This is the kind of timing that professional media planners dream of pulling off. On Sunday, the same day that Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman drew national attention for his post-game trash talk, Beats by Dre also released an ad in which Sherman is grilled by reporters for his "reputation as a thug."
As has since been pointed out by several commentators, most notably Deadspin founding editor Will Leitch, Sherman is likely one of the most intelligent and philanthropic young players in the NFL. But his 4.2 high school GPA, degree from Stanford and charity leadership are often overshadowed by his bombastic demeanor, such as on Sunday, when he called San Francisco 49er Michael Crabtree a "sorry receiver" and "mediocre."
Sherman's ad for Beats by Dre may not be as intense as the previous installment starring Kevin Garnett, but it does convey his frustration with the oversimplified sound bites that the sports media seem to want from him. And that same frustration is likely what boiled over Sunday night, when he decided to stop playing by the unwritten rules of post-game interviews. Or maybe he just felt like bragging. Coincidentally, Beats by Dre has also been airing a commercial starring Colin Kaepernick, whose 49ers were vanquished by Sherman's Seahawks on Sunday.
Knowing that he's only going to become more of a focus for public debate in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, Sherman seems to be saying, "If I'm going to get a reputation, I might as well own my reputation."
Check out the ad below, followed by a clip of Sherman's adrenaline-fueled interview with Erin Andrews on Sunday.
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