Super Bowl champ turned cop says NFL's 'political stances,' COVID policies drove him to retire​: 'The Lord showed me the door'



A former NFL player and Super Bowl champion said recently that the NFL's growing support for progressive politics played a major part in his decision to retire and begin a new chapter of life.

Just over two years ago, former Kansas City Chiefs fullback Anthony "Sausage" Sherman was celebrating with his teammates after winning the Super Bowl. Now, he is using his skills to fight crime and rescue sex-trafficking victims as a part-time sheriff's deputy in Bourbon County, Kansas, and a task force officer with the Department of Homeland Security's investigations unit.

When Sgt. Sean "Sticks" Larkin, host of the Law & Crime network’s "Coptales and Cocktails" podcast, asked if he missed playing in the league, Sherman replied, "I don’t."

"My goal was 10 [years]. I got 10 — and the Lord showed me the door with all of the political stances the NFL was making, the COVID policies, all of this nonsense. He was like, 'Hey, I’m going to make it easy for you. I gave you 10 and then head on down the road.' Then he opened up another door with all this law enforcement stuff and it’s been a good transition so far," Sherman explained.

Through its "Inspire Change" social justice program, the NFL has in recent years been funneling massive amounts of money to organizations that explicitly call for the defunding of police departments across the country.

Super Bowl Champ Anthony "Sausage" Sherman | Coptales & Cocktails Podcast www.youtube.com

But the retired athlete was careful to note that his outspoken support for law enforcement didn't cause any problems in the locker room.

"I kind of had one of those, like, ‘this is who Sherman was, this who Sherman is, like, leave him alone,'" he said. "He’s going to have his opinion, and he’s not going to change his mind about it — any aspect of that. I kind of demanded — not demanded, but had a respect in the locker room, that it wasn’t, 'Oh, geez, here comes Sherman,' whatever. It was kind of one of those things where it was, I am who I am, and if you don’t like it, then we don’t have to talk. I’ve got my friends. I don’t need many more."

Sherman added that politics didn't get in the way of his team's ultimate goal, adding that as a whole they were unified and focused on achieving success on the field.

"The locker room was great," Sherman said. "Everyone loves each other regardless of where you grew up, how you grew up, where you went to school, whatever it is. It was, we have one goal and it’s to win the Super Bowl, and I don’t care what has to happen, but we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna accomplish it together."

He said the coaches and management created a culture of "you do your own thing outside the building, but when we're in the building, this is what our goal is and we're going to go get it."

Elsewhere in the podcast, Sherman shared how a sex-trafficking presentation during his NFL career inspired him to get involved in law enforcement, specifically to help victims.

"I want to be able to help the people that can't help themselves," Sherman said.

The athlete wore a tactical vest and introduced his line of work in his retirement announcement video last April.

Welcome to the law enforcement community and we look forward to working with you to #endhumantrafficking @shermanator_42.https://twitter.com/Shermanator_42/status/1367608155883118593\u00a0\u2026
— HSI Kansas City (@HSI Kansas City) 1619638982

Photos appear to show NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins giving Trump supporters two middle fingers



Photos appear to show an NFL player giving Trump supporters the middle finger as he drove past in a sports car on Arizona's I-10 highway Sunday.

Multiple reports indicate that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, 28, appeared to flip off a miles-long caravan of Trump supporters as he drove past in his Ferrari on the way to State Farm Stadium for Sunday night's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

According to KSAZ-TV, a caravan of people supporting President Donald Trump for re-election rallied that day on several Arizona highways, including I-17, Loop 101, 202, and I-10.

#NEW Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins seemingly gives the bird to Trump supporters on I-10 https://t.co/8AviD7xt6y
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX 10 Phoenix)1603673100.0

Hopkins was reportedly seen driving past the caravan, making obscene gestures along the way, around 1:30 p.m. According to the Arizona Republic, Hopkins was wearing a distinctive shirt that he was seen wearing when he arrived at the stadium later that afternoon.

Members of the pro-Trump caravan accused Hopkins of driving recklessly, speeding and swerving in and out of the caravan line.

"It's scary when they are coming up fast and swerving into you," April Garcia, one of the drivers in the caravan, said. She also noted other "intolerant" people threw water and other objects at the Trump supporters.

Others on social media called out Hopkins for his behavior.

@DeAndreHopkins My 8 yr old son was in one of the cars you were swerving in and out of as you were disrupting the P… https://t.co/htq2TtbLDS
— Richard Williams (@Richard Williams)1603663687.0

So far neither the Cardinals nor the Arizona Department of Public Safety have released a statement about the incident, KSAZ reported.

The Cardinals beat the formerly undefeated Seahawks Sunday night 37-34. Hopkins, one of the NFL's best wide receivers, ended the game with 10 receptions for 103 yards, scoring one touchdown.

Hopkins is a vocal Black Lives Matter supporter and critic of President Trump.

In June, Hopkins starred in a video along with other NFL stars including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Cleveland Browns receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, and others condemning police brutality after the death of George Floyd.

"How many times do we need to ask you to listen to your players? What will it take? For one of us to be murdered by police brutality?" the players asked the league.

StrongTogether🖤 https://t.co/A6A0Fa2v7N
— Deshaun Watson (@Deshaun Watson)1591319233.0

"I am George Floyd," Hopkins and the others said.

Back in 2018, Hopkins, then playing for the Houston Texans, said Trump is too "closed-minded" to understand the NFL national anthem protests.

"I think Trump is more closed-minded and he thinks the reason that we're kneeling is because of the flag," Hopkins told TMZ Sports. "When that's like not at all the reason we're kneeling. I kneeled last year and one of my best friends is a Purple Heart veteran and my uncle is a Purple Heart veteran and they understand that it's not about the flag."