There were several signs suggesting Richard Sherman's time in Seattle was coming to an end and today the Seahawks made it official. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seattle Seahawks will release Sherman today, bringing to an end a seven-year run with the team which started in 2011 when he was drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
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.
Immediately after the news was announced today, Sherman took to twitter with a screenshot of his accomplishments since he entered the NFL.
According to CBS Sports, the Seahawks will save $11 million by cutting Sherman, who was scheduled to count $13.2 million against the salary cap in 2018 if he remained on the roster. According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, Sherman told her, "they are gonna let me explore free agency with the hope that I can return. They just wanted the financial flexibility."
The soon-to-be 30-year old corner missed seven games in the 2017 season after suffering a torn right achilles tendon, in addition to having surgery on his left leg this offseason to clean out bone spurs. He will now be free to sign with any team once the new league season begins on Wednesday, March 14.
Earlier this week the Seahawks also traded veteran defensive end Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fifth-round pick and wide receiver Marcus Johnson.