Baldwin: Sherman's greatest asset is his greatest weakness

There may not be anyone as qualified to speak on Richard Sherman as Doug Baldwin. Teammates since their college days at Stanford, Baldwin reflected on the Seattle Seahawks' 2016 season recently and shared some pointed remarks on the erratic behavior of the outspoken cornerback.

During the season, Sherman tussled online with the wife of a kicker, battled with reporters, and had heated confrontations with teammates and coaches. Baldwin had an explanation for the behavior.

"I say that Sherm's greatest asset can also be his greatest weakness," Baldwin said on 710 ESPN Seattle on Wednesday, Sheil Kapadia of ESPN writes. "He's very smart. And sometimes he thinks he's smarter than he is. And I have no issues, qualms saying that, because I'll say that to his face.

"I love him to death because at times he is very considerate and very thoughtful, but other times he lets his pride get in the way. But that pride is the same thing that's propelled him to be the greatest corner in our game today."

Baldwin added that the Seahawks own a culture in which such incidents are not discouraged.

"Sherm might say something to (head coach Pete Carroll), to (general manager John Schneider), to myself, to (defensive coordinator Darrell Bevell) that on the outside, it may seem negative. But because of the chemistry that we have, because of the rapport and the relationships that we have within this team, it's not necessarily taken as a personal threat or a personal comment," Baldwin added.