PHOENIX -- A picture may be worth a thousand words, but Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman believes one photo in particular may be worth more.
Sherman doesn't think the NFL will discipline the New England Patriots if they're found to have adjusted the air pressure in 11 footballs prior to last Sunday's AFC Championship Game, because of the relationship between commissioner Roger Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
On Sunday, during the first Super Bowl media availability at the Arizona Grand Resort, he cited a photograph that included Goodell and Kraft from a party at Kraft's house the night before the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots posted the photo to their official Twitter account:
Scenes from the AFC Championship party & special live edition of Patriots All Access at Robert Kraft's house tonight pic.twitter.com/SAFn5WzHWy
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 18, 2015"Will they be punished? Probably not," Sherman said. "Not as long as Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell are still taking pictures at their respective homes.
"You talk about conflict of interest. As long as that happens, it won't affect them at all. Nothing will stop them."
Sherman doesn't think there's much of a difference between the perception of the Patriots and the reality of how close they get to toeing the line on the rules.
"Their résumé speaks for itself," Sherman said. "You talk about getting close to the line, this and that. I don't really have a comment about that. Their past is what their past is. Their present is what their present is."
Sherman had plenty of other things to say at his availability, including telling a reporter he doesn't "really answer preschool questions" when he was asked if he's the best cornerback in the NFL.
Initially, he was asked to compare himself to Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis. Sherman wasn't biting, including saying his "preschool questions" answer didn't have a hidden message.
"I wasn't intimating anything," Sherman said. "I like journalists. I don't like people who just throw out dumb questions and try to incite controversy and let the story write itself.
"I like people who dig deep and research and actually have some journalistic credibility."