‘Slight’ fuels 49ers’ Sherman

Why did 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman say Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t shake his hand during Monday’s pregame coin toss when that wasn’t accurate?

Sherman’s answer Thursday wasn’t surprising to those who have followed the career of the fifthround pick who has used slights — real and imagined — to fuel him throughout his AllPro career.

“Because that’s what I thought happened,” Sherman said. “That’s what I remember happening. He stood back. And I said it the way I remembered it. And I took it as disrespect. And I took it out on him. As I should have.”

So Sherman felt disrespected by a handshake that happened? He was asked if he was good at conjuring up ways to feel disrespected. He smiled. “Oh, 100 percent,” Sherman said. “You could say they are wearing different color jerseys and it could be like, ‘Oh my God. That’s a slight. They don’t respect us.’ But that’s what you do in football.

“There are plays where a guy will run a play toward a guy. A run play, he’ll run it to the right and, say (Rams AllPro defensive tackle) Aaron Donald is on the right, and they run it at Aaron Donald. And he can take it as disrespect. ‘Hey, they don’t respect me.’ So you get hyped up and you take it out on people.”

For the record, Sherman said he’s reached out and apologized to Mayfield. And he doesn’t feel bad about saying Mayfield didn’t shake his hand even though Mayfield shook his hand.

“I don’t feel any embarrassment,” Sherman said. “I really don’t care at all. I spoke to Baker about it. We cleared it up. He’s good. I’m good.”