Sherman, Baldwin blast NFL over fine

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RENTON, Wash. -- Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and receiver Doug Baldwin did a parody in front of reporters Tuesday, making a point of criticizing the NFL over fining teammate Marshawn Lynch $100,000 for not talking to the media.

Sherman and Baldwin's little comedy routine focused on what they view as the NFL's hypocritical policies over what players can and cannot say.

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AP Photo/Tim BoothRichard Sherman performed a parody with Doug Baldwin, who crouched behind a cardboard cutout of himself, in order to criticize the NFL.

Sherman went to the lectern in the team's auditorium and stood next to a cardboard cutout of Baldwin, who was crouched behind it.

Sherman: "You know the other day, Marshawn Lynch got fined $100,000. Did you know that? They wouldn't have paid him $100,000 if he had talked [before the fine]. Doug, do you think they would have paid him?"

Baldwin: "No, they sure would not."

Sherman: "Geez, Louise. But you know who pays me a lot of money? Beats by Dre, the wonderful headphones I wear. But the league doesn't let me say anything about them. Doug, why is that?"

Baldwin: "I don't know. Sounds kind of hypocritical to me."

NFL policy states that players are not allowed to show or use items with non-NFL sponsor logos 90 minutes before or after games.

Sherman: "Yeah, it sounds a little bit hypocritical. It seems like we're in a league where they say, 'Players, please don't endorse any alcohol. No DUIs please.' But yet, a beer sponsor is their biggest sponsor. Doug, how do you feel about that?"

Baldwin: "Like I said, sounds very hypocritical."

Sherman: "Very, very interesting. It's crazy. In the offseason you get to wear Neff beanies, you get to eat Campbell's soup. My girl [girlfriend Ashley Lillian Moss] was sick this week, and we got some Campbell's soup in her. So kids, when you get sick, make sure you get some Campbell's soup."

Baldwin: "Speaking of health, how do you feel about the NFL making you play two games in five days?"

Sherman: "On my gosh, geez. I almost didn't realize that because they've been talking about players' safety so much. Two games in five days doesn't seem like you care about players' safety much. It's a little bit much for me. But Doug, you look pretty healthy to me. Looks like you've been eating good. What kind of sandwiches have you been having?"

Baldwin: "You know, I like to eat fresh, so I eat my Subway [the sandwich restaurant that makes his cutouts]. And I wash it down with a bottle of Martinelli's [apple juice and cider]."

Sherman: "Sounds like a great beverage. It's fun to use your time in the NFL for something you care about, right? Then you don't get fined $100,000. You don't get fined at all for this. This is how they want us to talk. This is what they want us to do. They want us to advertise, right, Doug?"

Baldwin: "Sounds about right to me."

Sherman: "Gotta make some money. Gotta not get fined. Any questions?"

Baldwin: "No. I don't think so."

Sherman and Baldwin walked off without answering questions. Sherman later apologized to reporters about it but said they wanted to make their point.

NFL players actually get 45 percent of the money generated from league endorsement deals, as that money then becomes part of the salary cap. A player like Sherman benefits indirectly from the league's Bose headphones deal and gets paid by Apple, which owns competitor Beats by Dre.

Sherman has also been a direct beneficiary of an NFL deal. He is the spokesman for Campbell's Chunky Soup, which is an official sponsor of the league.

ESPN.com's Darren Rovell contributed to this report.

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Terry Blount

ESPN Seattle Seahawks reporter

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• Covered the NFL at the Houston Post and Houston Chronicle, including eight Super Bowls
• Received Citation for Writing Excellence from Hearst Newspapers
• Also has covered NBA Finals, World Series, Finals Fours, Indy 500 and Daytona 500