PHOENIX - Relishing no longer being in the villain role, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is painting his teams Super Bowl opponent as occupying that position. Sam Bennett Jersey .He also doubts that the Patriots will be punished by the NFL if they are found guilty of doctoring footballs in the AFC championship game.I think the perception is the reality, Sherman said Sunday after the defending champions arrived in Phoenix. It is what it is. Their resume speaks for itself. The past is what the past is. Their present is what their present is. And, will they be punished? Probably not.The All-Pro cited NFL Commissioner Roger Goodells close relationship with New England owner Robert Kraft as his main reason for being skeptical.Not as long as Robert Kraft and Roger Goodell are still taking pictures at their respective homes. He was just at Krafts house last week for the AFC championship, Sherman added. You talk about conflict of interest.But as long as that happens, it wont affect them at all. Nothing will.Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Saturday the team followed every rule to the letter in preparing footballs on game day. New England arrives in Phoenix on Monday as the leagues investigation into under-inflated balls continues.This is the second Super Bowl in which accusations of cheating have followed the Patriots. During their unbeaten 2007 regular season, they were fined $250,000 and Belichick was docked $500,000 for spying on New York Jets coaches signals. New England lost to the New York Giants in that Super Bowl.For many of the Seahawks, the focus on football deflation is a non-topic. Quarterback Russell Wilson brushed aside questions about the subject the way he escapes onrushing defenders. All-Pro safety Earl Thomas admitted he knew nothing at all about it: Ive been in my own little world. I dont watch TV too much.Sherman, as always, was not reticent about discussing it.I think more people might be inclined to root for us, to see history made, Sherman said, noting the Seahawks are seeking to become the first repeat champions in a decade — when the Patriots did it. I guess the controversy gives us a little edge in that respect.When it was revealed that some of the Patriots footballs were under-inflated in the AFC championship, Sherman said I didnt think it was a big deal at the time.Its a big deal, Sherman added, laughing.The edge that Sherman plays with has helped him become one of the premier players in pro football. It also catapulted him into that villain role last year after his rant against 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree following the NFC title game.He didnt understand the reaction.To be painted villains I guess you need to do something heinous, he said, and I didnt. You learn a lot about people around you and about society.While he was at it, Sherman also criticized the NFL for not coming through on the booty he is entitled to for being selected to the Pro Bowl. Players who make the Super Bowl are replaced for the Pro Bowl.Only thing Im disappointed about is that we didnt get our gifts from the Pro Bowl, he said. Which is kind of dumb; the NFL is the only league that punishes the players who actually make the all-stars by not giving them their gifts.He believed the gifts included watches and stuff.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Michael Stone Jersey . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Dalton Prout Jersey . Its other five picks were all six foot or better, with three at 6-1 or above. Third-round pick Brett Lernout stands six foot four and weighs 206 pounds. http://www.officialflamesfanstore.com/authentic-mikael-backlund-flames-jersey/ . The 31-year-old, a two-time CFL lineman of the year, was among the most coveted free agents on the market. The Windsor, Ont., native will be especially important to a team that has lost veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo to retirement and is expected to go with the less experienced Troy Smith and Tanner Marsh this season.Former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma is among six front-runners the Florida Panthers will be sitting down with this week to discuss the vacant head coaching job, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Panthers braintrust is in New York City to interview Bylsma for the first time this week, while the other five candidates have all met or spoke to general manager Dale Tallon about the position. According to the paper, this weeks interviews will also include team co-owners Vinnie Viola and Doug Cifu, as well as CEO and President Rory Babich. As mentioned by TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger last week, the other leading candidates are believed to include Ron Wilson, Canadiens assistant Gerard Gallant and Red Wings assistants Tom Renney and Bill Peters. The Panthers fired interim coach Peter Horachek in April after Florida went 26-36-4 under himm this past season. Noah Hanifin Jersey. Horachek had no previous NHL coaching experience before replacing Kevin Dineen on Nov. 8. The Sun Sentinel also reported on Tuesday the Panthers were leaning toward selecting OHL Barrie Colts defenceman Aaron Ekblad with the first overall selection in the NHL Draft on June 27 because hes considered the most NHL-ready of the prospects. "Ekblad is this years player most likely ready to step in and play in the NHL, Scott Luce, the Panthers director of scouting, told the Sun Sentinel last week. "Hes physically mature and has lots of mileage underneath him at the OHL level. The Panthers finished 29th in the standings and had an 18.8 per cent chance of winning the lottery, behind only Buffalo (21-51-10), which had a 25 per cent shot. The draft will be held in Philadelphia on June 27-28. Cheap Throwback Baseball Detroit Tigers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Colorado Rockies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Houston Astros Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Kansas City Royals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Angels Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Miami Marlins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Minnesota Twins Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Mets Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball New York Yankees Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Oakland Athletics Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Diego Padres Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball San Francisco Giants Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Seattle Mariners Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Texas Rangers Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Washington Nationals Jerseys ' ' '