Richard Sherman demonstrates on John Brown, Carson Palmer, Cardinals, officials in eventful Sunday

So what had Richard Sherman back in his old, trash-talking, opponent-baiting ways during the Seahawks’ blowout at Arizona Sunday?

This.

Seattle’s All-Pro and Pro Bowl cornerback yapped Sunday at quarterback Carson Palmer – who was on the Cardinals’ bench – and about Arizona receiver John Brown’s proclaiming in August on Phoenix radio he didn’t think Sherman could cover him one on one. Brown had four catches on 11 targets, for 14, inconsequential yards Sunday against the Seahawks’ mostly zone defense. Sherman’s most outstanding play ended Arizona’s first drive. He leaped and knocked away Palmer’s deep, third-down pass to Michael Floyd.

In the third quarter, Sherman yelled across the line at the Cardinals -- then squatted in a demonstration that looked a lot like teammate and wide receiver’s Baldwin’s toilet-squat celebration in the end zone inside the same stadium during February’s Super Bowl.

Sherman said, no, his act was to demonstrate Palmer was sitting on the bench, like Brown a non-factor. Officials didn’t appreciate the nuance and flagged Sherman for an unsportsmanlike penalty.

"That Brown kid said I couldn’t guard him one on one. Laughable," Sherman said.

Yes, Seattle’s swagger is intact for the postseason.

Sherman had a eventful Sunday.

When officials only flagged Seahawks’ defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin in the first quarter for an obvious face mask on running back David Johnson during a carry after Palmer lobbied the umpire for a penalty, Sherman argued with the officials and pointed at Palmer. He then got flagged for an illegal block to negate an early, 22-yard punt return by Tyler Lockett. When the zooming Lockett took off on a 66-yard punt return later in the first half, Sherman thought the flag at his feet at the start of the return was on him. He hopped up and down and complained to the official -- only to learn a moment later the flag was on Arizona’s Brittan Golden for what was called a facemask, but what looked like Golden pulling Sherman by his dreadlocked hair while they were engaged in a block.

Sherman talked about that last scene here following the game:

Back to chatty normal for Sherman, and the Seahawks’ defense entering Sunday’s playoff opener at Minnesota.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 5:36 AM with the headline "Richard Sherman demonstrates on John Brown, Carson Palmer, Cardinals, officials in eventful Sunday."