No tribute, but celebrate Sherman

There’s likely not going to be a two-minute-long tribute video on the scoreboard at CenturyLink Field on Sunday afternoon.

Maybe that’s the right thing to do.

After all, Malcolm Smith was the MVP of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl XVIII romp of the Denver Broncos.

Oh wait, that other guy is coming back also.

NOT ALL fans are as nostalgic as I might be about the return of cornerback Richard Sherman for Sunday’s game between San Francisco and Seattle.

Sure, he stirred the pot a lot while he was in Seattle.

He mouthed off to Tom Brady during a regular-season game in 2012 just after the Seahawks had beaten the Patriots in Seattle.

Sherman mouthed off again following the team’s NFC Championship win over San Francisco after he tipped a pass to Smith for an interception to seal the win.

Sure, he’d get on his teammates from time to time, but that happens sometimes when you have athletes competing in high-pressure moments.

In the last couple of years, with guys like Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor getting injured, it had been up to Sherman to make sure the Seahawks stayed on the right path. They did, somehow.

After Sherman injured his Achilles at Arizona in 2017, he never played another down for Seattle. Instead of staying home or sitting in a press box away from the field, Sherman was on the sideline with a knee scooter, with his team at least trying to help them get better.

As far as what to expect for Sunday’s game, Sherman should be made to feel right back at home by those fans in the crowd.

Besides, the fans didn’t choose to cut ties with him anyway.

WHATEVER HAPPENS this weekend might be a good practice for whatever happens down the road for Seattle safety Earl Thomas as well.

Similar to Sherman, Thomas was injured and knocked out for the season at Arizona earlier this year.

That same business decision that the Seahawks made with Sherman to cut him last offseason, might happen to Thomas when that time comes this offseason.

It’s unfortunate, but that is part of the business side of football.

Eventually fan favorites, no matter when, get let go by teams.

Matt Hasselbeck, who led the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl in franchise history, finished his career with Indianapolis.

I’m sure that Edgerrin James, who starred with the Indianapolis Colts at one time, didn’t imagine his final stop in the NFL would be in Seattle.

Yeah, it will be a little strange watching Sherman in a 49er jersey this weekend.

But at the end of the day, he’s still a former Seahawk.

Worth celebrating, no matter what happens next.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.