After being released by the Seattle Seahawks last week, veteran corner back Richard Sherman agreed to a deal with the NFC West division rival San Francisco 49ers. The opportunity to play against his former team twice a season certainly factored in to Sherman's free agency decision.
The soon-to-be 30 year old CB, who has played for the Seahawks since entering the league in 2011, tells Sports Illustrated's Peter King,
Sherman said: “I’m vengeful in that way.”
That’s what it sounded like. But I wanted to make sure. I asked him to repeat that.
“Vengeful,” Sherman said. “I love the fan base to death, and I loved playing there. It was such a great opportunity. I helped the organization get to a great place and stay there. But now it’s like I abandoned them. People are out there burning my jersey. Come on. I’m not the one who let me go. They let me go. I didn’t abandon anybody.”
According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, Sherman's deal with the 49ers is for three years and could be worth up to $39.15 million due to a number of incentives.
Per the MMQB,
"Once I make a Pro Bowl, $8 million the next year is guaranteed for me. It gives me the ability to control my destiny. The 49ers have skin in the game. I have skin in the game. In my former contract, no matter what I did this year, nothing would be guaranteed to me next year. I couldn't feel secure in my contract. Now, if I play the way I know I'm capable of playing, I know I'm going to get paid."
During his time in Seattle, Sherman made four Pro Bowl teams and had three first-team All-Pro selections. He also led the league in interceptions in 2013, the same year Seattle beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Last season he missed seven games after suffering a torn right achilles tendon, in addition to having surgery on his left leg this offseason to clean out bone spurs.