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10 Things You Need to Know About Richard Sherman Heading Into Super Bowl XLIX

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10 Things You Need to Know About Richard Sherman Heading Into Super Bowl XLIX

Richard Sherman Seattle Seahawks
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks' cornerback Richard Sherman is the best cornerback in football, plain and simple. He irritates many, but there's no denying the effect he has on the football field week in and week out. In preparation for Super Bowl XLIX let's take closer look at the polarizing player. Here are the 10 things you need to know about Richard Sherman.

10. Humble Beginnings

Richard Sherman
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10. Humble Beginnings

Richard Sherman
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Richard Sherman grew up in a rough neighborhood in Compton, California. He starred on the Dominguez High School football and track teams, in addition to graduating with a 4.2 GPA. Tragically, eight of Sherman’s classmates were killed during his four years at Dominguez.

9. Stanford Scholarship

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9. Stanford Scholarship

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Sherman received a football scholarship to the prestigious Stanford University out of high school. In doing so, he became the first Dominguez High School graduate in 20 years to receive a scholarship to Stanford.

8. Position Change

Richard Sherman Stanford
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8. Position Change

Richard Sherman Stanford
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His first two years at Stanford, Sherman was one of the team’s top wide receivers. In the Cardinal’s 2007 upset victory over No. 1 ranked USC, Sherman caught a pass on fourth and 19 to give Stanford a first down, extending the eventual game winning drive. After returning from a knee injury, Sherman switched to cornerback due to a team need and struggled mightily in his first year at the position. The rest as they say, is history.

7. Almost Transferred From Stanford

Jim Harbaugh angry
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7. Almost Transferred From Stanford

Jim Harbaugh Angry
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It’s no secret Sherman and his former Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh don’t get along. The relationship became so poor at one point that Sherman seriously considered transferring, but changed his mind after his mother persuaded him to stay.

6. Overlooked in Draft

Richard Sherman Pete Caroll
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6. Overlooked in Draft

Richard Sherman Pete Caroll
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Part of the reason Sherman has such a big chip on his shoulder is because of how he was overlooked in the draft. The Seahawks selected Sherman in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, with pick No. 154. 24 other cornerbacks were selected before Sherman. Safe to say a lot of teams are now kicking themselves over this.

5. Overturned Suspension For Adderall

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5. Overturned Suspension For Adderall

Richard Sherman Seahawks
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The Seahawks cornerback was suspended four games in 2012 for the use of Adderall, a decision that he appealed. Sherman won the suspension and missed zero games as a result.

4. Record Breaking Contract Extension

Richard Sherman Seattle Seahawks
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4. Record Breaking Contract Extension

Richard Sherman Seattle Seahawks
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After being a fourth round pick, Sherman was barely making over the league minimum his first several years in the NFL. On May 7, 2014, Sherman signed a four-year $57.4 million contract extension with Seattle, which at the time was a record high for cornerbacks.

3. Garbage Truck Driving Father

Richard Sherman
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

3. Garbage Truck Driving Father

Richard Sherman
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Sherman’s father refuses to live off of his son’s earnings, even after he signed the huge extension. He lost his eye at the age of 14 and still wakes up at four a.m. every morning as a garbage truck driver.

2. Obsessive Studier

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Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

2. Obsessive Studier

richard sherman
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Part of what makes Sherman so good as a cornerback is that he knows each and every tendency of the wide receivers he matches up against. The All-Pro is constantly seen watching film and reportedly has notes on every receiver in the NFL on his iPad. Sherman has said he watches film in bed every night before he goes to sleep.

1. Every Move is Calculated

Richard Sherman Seahawks
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1. Every Move is Calculated

Richard Sherman Seahawks
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At times, Sherman can be “too much” for some NFL fans -- his postgame interview with Erin Andrews after last year’s NFC Championship game against the 49ers being the chief example. Sherman explained his antics in an interview with Sports Illustrated:

“Things I do probably look like madness, like I’m totally out of control, but there’s always a plan. It’s part of a greater scheme to get some eyes, to grow the market, to grow Seattle.”

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