Sherman in trouble now

[Aseahawkfan]

I appreciate your sharing your personal experiences with us, and after hearing what you went through, I don't blame you a bit for feeling as you do.

We don't know how much Sherman had to drink. Personally, I doubt that Sherman had as much to drink as his wife said he had. He would have passed out at some point rather than aggressively trying to break down a door. But we'll find out when the toxicology report comes out, if it's something that they make public.

I don't have a problem at all with not making him post bail. As well known as his face is, he's not going to get very far if he decides to become a fugitive. Besides, $10K isn't going to keep a multi millionaire from going anywhere.

IMO we've seen the last of Richard Sherman in an NFL uniform let alone wearing blue and green. He's going to end up with at least a 6 game suspension. Zeke Elliott and Jarran Reed got 6 games and they weren't even charged with a crime. Sherman has 5 criminal charges that have been filed against him. I'd be very surprised if Sherm's suspension is less than 8 games. That pretty much wipes out 2021, and he turns 34 next March.

As far as not facing any felony charges, I don't know enough about precedent to offer an opinion as to whether or not he was treated consistent with other first time offenders. Plus he might not be out of the woods yet. If that toxicology report shows that he had over twice the legal limit, it could be considered aggravated circumstances that might elevate the charges to a felony. Once again, I don't know if that's the case here or not, but some of the research I've done indicates that it's happened before in other states. Plus the WSP is still investigating the DUI hit-and-run as a separate incident.

As far as the judge's comments about Sherman being a "pillar of the community", that was just window dressing, although I agree that he probably shouldn't have said it.

We don't know what Sherm does in his off time. He could do some nice stuff for the community. He may well be a great guy to have around.

The guy had one freak out in 10 years during what seems to be a rough time in his life. You don't write someone off after years of hard work to succeed and stay right.

I'm fairly certain a lot of people have done a DUI and aren't the worst people in the world. I'm sure Hawktawk's family and friends don't learn what he did younger and suddenly write him off or consider him a terrible person. That's just rubbish thinking in my opinion.

I hope Sherm gets some help. Gets his head straight. And moves on from his NFL career if it is that time for him.

[RiverDog]

We don't know what Sherm does in his off time. He could do some nice stuff for the community. He may well be a great guy to have around.

The guy had one freak out in 10 years during what seems to be a rough time in his life. You don't write someone off after years of hard work to succeed and stay right.

I'm fairly certain a lot of people have done a DUI and aren't the worst people in the world. I'm sure Hawktawk's family and friends don't learn what he did younger and suddenly write him off or consider him a terrible person. That's just rubbish thinking in my opinion.

I hope Sherm gets some help. Gets his head straight. And moves on from his NFL career if it is that time for him.

Oh, I agree completely. As far as we know, this was Sherman's first time offense. I was just sorting through the legal aspects of the case in an effort to learn something from it. Additionally, and I think I'm speaking for Hawktalk, too, is that I feel that Sherman be treated no better or worse than the garden variety offender who's screwed up. The one difference between this and the 'garden variety' is that most people have just one or two offenses they committed. Sherman has 6, albeit they all occurred within a couple of hours of each other. We also don't know yet what Sherman's BAC was, and what the outcome of the hit-and-run will be. Those are two factors that could change the legal aspect of what he did, so the book's not closed on him yet.

It will be interesting to see how the NFL reacts to Sherman's crimes. If he doesn't get at least a 6 game suspension, which is what Elliott and Reed, two players that weren't even accused of committing a crime received, it will be an outrage. A suspension, coupled with what the court may issue, likely signals the end of the season for Sherman, and he'll be 34 next spring. If I'm advising Sherman, I'd tell him to retire now, start a new career, make a clean break with his past, and start his life over. It might be easier to get his head on straight doing it that way rather than trying to hang onto the past. The man is extremely smart, graduated from Stanford with honors. He should have a lot of options.

This is a different day and time than when I grew up. It used to be if a high profile athlete, politician, or rich man's kid did something like this, it got swept under the carpet. Now they have a strict set of police protocols and judicial standards that the justice system must follow, and there's many times more scrutiny on police and court behavior than there ever used to be. HT's personal experience not withstanding, I'm pretty confident that Sherman is getting treated with more or less an even hand.

