch Sherman talking about his visit with Manning and defend the quarterback in the video below.
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