While Deebo Samuel was later apologetic for getting into Jake Moody's face after missing three field goals, Richard Sherman felt the confrontation was necessary.
Understandably, there's a split of opinion regarding wide receiver Deebo Samuel and his sideline altercation with two of his specialist teammates, long-snapper Taybor Pepper and kicker Jake Moody, in the latter portion of the San Francisco 49ers' 23-20 Week 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On one hand, Samuel appeared as if he was losing his cool, taking out frustrations on a second-year kicker who was just returning from a lengthy absence because of a high-ankle sprain. Then, going after Pepper made things look even worse.
On the other, Samuel was voicing what many Niners fans were feeling: Missing three field goals in a contested game is absolutely unacceptable, no matter what the circumstances.
Pepper later revealed Samuel told Moody and the rest of special teams to "lock in," and Samuel also acknowledged how the kicker bounced back enough to notch the game-winning field goal with time expiring.
But, was Samuel in his right to confront Moody and Pepper under such circumstances?
Former San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman thinks so.
Richard Sherman on 49ers sideline scuffle: 'If you make a mistake, you are held accountable'
Speaking on his Richard Sherman Podcast, the perennial Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer didn't hold back from defending Samuel's actions.
“When Deebo Samuel goes up to him and says 'lock in', you don’t defend from that," Sherman declared. "You don’t get to defend him from accountability from the team."
You can see the abbreviated clip of Sherman discussing Samuel, Moody and Pepper here, and the full episode can be viewed below:
"If I give up a touchdown pass and one of my teammates say 'hey come on now, lock in,' somebody’s not going to come in and save me," Sherman continued. "You've got to be tough. This is the National Football League, if you make a mistake, you are held accountable, just like everybody else."
Sherman, who helped create the 49ers' current culture and played alongside Samuel for two seasons, certainly has a point. Samuel, a team captain, is responsible for motivating players under such circumstances, even if that motivation can come across as harsh.
Even if Moody was returning from injury, kickers are rarely granted extra chances after missing three kicks in a single game. Perhaps only the fact Moody was a third-round draftee in 2023 and not an unheralded undrafted free-agent signing is saving his roster spot.
Either way, coming from Sherman, one has to feel Samuel's on-field actions were warranted.
And if they played a role in Moody making that game-winner, they were also worth it.