Second thoughts

Sherman poopoos Manning

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has learned a lot in a short period of time.

Especially when it comes to the art of communication.

Just calling someone mediocre as he referenced San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree after the Seahawks victory in the NFC Championship Game was one thing. Showing how someone is not very good and allowing the audience to come to the conclusion on its own does.

In a sense, that’s what Sherman did with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.

Sherman apparently took a page from New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter, who immediately attributed his Super Bowl XLIV-clinching interception return for a touchdown to film study.

Sherman has made it clear that Manning made mistakes from a preparation standpoint in Super Bowl XLVIII - without specifically saying, “Manning made mistakes.”

“We knew what route concepts they liked on different downs, so we jumped all the routes,” Sherman told TheMMQB.com after the Seahawks’ 43-8 victory Sunday over the Broncos. “Then we figured out the hand signals for a few of the route audibles in the first half. … Me, Earl [Thomas], Kam [Chancellor] . . . we’re not just three All-Pro players.

We’re three All-Pro minds. Now, if Peyton had thrown in some double moves, if he had gone out of character, we could’ve been exposed.”

That’s enough evidence to make Sherman generally look bad.

Should he have called himself an All-Pro mind? Probably not.

But for a guy who was vilified two weeks ago for his shouting condemnation of Crabtree, Sherman has shown he can adjust the delivery - even if the message is just as potent.

It’s hard not to appreciate Sherman’s brutal honesty.

Manning’s hand signals and audibles weren’t good enough or sophisticated enough to keep the Seahawks from quickly figuring them out.

Medium Papi

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz posted a picture of himself Sunday after a workout.

“Finishing my workout to have another monster season for all those media hater that still doubting!!!” the 38-year-old Ortiz, nicknamed Big Papi, said on Twitter.

Ortiz is seeking a one-year extension with the Red Sox, so getting himself in better shape could probably help make that happen with the team he has helped lead to three World Series’ in 11 years. He was listed at 250 pounds last year, and by the looks of the picture, he obviously isn’t going to start the season quite that large.

Ortiz is set to stay in Boston through 2014 at least. But it looks like the end of the Big Papi nickname. Look out, though, for the Medium Papi, Moderate Papi, Median Papi, Sparse Papi or Appropriately Portioned Papi jokes come Spring Training.

Mom knows best

If you’re going to fail, fail big.

Late in the Kings’ 99-70 blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night Sacramento’s Derrick Williams made a steal and had a breakaway dunk lined up as he raced down the floor. A decision to showboat a little and pass the ball to himself off the backboard for a big dunk didn’t turn out so well when he couldn’t control the ball once he flipped it at the glass.

An obvious fail. Big fail.

How bad was it?

“You know it’s bad when your mom text you ‘what was that!?’ Lmao great team win tho,” Williams tweeted after the game.

Quote of the day

“Bobby’s going to be fine. Bobby will learn. Bobby’s going to be the great player that everyone expects him to be.” Arkansas senior guard Kikko Haydar on freshman forward Bobby Portis

Sports, Pages 20 on 02/05/2014

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