DeAngelo Hall: Saying Richard Sherman is best CB in NFL is ‘screwed’

DeAngelo Hall recognizes that Richard Sherman has had two terrific seasons, but he’s not prepared to call the Seattle Seahawks corner the best cornerback in the NFL. In fact, he says making such a proclamation is “screwed.”

Hall, who has made the Pro Bowl three times in his 10 seasons, believes Sherman benefits from having a very strong supporting cast and favorable system in Seattle. He shared his thoughts during an interview Tuesday with Grant and Danny on 106.7 The Fan in DC.

“I definitely think he’s the best at what they want him to do, what they ask him to do,” Hall told 106.7 The Fan’s Grant and Danny on Tuesday. “To sit there and say he’s the best corner in the game is probably not fair because of what their defense asks him to do.

“They play a lot of Cover 3, but their Cover 3 is predicated on their corners pressing,” Hall told the hosts. “All their linebackers still drop in coverage, obviously they have a heck of a rush, they have probably the best safety in the game; actually, two safeties, because I love Kam Chancellor.”

Hall makes a great point that others have also noted. But can you hold it against Sherman that he’s playing extremely well just because he has great teammates?

“To say he’s the best corner in the game is a little bit, um … I guess screwed,” Hall said. “Because I love Patrick Peterson myself, personally, just things that guy does on the football field is just exciting. But you can’t deny Richard Sherman’s numbers. His numbers have been amazing.”

Hall doesn’t believe Sherman can’t become the best corner in the game, he just believes he needs to keep playing at a high level for more years.

“In this league man, it’s all about longevity,” Hall said. “This guy’s been in the league I think three years. Like I said, he’s probably put together two of the best years I’ve ever seen, numbers-wise, but in this league, to be on Champ [Bailey’s] level, the C. [Woodson’s] level, even Ronde [Barber] when he played, it’s about longevity, it’s about being able to keep this going, being able to adapt to receivers, adapt to different schemes, and being able to play different schemes.”

That’s fair. I still think — and the the numbers seem to show — that Sherman is the best corner in the game. Darrelle Revis is right up in that discussion as well. Like Hall, I want to see Sherman do it for a long time, but that won’t keep me from calling him the best in the game when he was the best in the league this season.

Helmet smack to Pro Football Talk