As Mike Florio reported, the deal includes $5 million before training camp in the form of a $3 million signing bonus and a $2 million roster bonus on the first day of camp. Instead, the Seahawks are honoring the promise they made to Shead that he would become an unrestricted free agent.
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“We sat there and haggled for about five hours, five-and-a-half hours”, Sherman said of the Saturday contract talks, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News.
Richard Sherman officially has gone to the other side. Seattle also has second-year players Denalo Hill and Tedric Thompson as backups at both safety spots. Sherman has never been the fastest cornerback, often using his exquisite technique and smarts to make up for less than elite speed.
As things stand, the 49ers have a chance to benefit by signing a contract that at best is a bit over market this year.
The result: Sherman and the 49ers negotiated a heavily incentivized deal, but one which gives the almost-30-year-old Sherman a chance to match the $11 million he made in Seattle.
Of course, Sherman’s All-Pro credentials often came at the 49ers’ expense as their arch enemy with the Seattle Seahawks the past seven seasons.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Nearly two weeks ago at the National Football League scouting combine, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch was asked point-blank whether he meant to use newly minted franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as a selling point in free agency. But recovery from Achilles injuries can often be troublesome and Sherman also had a cleanup surgery on his opposite ankle during the offseason. In my former contract, no matter what I did this year, nothing would be guaranteed to me next year.
Sherman then celebrated a Thanksgiving night win in a road game against the 49ers the following season by eating a turkey leg on the 50-yard line. Imagine if Sherman picks of Russell Wilson in Seattle or here in the Bay. The move with Lane will save Seattle $4.75 million against the salary cap in 2018.
Sherman became a star with his aggressive coverage and nabbing the league’s most interceptions since 2011, albeit only two last season in nine games before his Achilles injury.
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He played on special teams in the win at Dallas on Christmas Eve and made two special-teams tackles December 31 in the season finale, the loss to Arizona. Could this have possibly played a role in him signing in San Francisco as well? “It’s them living up to their word, letting DeShawn test the free-agent world, but they have said they’d like to have him come back”.
