THE FRONT ROW WITH BRUCE BOURQUIN: Jan. 25, 2014

It's understandable that Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman might be the most hated player in the NFL right now.

He doesn't stop talking on the field.

When he makes a play, he makes sure that you don't forget it.

But could he really be the smartest player in the league also?

IN THE time since Sherman deflected a pass from San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick intended for Michael Crabtree into the hands of Malcolm Smith, everyone in the world has weighed in with their thoughts.

"He's an absolute jerk."

"No class."

"When did they move the stadium outside of Fife?"

O.K., that last one might not be totally accurate.

Granted, the way he approached his postgame interview wasn't the best way to handle it, but what else did you expect? He just made the play of his career, getting his team into the Super Bowl for the first time in eight years.

What has unfolded since has been countless stories on television, from CNN to other news stations that could be talking about other news going on in the world.

On Friday, Sherman was fined $7,875 by the NFL for taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct.

With all the media attention that comes with the Super Bowl media day, almost anyone with a pulse can find a way to get an interview with players from either the Denver Broncos or Seahawks.

I'd bet Sherman, who graduated from Stanford, won't be hearing the end of this anytime soon.

LOST FOR this week at least, has been the talk that Seattle's offense can't keep up with Denver in the Super Bowl, or that Russell Wilson's struggles will wind up dooming them come next Sunday's Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

But that will likely get brought back up.

Sherman, to his credit, admitted he was wrong and apologized to his teammates for taking away from what they accomplished by knocking off the 49ers last Sunday to advance.

But that might have been unnecessary.

Sherman plays with a lot of intensity, as does everyone else that plays a sport.

There has been a few times that had I talked to a coach less than a minute after a game, and the comments have gone on the cutting board.

Not that it's wrong, but putting a live camera in the face of a player, sometimes you get a little more than you bargained for.

NORMALLY THE week between the championship games and Super Bowl are quiet, but not this time.

There's so much interest - or so it seems - on just what Sherman will do next.

Can he really back up all of this attention and talk of being the best in the world right now.

Who knows?

But at this point, he's got everyone talking about him.

And it could be the smartest thing he's ever done.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.