3-Wide: Is Richard Sherman overrated?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Do you agree with Antonio Cromartie's comments that Richard Sherman is overrated?
Arun Srinivasan: Absolutely not. Sherman is the best, or at worst, one of the three best cornerbacks in the league. In Seattle's Cover 3 scheme, Sherman is designated to lock down one side of the field with free safety Earl Thomas providing deep coverage if his partner gets beat. It makes no sense for Sherman to compromise the integrity of the league's best defense because Cromartie wants a headline. It's also interesting he makes that assertion when Patrick Peterson got roasted routinely by team's top receivers in 2014, while he got the second assignment.
Dan Wilkins: No. Sherman only playing one side of the field will always be used against him, but it's more of an excuse for those so intent on criticizing him than it is a knock on his play. He doesn't follow the receiver because he doesn't have to within the Seahawks' defensive scheme, and the production he's managed despite teams avoiding him at all costs tells you everything you need to know. He's the best in the game.
David P. Woods: Sure, but only insofar as Sherman isn't as good as Darrelle Revis was in his prime (which may have been the crux of Cromartie's argument). The real question here is why the NFL's best cornerbacks feel the need to call each other out so much for matters beyond their control. Imagine if Joe Thomas called out Tyron Smith for always lining up on the left side of the line and not always engaging the opponent's best pass rusher. That would be stupid.
Will Adrian Peterson and the Vikings contend for an NFC North title?
Wilkins: Now having found their quarterback and put together a second consecutive strong draft, the Vikings should contend for the NFC North title at some point within the next few years. Expecting them to do so this season, however, is just too soon. With the NFL's best quarterback at the helm, the Green Bay Packers remain the team to beat in that division, whether Adrian Peterson is back with the Vikings or not. Don't rule out a wild-card berth, though.
Woods: Barring a long-term injury to Aaron Rodgers, the Vikings won't sniff the NFC North crown. They may not for a while, either. Signs point to Peterson having another monster season, but he's 30 years old and Father Time is undefeated. The end may not come this year for Peterson, but it will come soon enough. Teddy Bridgewater looks like a long-term starter, but his upside remains limited. In a division with Rodgers, that's a problem. The Packers, on the other hand, have their key pieces locked up and should remain the team to beat for the next half-decade.
Srinivasan: Not in 2015, but they certainly will in the following years. The Vikings aced the draft and built an underrated defense with no real discernible weakness. Minnesota could contend for a playoff berth if Bridgewater continues to rapidly improve. However, Green Bay is firing on all cylinders and may be the presumptive Super Bowl contenders. It's more likely that Peterson leads the Vikings to the playoffs with a herculean effort, mirroring his 2012 MVP season.
Outside of Los Angeles, which U.S. city would make the best home for an NFL franchise?
Wilkins: Los Angeles is clearly the No. 1 priority and most viable option at this point, but San Antonio has to be a leader among the rest. Texas could undoubtedly support a third NFL franchise, and there's already a stadium in place to house a team until a new one is built. Though any option other than Los Angeles will remain unlikely for years to come, San Antonio's interest in the Raiders has made it clear they're serious about landing a team at some point in the future.
Woods: It probably won't ever happen given the NFL's strong distaste for gambling, but Las Vegas would be a heck of a lot of fun. The season-ticket base would probably be small, but tourists would flock to the stadium on Sundays. And imagine how crazy a Las Vegas-based Super Bowl would be. It's the only city on the continent capable of giving New Orleans a run for its money when it comes to pre- and post-game festivities.
Srinivasan: Portland is an excellent sports town, with the Moda Center continually providing the NBA's Trail Blazers with one of the best home court advantages due to their exceptionally loud fan base. The Pacific Northwest is largely unexplored with the exception of Seattle and it could provide a real alternative for many unaffiliated NFL fans. Hipsters and coffee enthusiasts like sports too, and the NFL should seriously consider relocating or awarding a franchise to the 22nd-largest media market in the United States.