Sherman defends Bennett, calls police brutality 'an unfortunate part of life'
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman came to the defense of his teammate Michael Bennett, after the veteran lineman was detained by Las Vegas police on Aug. 26 following the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight.
Bennett alleged that police used excessive force on him and video emerged from the altercation.
Sherman empathized with Bennett but noted that celebrity wouldn't absolve either him or his teammate from encountering police brutality in the future.
"It's unfortunate," Sherman said via Stefanie Loh of The Seattle Times. "We're obviously happy he made it out. But, day in the life, though. I'm sure, as he said, it's something he's been through before and is going to have to go through again.
"No amount of money, no amount of fame or notoriety can keep you from things like that happening to you. It's just an unfortunate part of life."
Related: NFLPA executive director to meet with Bennett, issues statement
Sherman said he was profiled by police while growing up in Compton and said it's not rare for NFL players to experience racial inequality or police brutality before reaching the professional ranks.
Related: Seahawks' Carroll: Bennett incident with police 'the reality of inequality'
"Honestly, a lot of guys have dealt with this throughout their lives," Sherman said. "It's gonna happen to you at least once or twice in your life, maybe more. You've just got to respond to it the right way and try to stay clam and do everything they tell you to do. And hopefully they do the right thing. And thankfully, Mike did, and they allowed him to walk away."
"I pray that society gets to a place where this is a rarity, where this is obscene and this is outrageous and the entire world is outraged by it," Sherman later added. "I think there are some people that are outraged by it ... but a lot of people are quietly outraged by it. Silently outraged by it. Not a lot of people are actually doing things as if they happened to you."
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