From Foe to Fam: Niners sign Sherman

It's no secret that there's been no love lost between the San Francisco 49ers fan base and former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman since Sherman's defensive prowess was the deciding factor that prevented the Niners from punching their ticket to a second straight Super Bowl in 2013. Since Sherman deflected Colin Kaepernick's pass in the end zone intended for ex-Niners receiver Michael Crabtree which led to an interception that would stave off a comeback and ultimately end San Francisco's run of three straight NFC Championship appearances, the Niners have been stuck searching for a playoff berth ever since. The game-clinching play by the four-time All-Pro corner was one thing, as San Francisco's memorable run under head coach Jim Harbaugh came crashing down, but Sherman's antics after the game was really what fueled the distaste 49ers fans would have for the former Stanford product as he flashed choke signs at the Niners sideline before yelling at the camera with some choice words for Crabtree. His fan base in the Bay Area would only dwindle from there, thanks to the infamous turkey feast at midfield after a win at Levi's Stadium on Thanksgiving, and who could forget the negative comments made towards Harbaugh who once upon a time coached Sherman at Stanford for all four years before the two made the jump to the NFL. It's no wonder he single-handedly birthed the hatred I now have for the team I've coined the nickname, the Seattle "Seachickens."

Having served as public enemy number one for many years in the eyes of Niner fans, it's time they let bygones by bygones as the guy they loved to hate as recent as last season, will now be sporting the scarlet and gold. Just 24 hours after being released by the Seattle organization which appears to be trimming salary, the Compton, California native agreed to return to the Bay Area just a stones throw away from his alma mater in Palo Alto. A night after a sit down dinner alongside his wife and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Sherman who serving as his own agent, agreed to a three-year, $39 Million contract which includes a $5 Million signing bonus. With seven other teams rumored to have shown interest in the soon-to-be 30 year old Sherman, including the Detroit Lions who had a meeting scheduled after San Francisco, 49ers GM and fellow Stanford alum John Lynch was quick to put the Niners' name in the hat for the Richard Sherman sweepstakes after the franchise lost out on both Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, both of whom were acquired via trade by the division rival Los Angeles Rams. Seattle's decision to cut Sherman came just 48 hours after the team agreed to deal Pro Bowl defensive-end Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles as Seattle appears to be undergoing a complete overhaul on defense.

Though seeing Sherman in a Niner uniform will definitely take some getting used, the move makes sense in several areas. While Sherman is coming off of surgeries to each of his Achilles', one to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon and the other to clean up bone spurs in his foot which will keep him off the field until June, the deal helps solve San Francisco's need for a cornerback which could very well make their decision to pass on a corner and address other needs in April's Draft much easier now. Sherman and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh are also very familiar with one another as Salah served on Seattle's coaching staff for three years as the defensive quality control coach from Sherman's rookie season in 2011 though 2013. And it's well documented that Saleh's 4-3 defensive scheme is designed around the defensive system Seattle had in place which made the "Legion of Boom" among the best defenses in NFL history. Before the signing, Sherman opened up by saying he'd prefer staying on the west coast and that he wanted to play wherever he'd feel comfortable and for a contending team with a "great QB" in place which gives you an idea of what he thinks about the Niners' potential and future with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm as the team closed out the season riding a five-game winning-streak.

Since entering the league in 2011 as a fifth round pick, 154th overall, Sherman leads the league in interceptions (32), passes defensed (99) and completion percentage allowed (47.4) with a minimum of 300 targets. Unfortunately, he also leads the league in ruffling feathers as Sherman is a guy well known to get under the skin of opposing players and fan bases alike. But if he can leave the antics in Seattle, stay healthy, produce while on the field and provide veteran leadership to a very young 49ers locker room, Sherman will turn those haters into fans of his real quick. I say this as I've been one of those haters myself. But I accept the fact that it's now time to move on from harsh feelings given Crabtree has been long gone, having signed with the Niners' cross-town rival Oakland Raiders and only two players remain on San Francisco's roster that were part of the 2013 49ers team that suffered that heartbreaking loss to Sherman and the Seahawks in the 2013 NFC Championship game.

The three-year, $39 Million deal which breaks down as follows: $7 Million base salary, $6 Million in incentives, $5 Million in signing bonuses and a $16 Million base salary for 2019 and 2020 if he's named to the NFL's All-Pro team for the first time since 2015, takes just a small bite out of the Niners' $66.2 Million salary cap, which is the fifth-most in the league and figures to make for a busy offseason for Lynch and company. So as if you didn't already think 49ers-Seahawks would be worth watching in 2018, Sherman's move from one NFC West franchise to another might do the trick.


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