Rebuilding the Boom sans Sherman

After missing out on the playoffs, some Seattle Seahawks expected a few moves in the offseason.

Then again, what they’ve done thus far hasn’t exactly been just a few moves.

It has been a full-blown blowout.

IN CASE you’ve missed it, the Seahawks opted to trade Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles, then release star cornerback Richard Sherman.

Understandable.

Both Bennett and Sherman were key parts of the team’s Super Bowl title in 2014 and return trip to the big game the following year, no question.

Had it not been for Sherman tipping a pass late in the 2014 NFC Championship game, maybe the San Francisco 49ers find a way to pull that game out at CenturyLink Field.

Sherman played hurt, never complained about it, and gave the Seahawks everything he had when he stepped on the field.

Bennett, in his second stint with the team, was able to play a variety of different positions along the defensive line, putting pressure on quarterbacks that allowed the secondary to make plays.

Unfortunately, the NFL is also a business, and with Sherman recovering from surgeries on both of his Achilles tendons, and the Seahawks needing to pay other players, they couldn’t afford to keep Sherman around.

Same with Bennett, who finished last season with eight sacks during the 2017 season.

Sherman didn’t last long on the open market either, agreeing to join the San Francisco 49ers with a three-year deal on Saturday.

It remains to be seen what happens with the rest of the defense as well.

Chances are Sheldon Richardson will leave the team after one season.

Will they opt to trade Earl Thomas? Hopefully not.

Will Kam Chancellor be able to play again? I hope so.

LOVE HIM or hate him, Seahawk fans owe Sherman a lot for his time with the team.

For a time, Seattle didn’t have a lockdown corner to go along with what coach Pete Carroll wanted to do defensively. Sherman provided that.

Whether it was cutting off his side of the field, or making key plays at key moments like he did in that NFC title game in 2014, Sherman did his job.

At some point, players leave the franchises they make their name at.

Sure, it’s going to be strange watching Sherman play for the 49ers at least twice next year when they’re facing the Seahawks, but these things happen.

Fans didn’t boo Matt Hasselbeck when he left the Seahawks to go play for Tennessee, then returned to Seattle with the Titans to play against his former team.

All he did was lead the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl in 2006.

When Sherman returns, whenever that might be, chances are some fans might boo him and hate the idea he’s not with Seattle anymore.

And that’s OK, you can feel that way.

Just don’t blame him that he found a new team.

Apparently he wasn’t needed here anymore.

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.