© Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The juxtaposition of Richard Sherman’s and Russell Wilson’s comments about each other tells you everything you need to know about Sherman’s departure in Seattle and his viewpoint of San Francisco’s matchup with the Seahawks Sunday afternoon.
In early March, the Seahawks released Sherman. In seven seasons with the club, he was named to four Pro Bowls and helped lead Seattle to its only Super Bowl win. It’s no secret that Sherman did not like how his Seattle tenure ended. He was released as he recovered from an Achilles tear suffered last November.
On Thursday afternoon, Sherman fielded several questions about his return to Seattle, where the 49ers (2-9) will take on the Seahawks (6-5) Sunday.
Sherman was asked about his relationship with Wilson.
“I don’t really have a relationship with Russell,” Sherman said. “We were teammates. We played through a very special time for the franchise.”
Sherman identified one of Wilson’s worst personal performances when asked about defending his athleticism.
“I have also seen him throw five picks in a game,” Sherman said. “You see what he is capable of on both sides of it, so you understand that he can be defended.”
Meanwhile in Seattle, Wilson had nothing but praise for Sherman.
“I have tons of respect for Sherm and how he plays the game,” Wilson said, via Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. “He’s going to be a Hall-of-Fame corner. He’s a guy, he meant so much to our football team when he was here. Just how many plays he made.”
The 30-year-old quarterback paid homage to Sherman and credited him for Wilson’s evolution.
“The thing that I think I respect about Sherm more than anything else is how he brings it every day at practice, even when he’s hurt,” Wilson said. “He always practiced. He always was out there. And he didn’t have to be: All-Pro player, a guy who’s done so many different things. And he always was able to do that. And not just that, but he was also able to teach younger guys, as well.
And so to be able to go up against him in practice every day helped my career, helped build my understanding of the game and my confidence. Going up against one of the best corners, it prepares you. So I’m grateful for that.”