CB Richard Sherman changed his twitter name in preparing to face "Megatron."

by Curtis Crabtree
KJR reporter
Twitter: @Curtis_Crabtree

RENTON - Seattle CB Richard Sherman is jumping into full character for the Seahawks showdown with the Detroit Lions this Sunday.

Sherman didn't change his twitter handle (@RSherman_25) but he changed his twitter name to "Optimus Prime." For those unfamiliar, it's a reference from the Transformers series. Lions WR Calvin Johnson has been given the nickname "Megatron," also a reference from the series.

Optimus Prime and Megatron are leaders of rival factions in the series and now will apparently be rivals on the football field as well. Sherman is going to draw coverage duty against Johnson frequently against the Lions on Sunday. It will be a battle of one of the most productive receivers in the league against one of the rising stars at the cornerback position.

"It ain't no different to me," Sherman said. "I don't care who out there. It's the league. You're going to have a good receiver out there every week."

Sherman was asked of the challenge a 6-foot-5 receiver can pose to a defender...

"Nothing to somebody who's 6-foot-3," Sherman replied.

Whether Sherman wants to admit it or not, Johnson will be a sizeable challenge for the second-year cornerback. It's a matchup that should be a good one to watch on Sunday.

Speaking of what should be a good matchup, the return visit of the San Francisco 49ers to Seattle in December continues to add more intrigue. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was critical of the play of Sherman and CB Brandon Browner last week and was put off by the fact that Seattle wasn't flagged for more penalties with their physical approach.

Both Browner and head coach Pete Carroll commented on the statements on Monday and Sherman got a couple shots in at his former college coach on Wednesday.

"Sometimes when the bully gets bullied, that's how that happens," Sherman said. "He's the same guy who said the other guy was irrational and ignorant for talking about the refs."

Sherman was referring to Harbaugh's statement he released after New York Giants assistant coach Kevin Gilbride said that 49ers DE Justin Smith "gets away with murder" by holding offensive linemen. Harbaugh responded with the following statement...

"Kevin Gilbride's outrageous, irrational statement regarding Justin Smith's play is, first, an absurd analogy," Harbaugh said. "Second, it is an incendiary comment targeting one of the truly exemplary players in this league. It's obvious that the Giants coaching staff's sole purpose is to use their high visibility to both criticize and influence officiating."

There seems to be no love lost between Sherman and his former coach. The war of words between the two teams could set up a volatile and important game for both teams when they meet in Week 16.

Injury Report:

Detroit Lions

Did Not Participate

DE Cliff Avril (back)
WR Calvin Johnson (knee)
DE Jacob Lacey (concussion)
LB DeAndre Lacey (hamstring)
DE Ronnell Lewis (non-injury)
S Amari Speivey (concussion)

Limited Participation

CB Dwight Bentley (shoulder)
S Louis Delmas (knee)
TE Brandon Pettigrew (knee)
LB Stephen Tulloch (knee)
DT Corey Williams (knee)
WR Titus Young (knee)

Seattle Seahawks

Did Not Participate

WR Doug Baldwin (ankle)
DT Jason Jones (ankle)
CB Byron Maxwell (hamstring)

Limited Participation

G John Moffitt (knee)

Full Participation

RB Marshawn Lynch (back)