Elaine Thompson/AP
Richard Sherman has been one of the faces of the Seattle franchise in recent years.
- The Seattle Seahawks are set to release star cornerback Richard Sherman.
- This is just one of many moves Seattle is making as part of a dramatic offseason overhaul.
- Seattle would have kept Sherman if he had been willing to take a pay cut, but he was not.
A report from Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times indicates that the Seattle Seahawks will soon release cornerback Richard Sherman, completing a dramatic overhaul of one of the more successful defenses in recent NFL history.
The talented, brash defender has been one of the faces of a Seattle franchise that went to two Super Bowls and won one, success built on a hard-hitting defensive identity and the vaunted "Legion of Boom" secondary.
But a move to release Sherman, coupled with a recent trade of defensive end Michael Bennett, is a sign that Seattle is ready to tear down its defense and build a new team, with a new identity.
Danny Kelly of The Ringer writes that, "Seattle's front office saw the 2017 season as one last chance to go all in on an attempt to win another Super Bowl with most of the nucleus of its formerly dominant defense still intact before blowing things up and starting anew."
And Condotta noted that money was a big factor in the decision to release Sherman, who is set to make $11 million next season. Condotta says the team was interested in trying to get Sherman to agree to a pay cut, but that he "balked" at such a proposal.
Seattle has had an incredibly eventful offseason so far, having also let go of several coaches including both its offensive and defensive coordinators. It's difficult to say at this point what the Seahawks team will look like next year, although it's worth pointing out that Seattle still has Russell Wilson, and a franchise quarterback is a great starting point for any NFL team looking to rebuild.