[Hawk Sista]

Horrible choices aside, I feel bad for Richard and his family. I hope he gets treatment for that which ails him. Alcohol is obviously a depressant, and if Ashley’s account of him drinking 2 bottles of Hennessy is even close to accurate, he’s likely got a drinking problem. He’s struggled for months, reports say. I did not see the one from February re: no firearms due tis being a danger to himself or others. If that’s the case, that’s at least 6 months of real trouble. That’s a long time to be in hell.

I hope this is something he can get help for and not something, like CTE, that will only worsen with time. Godspeed, Sherm.

[NineR]

Lucky the altercation did not escalate into gunplay otherwise there possibly would have been a big BLM fiasco across the land.

[RiverDog]

Lucky the altercation did not escalate into gunplay otherwise there possibly would have been a big BLM fiasco across the land.

All accounts are that the police did everything they could to de-escalate the situation, and I haven't heard any complaints from Sherman or his attorney regarding his treatment.

Richard Sherman might be a lot of things, but one thing he's not is a racist or someone itching to play the race card.

[RiverDog]

One more note about Sherman's incident that may have escaped our attention. He plead not guilty to all 5 charges filed against him. Given the evidence that we've already seen, of the video of him trying to break in, the 911 calls, the resisting arrest, his wrecked car, it would seem overwhelming. Plus his own statement could be construed as an admission of guilt. Why make such a heartfelt apology if he was innocent? What's he apologizing for?

I'm not sure why he'd plead not guilty when all the charges are misdemeanors anyway and even if convicted on all of them, he won't be spending any jail time. If it were me, I'd want to put the legal thing to bed as quickly as possible rather than have to go through a trial.

I'm sure that it must be some type of legal maneuver to negotiate a plea deal, but what kind of compromise are they hoping to get? No community service or a shorter probation?

[Aseahawkfan]

One more note about Sherman's incident that may have escaped our attention. He plead not guilty to all 5 charges filed against him. Given the evidence that we've already seen, of the video of him trying to break in, the 911 calls, the resisting arrest, his wrecked car, it would seem overwhelming. Plus his own statement could be construed as an admission of guilt. Why make such a heartfelt apology if he was innocent? What's he apologizing for?

I'm not sure why he'd plead not guilty when all the charges are misdemeanors anyway and even if convicted on all of them, he won't be spending any jail time. If it were me, I'd want to put the legal thing to bed as quickly as possible rather than have to go through a trial.

I'm sure that it must be some type of legal maneuver to negotiate a plea deal, but what kind of compromise are they hoping to get? No community service or a shorter probation?

I would think important for negotiating final charges to plead not guilty. Let the lawyer see how much he can reduce everything and make a deal with prosecutor.

[RiverDog]

I would think important for negotiating final charges to plead not guilty. Let the lawyer see how much he can reduce everything and make a deal with prosecutor.

I'm sure you're right, but one has to wonder why a prosecutor would even entertain a plea bargain when the facts are so conclusive. How can anyone argue that Sherman wasn't resisting arrest or trying to break down a door? Additionally, plea deals usually means pleading guilty to a lesser charge or agreeing to testify against someone else, and these are all misdemeanors that he's being charged with and there are no other parties involved. I know that I'm not an attorney, but it just seems strange to this layman. If I were the prosecutor, I'd just laugh at the defense and tell them "See you in court!"

[NorthHawk]

Plea bargaining is one of the tactics lawyers use to mitigate the consequences of an accused actions.
Why wouldn't he try it? It's an obvious and easy first step. Maybe if the prosecutor has bigger fish to fry he can clear his desk of
this situation without much work and move on to more serious issues. I have no idea of the prosecutors work load, but it's worth
a try. As well, the judge signaled that the court sees Sherman as an otherwise upstanding member of the community when he was
released without bail so to the prosecutor it may look like Sherman would get a lighter sentence than asked anyway.

[RiverDog]

Plea bargaining is one of the tactics lawyers use to mitigate the consequences of an accused actions.
Why wouldn't he try it? It's an obvious and easy first step. Maybe if the prosecutor has bigger fish to fry he can clear his desk of
this situation without much work and move on to more serious issues. I have no idea of the prosecutors work load, but it's worth
a try. As well, the judge signaled that the court sees Sherman as an otherwise upstanding member of the community when he was
released without bail so to the prosecutor it may look like Sherman would get a lighter sentence than asked anyway.

