Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright has had to say goodbye this week to some of his closest defensive teammates. In the last few days, Seattle has released cornerbacks Richard Sherman, Jeremy Lane and DeShawn Shead and agreed to trade Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles.
All this and the official start of the new league year isn’t until 1:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday. More moves are expected.
“It’s tough,” Wright told Alex Marvez and Bill Polian on their SiriusXM radio show, Late Hits. “This has been one of the more tough offseasons to deal with. Every year it’s not fun when guys leave, but this one hurt pretty bad with Sherman leaving. I’ve been with him going on eight years. Same thing with Mike. Been with him for going on five years. You just didn’t see that happening the way it did, but it’s a ruthless business.
“It’s something that we know what we were signed up for, however, it still doesn’t make it easier knowing when your guys leave.”
Sherman has already found himself a new team with the San Francisco 49ers and Bennett’s deal is expected to be finalized at the start of free agency. The once-vaunted Legion of Boom is no longer intact. Forming a new brotherhood will be challenging.
“The locker room chemistry will be fine,” Wright explained. “You don’t get mad or upset at the management end of things. It’s just that when a guy leaves, like a Sherman for example, you just have to rebuild that chemistry with someone else. Me and Sherm, we knew each other (like) the back of each other’s hands.
“But whoever they put in there to replace him, I’ll be with them in OTAs, get to know how they play the game, know how they communicate and we’re going to be just fine.”
The start of the new league year is just hours away and chances are good Wright might be waving goodbye to a few more of his teammates.
