Sherman comes back at Chargers

RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman denied he was avoiding the media after Sunday's loss at San Diego, and he chuckled at Chargers receiver Keenan Allen saying Sherman was a "normal guy and not a shutdown corner."

"You know, when a guy wants his name in the paper, he's gotta say something crazy," Sherman said about Allen on Wednesday. "It's humorous. I guess he wants something to tell his grandkids: 'Remember the day I caught a couple of balls on Richard Sherman? No touchdowns, but I caught a few.'"

Sherman did not talk to reporters after the 30-21 loss to the Chargers, but he said it wasn't deliberate.

"I was available," he said. "I didn't sneak off. No one came up to me [in the locker room]. I took my shower and came back and everyone was talking to Earl [Thomas, who was next to Sherman]. I got dressed and left. I didn't stick around a long time waiting for everyone.

"We just had played a game where it was over 100 degrees, and it was about 90 in the locker room. I wanted to get out of there and cool off. Someone came up to me in the hallway while I was signing autographs, but that was it."

The person who came up to Sherman in the hallway was a Tacoma, Washington, reporter whom Sherman didn't recognize, so he said he wasn't talking.

But Sherman had plenty to say Wednesday when asked how he thought he played Sunday.

"I played pretty well," he said. "But it's really funny that two little Chargers say I was exposed. One had 50 yards [Allen had five receptions for 55 yards], and one had 60 [Eddie Royal had seven receptions for 69 yards]. It makes you laugh."

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn't throw a single pass to receivers Sherman was covering in the season opener, so it brought more attention about what the Chargers would do.

Sherman said he realizes he is under increased scrutiny now as a Pro Bowl player whose previous comments have brought him enormous national attention.

"But I don't go home and say, 'Oh my god, what are they saying about me?'" Sherman said. "It comes with being a good player on a good team."