Boston Herald

Sherman, Niners agree to deal

-

Star cornerback Richard Sherman agreed to a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers yesterday, one day after being released by the rival Seattle Seahawks.

A person in the league familiar with the deal said Sherman agreed to the contract after spending the day meeting with the team. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the signing had not been announced. ESPN reported that Sherman’s deal is worth up to $39.15 million.

The Patriots never reached out to Sherman, a source told the Herald. His interest in the Pats has been real because of his desire to play with Tom Brady.

Sherman played an integral role in the fierce NFC West rivalry between Seattle and San Francisco earlier this decade. His deflection on a potential game-winning touchdown pass in the 2013 NFC Championsh­ip Game against the 49ers led to an intercepti­on that sent the Seahawks to the Super Bowl title.

Sherman then celebrated a Thanksgivi­ng night

NFL ROUNDUP

win in a road game against the 49ers the following season by eating a turkey leg on the 50-yard line.

Now, the player who was reviled so much by 49ers fans is joining their team after the Seahawks decided he wasn’t worth his $13 million salary for 2018. San Francisco hopes he can make a big impact even as he turns 30 later this month and is coming off an Achilles tendon injury that cost him half of the 2017 season. Sherman also had a cleanup surgery on his opposite ankle during the offseason.

The 49ers had a glaring need at cornerback with 2017 third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoo­n and slot cornerback K’Waun Williams the only players under contract with extensive experience. The Niners believe Sherman can fill that role in a defense modeled by coordinato­r Robert Saleh after the one that had so much success in Seattle. Saleh was a former defensive assistant with the Seahawks.

Sherman became a star in Seattle, bringing a brash attitude and willingnes­s to speak out on any topic to go along with his stellar play. His best seasons came in 2013 and 2014, when Seattle made two Super Bowl appearance­s, and he has 32 intercepti­ons.

Sherman still was one of the better cornerback­s the past three seasons, ranking second in the NFL by allowing just 49.2 percent of passes against him to be caught, according to Pro Football Focus.

Sherman played his college ball in the Bay Area at Stanford under former coach Jim Harbaugh, who then went up against Sherman during his four seasons in charge of the 49ers.

Giants cut Wing

The New York Giants released Brad Wing, who struggled as their punter last season. The team announced his contract terminatio­n yesterday. He had been the Giants punter the last three seasons.

His 36.7-yard net average last season ranked last in the NFL among punters eligible for the final statistics. Short punts in games against Philadelph­ia and Tampa Bay proved costly in losses. He also had two punts blocked for the first time in his career.

Lions re-sign pair

The Detroit Lions have re-signed long snapper Don Muhlbach and defensive end Kerry Hyder.

The team announced both moves yesterday but did disclose contract terms.

Muhlbach is entering his 15th season, all with Detroit. He sits third on the team’s list of games played with 212 and is in line to pass longtime center Dominic Raiola (219) next season.

Hyder missed last season because of injury, but he led the Lions in sacks in 2016 with eight.

 ?? AP PHOTO ?? SHERMAN: CB staying in NFC West but with 49ers.
AP PHOTO SHERMAN: CB staying in NFC West but with 49ers.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States