Table of Contents
About the Author: Jon Ledyard
Latest Bucs Headlines
Richard Sherman is now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, and Bucs fans everywhere are rejoicing. But Sherman’s career looked like it could be over just a few months ago, when he was arrested in July on five misdemeanor charges. The charges included driving under the influence and second-degree criminal trespassing. Sherman crashed his SUV in a construction zone before trying to bust through the door of a family member’s home.
When asked about it during his first press conference with the Tampa Bay media, Sherman responded with notable depth and transparency.
“That’s been one of the really cool parts this,” Sherman said. “There’s always a silver lining to everything. Obviously it was an unfortunate situation, and regrettable. But it led to some really positive changes. Some help, some therapy, some tools that I didn’t have before. To address some things that you let stack up in your mind.
“You think, you never have time to address them, it’s not the right moment. It’s not the right place in your life to deal with these emotions and feelings. It really forced me to step back and go ask for help. To get the help I need, and not be afraid or too proud to ask.”
CB Richard Sherman – Photo by: USA Today
A few weeks before Sherman signed with the Bucs, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote the following:
Police said Sherman didn’t physically assault anyone; he pled not guilty to all charges and pledged to seek help.
A person close to Sherman said he has been doing magnetic therapy and speaking with a therapist since the incident, helping him work through many issues he didn’t have the tools to address before. He also has dropped 15 pounds — weight he put on after an Achilles tear in 2017 and kept on for most of his three seasons in San Francisco.
Sherman’s behavior over time will reveal the extent of his change, but his honesty about his struggles on Wednesday was refreshing. It’s also been life-changing for others, who have experienced some freedom from their own bondage as a result of Sherman’s transparency.
“It’s been remarkable how many other people have said they have the same issue,” Sherman said. “Because you always feel like you’re alone. You always feel like ‘Hey man, I’m the only one dealing with this’ and, ‘I don’t wanna burden anyone else’ or ‘I don’t want to make anyone else deal with my problems.’ At least in the black community, it’s one of those things that you’re never taught to do. You’re never taught to seek counsel, to seek help. You always feel like, ‘Hey man, I’ll deal with it.’ ‘Tough it out.’ ‘Let’s get to the next play,’ in football terms. It’s like, you give up a touchdown. Then you forget about it. Next play, I can get an interception.
“The same is true in life. Something tragic or terrible happens in your life and you never really address it. You’re just like, ‘I have to get better and keep pushing toward my dreams. So I can’t deal with that right now.’ Long story short, it ended up being a positive thing. I do feel like I have the support system in my wife and my family and obviously here [Tampa Bay]. We [the Bucs and Sherman] talked about it. They have a great team and a great staff that are very aware and helpful.”
Bucs CB Richard Sherman, S Jordan Whitehead and CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Listening to Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, it doesn’t sound like Tampa Bay was concerned with Sherman off-the-field. Throughout his career, Sherman has been an exemplary person and teammate, and Arians expects that to continue in Tampa Bay.
“I don’t think Richard needs any support system, but we have all we need if he needs one,” Arians said. “I’ve known him for a long, long time, 10-11 years, so one incident, that doesn’t affect me. We all make mistakes.”
It’s impossible to deny the on-field impact Sherman will undoubtedly bring to the Bucs. He’s been one of the most consistent cornerbacks in NFL history and he’s a seamless scheme fit for Tampa Bay. But almost as encouraging is the fact that Sherman seems determined to uphold the high standards set in the Bucs locker room. The All-Pro’s focus is on getting better on and off the field, and helping those around him do the same.
“There’s been a lot of people who have [direct messaged] me, saying, ‘Man, I’ve been going through the same thing and I thought I was alone. I appreciate you putting yourself out there’,” Sherman said. “And obviously, just being in the public eye all the time, it’s not like I purposefully put myself out there. But in those situations you can either take accountability and try to help as many people as you can through a bad situation and turn it into a positive situation, or you can hide. And I chose not to hide. I don’t hide. It was unfortunate. I’m a human being, I’m not perfect. I go through ups-and-downs just like anybody else. That was a moment, and I’m thankful that I’ve been able to get past it and become better for it.”