Well, I am mistaken in one regard. One of the crimes Sherman is charged with is 3rd degree malicious mischief, is a gross misdemeanor and is punishable from 0-60 days in jail. I can understand trying to make a plea deal on that charge, although it's still not clear to me how pleading guilty is going to help in negotiating a lower sentence. The sentencing on the DUI charge is dependent on the BAC from the toxicology report not due for a few weeks, so maybe that one makes sense, too, although there's some pretty strict sentencing guidelines and not a lot of wiggle room for a judge or prosecutor.

It just seems to me that after making his heartfelt apology that Sherman is being a bit hypocritical by saying that he's not guilty. Additionally, pleading guilty and throwing yourself to the mercy of the court can have its advantages, especially in a case like this when the evidence is so overwhelming. A judge may appreciate the defense not wasting the court's time by going to trial and the admission and expression of remorse may gain the client more sympathy from the prosecutor and judge and cause them to opt for a lighter sentence than they would by entering a not guilty plea.

[NorthHawk]

I'm sure he has one of the better lawyers in the area to defend him and I doubt that lawyer would play lawyer games if there wasn't a possibility or maybe
probability of a lighter sentence by doing so. Maybe it will work to Sherman's advantage and maybe it won't. We'll see how it all turns out.

[RiverDog]

I'm sure he has one of the better lawyers in the area to defend him and I doubt that lawyer would play lawyer games if there wasn't a possibility or maybe probability of a lighter sentence by doing so. Maybe it will work to Sherman's advantage and maybe it won't. We'll see how it all turns out.

Oh, I realize that, and I'm fully aware that I am in no way qualified to render an opinion, I'm just thinking out loud. Like I said earlier, I'm trying to learn something from all of this.

If Sherman were a politician rather than an athlete, issuing that tear jerking statement then pleading not innocent to all of the charges would give his critics a field day.

[NorthHawk]

Apparently he was suicidal last December and the family got an Extreme Risk Protection Order which doesn't seem too common according to this article.
I hope medications can keep him stable with his struggles in life.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... nd-others/

[obiken]

I dont know, I guess being a First Ballot HoFamer is not all its cracked up to be. I just have no frame of reference as a 65 year old outta shape fat man!

[RiverDog]

Apparently he was suicidal last December and the family got an Extreme Risk Protection Order which doesn't seem too common according to this article.
I hope medications can keep him stable with his struggles in life.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... nd-others/

Sherman does not fit the profile of a person with serious mental difficulties, or at least that of which I think of when you hear of someone that's mentally ill. He's obviously not a drug addict, or else he wouldn't be able to pass the rigorous testing regime that the league imposes on its players, and he's intellectually sharp, having graduated from Stanford where they don't give free passes to jocks.

I do know of some people that were mentally stable until they experienced a very traumatic event, like the death of a loved one, a divorce, or getting fired at work. I had 3 friends at work who seemed to be very stable individuals that ended up committing suicide. Two were having marriage difficulties and the other was about to be charged with a sexual crime that later turned out to be completely bogus. I'm wondering if Sherman didn't experience some sort of tragedy or ego jarring event that caused him to snap.

[Hawktawk]

Sherman does not fit the profile of a person with serious mental difficulties, or at least that of which I think of when you hear of someone that's mentally ill. He's obviously not a drug addict, or else he wouldn't be able to pass the rigorous testing regime that the league imposes on its players, and he's intellectually sharp, having graduated from Stanford where they don't give free passes to jocks.

I do know of some people that were mentally stable until they experienced a very traumatic event, like the death of a loved one, a divorce, or getting fired at work. I had 3 friends at work who seemed to be very stable individuals that ended up committing suicide. Two were having marriage difficulties and the other was about to be charged with a sexual crime that later turned out to be completely bogus. I'm wondering if Sherman didn't experience some sort of tragedy or ego jarring event that caused him to snap.

Based on my viewing of the Al Jazeera video that implicated Manning among many other sports figures I think the NFL drug testing policy is a joke. They are tested once a year, they know when its coming. The test they administer for HGH is so weak its got to be administered within a couple hours of ingesting ther drug or is not going to detect it.I bet half the linemen in the league are on it at least.

The thing with Sherman, having danced with the devil alcohol my entire adult life...If you can down 2 bottles of whiskey that's 36 shots and walk and sort of drive you are a chronic hardened alcoholic or you would be dead or hospitalized . that's about .4 worth of alcohol minus the time frame consumed. hes really got a bad problem. He couldn't have hid it his whole career or performed at a high level either. Its sad. One of the great shutdown corners of all time, made the biggest play in team history. I pray for his health.

