20 Most Interesting Seahawks: #1 Richard Sherman

As we wrap up our 20 Most Interesting Seahawks series, we end with the most talked-about Seahawk this off-season, cornerback Richard Sherman. Will the loud corner keep quiet in 2017?

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has always been a bit of an enigma. Highly intelligent and filled with confidence, Sherman is unafraid to speak his mind. But in 2016, whether he chooses to admit it or not, Richard Sherman stepped over the line… repeatedly.

There was the incident with 710 ESPN Radio’s Jim Moore, where the star corner threatened to pull Moore’s press credentials and ruin his career. As if that incident wasn’t bad enough, Sherman has consistently insisted that it did not happen, despite audio evidence to the contrary. He doesn’t say he was misquoted, but that an incident we know to be fact did not happen.

There was also the two on-field incidents. First, in the Atlanta game, Sherman gave up a wide open touchdown to Julio Jones in what looked to be poor communication. Sherman immediately went after the other player, and even Kam Chancellor telling Sherman that he was in fact in the wrong, he still did not apologize.

More from Emerald City Swagger

• Seattle Seahawks: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
• Washington State Football: What you need to know for 2018 Alamo Bowl
• Washington Basketball: 3 takeaways from Huskies win over Sacramento St.
• Seattle Seahawks: 12s still waiting to exhale
• Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 26-23 Loss to the 49ers

Finally, there was the incident on Thursday Night Football, where he screamed at offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell after a near interception at the goal line. Sherman demanded that he call a run play. The Seahawks scored on the next play on a fade to Doug Baldwin. Baldwin made sure to find him after the play and let him know he had scored.

All of these incidents are nothing compared to Sherman’s actions afterwards. He belittled Pete Carroll’s team meeting, calling it a “kumbaya” meeting that had no affect on him. He then recalled the Super Bowl loss from two seasons ago, and opened up an old scab.

All of these incidents are violation of Pete Carroll’s second rule: “No whining, Complaining, or Excuses,”; and depending on the interpretation, Rule 1: ” Protect the Team.” Simply put, Richard Sherman was a distraction in 2016.

Sherman was the subject of trade rumors this off-season, something both he and the team have confirmed. Whether or not this will be Sherman’s last season with the Seahawks remains to be seen. The Seahawks drafted four secondary players in 2017, and recently brought in Tramaine Brock.

Next: 20 Most Interesting Seahawks: #2--George Fant

Whether this is it for Sherman in Seattle is a secondary (get it?) story in 2017. The team needs him to return to his All-Pro self, and they need him to protect the team. The Seahawks want to see a return to the domination of the old Legion of Boom, and Richard Sherman is a major question mark.