Football: The Richard Sherman influence comes to high school

Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks is the best cornerback in the world. He earned that reputation by his play, not because he can talk trash with the best of them.

But there was never any doubt about the impact of his Super Bowl rant (Remember “Crabtree. Don’t open your mouth about the best or I’m going to shut it for you real quick.”)

What happens in the NFL is usually imitated by high school athletes, and at the Charter Oak seven-on-seven passsing tournament on Saturday, there were signs of the Sherman influence.

After a Westlake receiver dropped a ball, an Upland defensive back spoke loudly for all to hear, “That receiver has bad hands.”

It wasn’t exactly a rant and who knows whether an official might conclude the defensive back was taunting, but I have a feeling it’s just the beginning of what’s going to be some interesting trash talking by defensive backs in the summer and fall.