Robert Kraft Believes Richard Sherman Is A ‘Very Smart Marketing Whiz’

PHOENIX — If Richard Sherman successfully got under Robert Kraft’s skin, then the New England Patriots owner didn’t show it.

The Seattle Seahawks cornerback said Sunday that the Patriots won’t be punished for DeflateGate because Kraft and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell are so close. Kraft and Goodell were photographed together the night before the AFC Championship Game

“I think Richard Sherman is a very smart marketing whiz,” Kraft said Tuesday at Super Bowl XLIX Media Day.

Kraft said the party at his house actually was beneficial to Sherman.

“We’ve been privileged to own the team for 21 years, and this was our 10th championship game,” Kraft said. “And when the league stopped doing the parties, we started doing them. I’ve had a party at home for our lead sponsors to thank them.

“It’s a way to try to grow revenues for the NFL and our team. So I think Mr. Sherman understood that he’s the biggest beneficiary because they get over 50 percent of the revenues. So he didn’t go to Harvard, (but) Stanford must be pretty good because he figured it out.”

Sherman was less antagonistic Tuesday at media day. The Patriots and Seahawks face off in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Thumbnail photo via David J. Phillip/Associated Press