Despite a Twitter war of words over who was the best cornerback in the league, Seattle’s Richard Sherman says he’s got no beef with former Jet and current Buccaneer Darrelle Revis.
“We’ve had a few conversations,’’ Sherman said. “He’s a great guy and we squashed all the nonsense. As a corner, at the cornerback position, I think every one of them out there is going to say that they’re the best. … Now they may not go out and say it out loud and proclaim it like I do, but I’m 100 percent sure they feel that way.’’
Injured Broncos make it to NJ
The entire Broncos team did not arrive in New Jersey until Thursday night. Players on injured reserve like defensive end Von Miller and cornerback Chris Harris stayed in Denver this week before joining their teammates for the final few days of Super Bowl preparation.
“We took the approach with the IR guys, they’ll come in [Thursday]. They’ll stay at the team hotel. They’ll be with the team,” coach John Fox said. “We have a pretty large group we’re managing, with practice squad, as well as our 53-man active roster during the week, and they’re all, not all of them, but most of them have the opportunity to play in the game.
“So I think the organization, Pat Bowlen and John Elway, I’ve been places where they didn’t even bring them today. They get a chance to enjoy the experience. They, of course, sacrificed and have committed something to that effort, and they’ll get here today.”
Avril trying to get from bottom to top
Seahawks DE Cliff Avril says, “As a young guy, you don’t understand how tough it is to win in this league, so that’s what makes it even more of a bigger deal, because you’ve been to the bottom and you know how hard it is to win.’’
Avril has certainly been at the bottom. He was a rookie in 2008 when the Lions became the first team in NFL history to complete a season 0-16.
“I’ve been at the bottom, the very bottom,’’ said Avril, who after five years with the Lions came to the Seahawks this season and had eight sacks. “I didn’t understand it because I was a rookie, I was just trying to get on the field, just trying to make an impact as much as possible and then it was in the offseason I realized ‘Wow, we didn’t win any games, nobody’s ever done that before.’ That’s when I realized how terrible it was.’’
So we meet again?
The Broncos and Seahawks met in the preseason. Is there anything to be gained from that?
“I think more than anybody, all of our skill players and our offensive linemen, it benefits them in the fact that it’s not the first time they’ve at least seen a lot of these guys,” Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. “D.T. [WR Demaryius Thomas] and [WR Eric] Decker, Bubba [WR Andre Caldwell, they’ve at least gone against [Seattle CB Richard] Sherman. I know it’s preseason, but at least they’ve seen him in person.”
Hauschka tests out MetLife
With the Seahawks practicing at the Giants training facility so close, place kicker Steven Hauschka ventured across the parking lot to attempt a few kicks inside MetLife Stadium on Wednesday.
“There’s a lot of staff there, thousands of people at the stadium preparing the event,” Hauschka said. “It did kind of feels different there than it would at a normal stadium.”
Per NFL rules, both teams and punters are allotted time to kick at the stadium before game day.
Get to know
Seahawks TE Zach Miller: Signed after four productive seasons in Oakland, where he caught at least 56 passes three straight seasons, the 6-foot-5, 256-pound veteran is a bit more of a blocker in the Seahawks’ scheme.
He caught only 33 passes this regular season, but he tied Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin with a team-high five touchdown receptions. He hasn’t been much of a factor this postseason — with a combined four catches for 36 yards — in the Seahawks’ two wins. But in the postseasons last year, the Arizona product was Seattle’s leading receiver with 12 catches for 190 yards in two games.
He’s also somewhat familiar with the Broncos, having played seven games against them during his time with the Raiders.
Boldface prediction
Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers goaltender: “Broncos, 24-17. I like Manning. I think he’s such a great competitor. I have a lot of respect for him as an athlete. I hope he’ll win it.”
Quote of the day
“Today I’ll start Googling him and doing all types of stuff to guide out his personal life. I want to know everything about him. Just everything, from his favorite food to his favorite color, where he grew up at, how many siblings he has. I want to know everything about him, and I’ll probably talk a little smack Sunday.”
— Broncos DT Terrance Knighton, on Seahawks center Max Unger, whom he will match up against
Super forecast
Mainly cloudy with a morning shower, then mostly cloudy for the game.
Winds: 8 mph
High 49; Low 28
Chance of snow: 10 percent