Richard Sherman is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, one of the most entertaining players in the entirety of the NFL.
On the field, the Seattle Seahawk cornerback is confident, intense and savvy - his physical talents matched only by his incredible feel for the game.
Off the field, he's brash, brazen and sharply intelligent.
It's an oftentimes volatile personality mix that can lead to all kinds of media fireworks. So when Sherman landed in Arizona this weekend and sat down to talk to reporters ahead of next Sunday's Super Bowl XLIX, you just knew something of particularly fascinating interest would follow.
Sherman, after deftly deflecting a couple of questions about how he felt he ranked within the cadre of the league's elite cornerbacks, was questioned on his view of the New England Patriots' Deflategate scandal and whether he thought the Pats, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady would see punishment for their actions.
"I think the perception is the reality," Sherman said, according to Fox Sports. "It is what it is. Their resume speaks for itself. The past is what the past is. Their present is what their present is. And, will they be punished? Probably not."
Sherman, never one to shy away from controversy, pointed to the perceived closeness of the relationship between Patriots team owner, Robert Kraft and NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell.
"Not as long as Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell are still taking pictures at their respective homes. He was just at Kraft's house last week for the AFC championship," Sherman added. "You talk about conflict of interest.
"But as long as that happens, it won't affect them at all. Nothing will."
It wasn't all doom and gloom for Sherman though. It's his belief that the Deflategate scandal will influence more people without a particular rooting interest in this year's NFL Championship game to cheer on his Seahawks.
"I think more people might be inclined to root for us, to see history made," Sherman said, referencing Seattle's potential to repeat as Super Bowl champions. "I guess the controversy gives us a little edge in that respect."
