Seahawks' Sherman to play in Super Bowl

(TNS) - Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman on Wednesday called his postgame proclamation Sunday -- in which he said there is no way he will miss the Super Bowl despite an elbow injury -- "my story and I'm sticking to it.''

That hardly was the only story Sherman told Wednesday, though, during an entertaining, 18-minute session with the media. He dished on why he was so mad at New England quarterback Tom Brady in 2012, and the inevitable comparisons that will be made between him and Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis in the Super Bowl and more.

First, the injury news.

Sherman suffered a sprained left elbow on the first play of the fourth quarter during the NFC Championship Game win over Green Bay. He didn't miss a play, going the rest of the way with his left arm held closely to his chest. He used the arm on Green Bay's last offensive play of the game, though, to tackle Jordy Nelson for a 6-yard gain -- the only completion Sherman allowed in the game.

Seahawks defensive-backs coach Kris Richard joked that he pointed that play out to Sherman: "There it is on tape. We saw you wrapping up, you pulled a guy down. So you are OK.''

Sherman said he might practice with a brace but hopes to have no limitations by the time the Super Bowl rolls around Feb. 1. He said his left stiff arm "might not be the greatest right now. But other than that I should be pretty decent.''

Richard said there was "not a shadow of a doubt'' of letting Sherman continue to play.

"You sit him down on the bench and you ask him, 'Hey, can you go? Can you do it?''' Richard said. He added that when Sherman and safety Earl Thomas, who had injured his shoulder, both said they were OK he said, "I just believe in them, and I let them go.''

Asked what his range of motion is, Sherman said, "If I had to slap my brother, I'd be able to do it.'' He was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

Sherman also threw a few verbal jabs at Brady, who he will face in the Super Bowl for the first time since their memorable confrontation following a 24-23 Seattle win over the Patriots in 2012.

The game has become immortalized by the line "You mad, bro?'' But Sherman actually didn't utter those words. He liked a post on Twitter by a fan after the game that included the phrase and then retweeted it with a picture of himself yelling at Brady after the game. He now uses the phrase on some of the shirts sold on his website.

Sherman on Wednesday said he confronted Brady because the New England quarterback had been talking to the Seattle secondary throughout the game.

"I think people somehow get a skewed view of Tom Brady, that he's just a clean-cut, does-everything-right guy, never says a bad word to anyone,'' Sherman said. "And we know him to be otherwise. In that moment of him being himself he said some things and we returned the favor. Unfortunately he apparently didn't remember what he said, etc., etc.''

Asked what Brady said, Sherman replied: "He pretty much just said we were nobodies and we should come up to him after they got the win. And we should take that pretty well and just go, 'Can we get your autograph now?' ''

Sherman said he has not since talked to Brady.

Asked if he thinks Brady will throw at him, he said, "I don't care. I hope so. It will give me more opportunities to get the ball. He had me in his sights before."

Sherman also once had a brief Twitter war with Revis, formerly of the Jets and Tampa Bay and now in his first season with the Patriots. Notably, Sherman tweeted an image comparing his stats with Revis' ending with the phrase "numbers don't lie.''

That prompted Revis to respond, "This dude just steady putting my name in his mouth to get notoriety.''

But on Wednesday, Sherman indicated that any animosity has passed, saying he has talked to Revis several times. Those conversations have been more frequent now that former Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner is Revis' teammate.

"He's had a great year ,'' Sherman said of Revis. "He's been doing his job effectively, and I've liked what I've seen of his game. I'm sure people will make comparisons like they always do, but we play the game two different ways.

"He plays it more meticulous, more conventional, is what people say. His technique looks more conventional, and mine is more unorthodox, which means mine is just more difficult to replicate. ... I play my way, he plays his way, and both of them are effective.''

Before he exited stage right, though, Sherman made clear he thinks his way might be a little more effective. Asked if he still considers himself the best cornerback in the NFL, he said, "I don't know anybody else that would say otherwise.''