[RiverDog]

Based on my viewing of the Al Jazeera video that implicated Manning among many other sports figures I think the NFL drug testing policy is a joke. They are tested once a year, they know when its coming. The test they administer for HGH is so weak its got to be administered within a couple hours of ingesting ther drug or is not going to detect it.I bet half the linemen in the league are on it at least.

If Sherman had a substance abuse problem it would have been picked up by team doctors. They'll be the first ones to know if he has something in his blood stream that shouldn't be there.

The thing with Sherman, having danced with the devil alcohol my entire adult life...If you can down 2 bottles of whiskey that's 36 shots and walk and sort of drive you are a chronic hardened alcoholic or you would be dead or hospitalized . that's about .4 worth of alcohol minus the time frame consumed. hes really got a bad problem. He couldn't have hid it his whole career or performed at a high level either. Its sad. One of the great shutdown corners of all time, made the biggest play in team history. I pray for his health.

I don't necessarily believe that Sherman had as much to drink as his wife indicated. I don't know if the toxicology reports will be made public or not, but if he had as much as his wife claims he had, he'll have had over twice the legal limit and any DUI charges will be elevated, so we'll see.

I agree with the rest of your statement.

[Hawktawk]

He drove into an active construction zone and hit a barrier then drove the wrecked car away. His driving, his statements and later actions make clear that he was probably well over twice the legal limit, maybe 3 times over. My guess is he was at least .3 at some point. By the time of his arrest he was down a few points im sure with the time lapse but I have no trouble believing these were the actions of a man who had drank a couple fifths.

As for your continued claims of team physicians being able to root out drug abuse I have 2 words. Aaron Hernandez who smoked PCP laced blunts daily and we know how it turned out. Most teams and certainly the league dont give a rip what someone's on, just dont get caught and embarrass us and get the congress involved. We want big and fast.
LT was a poster child for cocaine abuse. No big. I've heard a fable about Joe Cool testing positive for coke before a super bowl and the league covering it up.Who knows but I wouldnt doubt it. I think the league is a joke when it comes to policing drugs. If you get in the system then yes there's oversight and punishment ala Josh Gordon etc but if you haven't been popped its a joke.

[RiverDog]

He drove into an active construction zone and hit a barrier then drove the wrecked car away. His driving, his statements and later actions make clear that he was probably well over twice the legal limit, maybe 3 times over. My guess is he was at least .3 at some point. By the time of his arrest he was down a few points im sure with the time lapse but I have no trouble believing these were the actions of a man who had drank a couple fifths.

As for your continued claims of team physicians being able to root out drug abuse I have 2 words. Aaron Hernandez who smoked PCP laced blunts daily and we know how it turned out. Most teams and certainly the league dont give a rip what someone's on, just dont get caught and embarrass us and get the congress involved. We want big and fast.
LT was a poster child for cocaine abuse. No big. I've heard a fable about Joe Cool testing positive for coke before a super bowl and the league covering it up.Who knows but I wouldnt doubt it. I think the league is a joke when it comes to policing drugs. If you get in the system then yes there's oversight and punishment ala Josh Gordon etc but if you haven't been popped its a joke.

Let's put a pencil to this. A 200 pound man (Sherman weighs 205 lbs) can have 3 drinks of 1.5 ounces of 80 proof hard liquor within an hour and his BAC would be .08-1.0 or legally drunk. Five drinks, or 7.5 ounces, about a third of the 25.5 ounce fifth, puts him at .15, just under twice the legal limit. Times that by 3 for the entire bottle and he's at a .45% BAC. The charts say that loss of consciousness begins at .25-.40 and above that the body shuts down and goes into a coma.

Obviously there are variables, such as the amount of time it took him to consume that much...the human body processes alcohol at a rate of about .02% per hour if you don't have anything more to drink...if he had anything to eat, what, if anything, he was using as a mixer, and there are differences in human anatomy and the way the body processes alcohol. But two fifths, over 50 ounces?

I'm not saying that Sherman wasn't extremely drunk, but if I had to bet, I'd say that his BAC was no more than .25% when we saw him in the video, probably more like a .15-.20. That's still over twice the the legal limit. There's no way that Sherman could have had two fifths and was still in the condition we saw him in on the video of him trying to break down the door at his FIL's place no matter what the other factors were. His wife is mistaken.