The Seattle Seahawks have informed perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman that he will be released.
The eighth-year veteran confirmed the news to USA TODAY Sports on Friday. The move was expected after Seattle’s efforts to trade Sherman proved unsuccessful.
He said via text message that the Seahawks told him they “wanted to allow me a chance to feel out free agency and allow them the financial flexibility going (into free agency). They want me to return.”
The Seahawks have been working to clear salary-cap space in advance of next week’s free-agency signing period, which begins Wednesday. This comes in the midst of an offseason overhaul, which has featured replacing their offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
The Seahawks shared a statement Friday thanking Sherman for his time in Seattle.
"Thank you for helping us win championships, shape our culture and define success in Seattle," the Seahawks wrote in a statement. "We love you and your unwavering competitiveness, confidence, and fierce passion for football and life. For that, you will always be a Hawk!"
Earlier this week, the Seahawks traded Michael Bennett, a move that saved the team $2.2 million. Releasing Sherman saves the Seahawks roughly $11 million, but the team does have to absorb a $2.2 million dead cap hit. Additional cost-saving moves are expected out of Seattle.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Sherman is still recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon suffered in Week 10.
The 29-year-old posted statistics on Twitter on Friday showing that he leads the league in several major statistical categories since 2011.
“Cause ppl talking to me like I’m slowin’ down. Opinions over statistics, of course," Sherman wrote.
A fifth-round pick out of Stanford in 2011, Sherman enjoyed a meteoric rise in the NFL. He recorded four interceptions as a rookie but broke out in 2012, when he recorded eight and gained fame for calling out opponents on social media. He would later become famous for igniting clashes with opposing quarterbacks, wide receivers and even fellow cornerbacks.
Among Sherman's most notable confrontations was a 2013 NFC Championship Game clash with then San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, whom he called a "sorry receiver" in a postgame rant.
That season, he was a key part of the Seahawks' Legion of Boom secondary that led the franchise to its first ever Super Bowl title with a 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos.
