Richard Sherman: Patriots won't be punished because of 'conflict of interest'

PHOENIX — The first shot by Richard Sherman during Super Bowl week has been fired.

The Seattle Seahawks cornerback, in the team's introductory media news conference on Sunday, was asked about potential discipline that could come down on their Super Bowl counterparts, the New England Patriots, in response to the deflate-gate incident.

Sherman, as expected, threw a haymaker at the NFL, the New England Patriots, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and league commissioner Roger Goodell.

"I think perception is reality. It is what it is," Sherman said. "Their resume speaks for itself. 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.

"Will they be punished? Probably not. Not as long Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell are still taking pictures at their respective homes. [Goodell] was just at Kraft’s house last week before the AFC championship. Talk about conflict of interest. As long as that happens, it won’t affect them at all.”

Well, now.

In case you were not aware, Goodell and Kraft were photographed together before last week's AFC championship game, underlying what many have said before: that Goodell and the NFL owners (especially certain ones) are far too cozy for comfort.

The deflated balls story has been going on now for a week strong. And now a new chapter has been written by Sherman a day before the Patriots are scheduled to arrive and speak to the media.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm