San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo respond to critics and doubters very differently. The former welcomes a social-media debate with a Mike Florio or a Darrelle Revis. The latter -- well, you might sometimes forget he's even on social media.
They both hear their critics, though, loud and clear, and use their comments as motivation on the field. So go ahead, Revis, and criticize Sherman's play. Go ahead, Stephen A. Smith, and underestimate Garoppolo's contributions to the 49ers' success. San Francisco is in the Super Bowl, and players like Sherman and Garoppolo welcome the opportunity to prove their doubters wrong.
Sherman was asked last week why he seems to relish in those online debates.
"Because I enjoy seeing people be wrong and myself be right," Sherman responded.
It was an honest and direct response, as always, from the veteran cornerback. Perhaps it's how Garoppolo feels, as well. If it is, however, he doesn't show it the same way.
Despite helping guide the 49ers to the Super Bowl, Garoppolo's eight pass attempts in the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers have led many to doubt if head coach Kyle Shanahan trusts his quarterback to win big games. People are quick to forget Garoppolo outdueling New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the Superdome or helping beat the Seattle Seahawks on their home turf, something the 49ers hadn't done since the 2011 season.
In this what-have-you-done-lately league, the focus is on Garoppolo's last couple of games, and not the bigger picture. The bottom line? San Francisco wins with Garoppolo on the field and loses without him.
Garoppolo hears all of the criticism. It doesn't matter to the quarterback because the 49ers are winning. That has always been priority No. 1, whether it means eight pass attempts or 400-plus passing yards.
"Yeah, Sherm, everyone has different ways to get motivated," Garoppolo said last week, "and very similar to Sherm, I do the same thing. I hear all the stuff and everything, but you can't put that all out there all the time. You have to do with it what you will and take it for what it is. Just at the end of the day, you've got to go out there and play football."
Is Sherman surprised by the way Garoppolo reacts to the outside noise?
"No, it doesn't (surprise me)," Sherman said. "You don't become a great player by just letting people say whatever they want about you and not taking some of it as fuel.
"You just -- you know, everybody responds different. Everybody has different personalities, but you can tell by his play that he's heard it, and he's responded well."
