Sherman to Raiders: He seems interested, and so does Gruden
Showbiz or some real business?
Hard to know exactly, but it’s not a stretch to think there’s a mutual interest between the Raiders and 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden loves veteran players. Loves them so much he authorized $4 million last season for Jason Witten to join Darren Waller and Foster Moreau in the meeting room and play as a reserve tight end.
So when Gruden and Sherman appeared to have a mutual interest in joining up for the 2021 season Tuesday on Cris Collinsworth’s weekly podcast, it had the whiff of legitimacy. Maybe even tampering if the NFL is going to take a largely tongue-in-cheek interview that seriously.
Collinsworth played matchmaker during his podcast, and both Gruden and Sherman know how to work a room. So the joint appearance may have been more entertainment than a future transaction-cometrue.
If the Raiders have determined Sherman is healthy enough to be a good player for a year or two, it should be an offseason priority.
New Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was the defensive coordinator with Seattle when Sherman was there. Sherman’s brother said a year ago Gruden approached Richard the last time he came up for free agency and lamented there wasn’t enough money to get a deal done, but that the interest was there.
Free agency begins March 17. Sherman, who serves at his own agent, finished a three-year deal with the 49ers last season that paid him more than $30.6 million.
A friendly visit on a podcast is far from a slam dunk.
There’s no telling how much money Sherman wants and how much the Raiders are willing to pay. There’s also the possibility Sherman has hit his expiration date as a cornerback having played only five games last season for the 49ers with a calf injury.
Yet there’s something about Sherman to the Raiders that feels like a match, both in terms of the organization as well as his relationship with Bradley and Gruden’s borderline obsession with veteran players who have a pedigree.
Sherman could easily retire, leaving ESPN and the NFL Network to fight over him to be an analyst.
“I’m anxious to see what you do what your career is over, but let’s not rush yourself into that yet,” Gruden said.
—Jerry McDonald
49ERS’ LONG SNAPPER CAROUSEL SLOWS WITH PEPPER RE-SIGNING >>
The 49ers resigned Taybor Pepper, their long snapper, to a two-year deal Thursday before he could hit restricted free agency next month.
That, along with kicker Robbie Gould’s revised contract on Dec. 30, carries over some continuity for a roster replete with pending free agents. The 49ers have 27 unrestricted free agents ahead of the March 17 market, most notably left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and cornerbacks Sherman, Jason Verrett and K’Waun Williams.
Pepper settled in with the 49ers early last season, to replace Kyle Nelson after his erratic snaps against the New York Giants. Nelson was one of four long snappers the 49ers used in their 2019 season, which finished with a Super Bowl run.
— Cam Inman
PHONE RINGING, EAGLES LISTEN TO CARSON WENTZ OFFERS >>
Multiple teams have checked in with the Philadelphia Eagles about potential trades for quarterback Carson Wentz, NFL Network reported.
The Eagles are in no hurry to deal their former starter, “but they did field the calls and discussed the issue,” per the report.
Interest in the 28-yearold Wentz has reportedly intensified since Matthew Stafford’s recent removal from the NFL trade block, with the former Detroit Lions quarterback on his way to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Goff.
Wentz signed a four-year, $128 million extension in June 2019, but played poorly in 2020 and was benched by former head coach Doug Pederson in favor of secondround rookie Jalen Hurts.
At his introductory press conference last month, new head coach Nick Sirianni was asked about the QB controversy he inherited.
“We have two quarterbacks in Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts that are top notch quarterbacks,” he said. “A lot of teams don’t have any, and so I’m really excited to work with both of them.”
NFLPA EXPECTS VIRTUAL OFFSEASON >>
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith anticipates the upcoming offseason closely mirroring the 2020 pandemic-altered approach the NFL adopted in the name of player safety.
Smith said there is a “very high likelihood” minicamps and offseason team activities will remain virtual, although some accommodations for first-year coaches and rookies could be made.
The NFL draft is unlikely to be an in-person, fan-friendly event and the league already punted on the late February scouting combine. Personnel evaluations of incoming pro prospects will instead take place at pro days. Some in-person contact with prospects might be allowed, but more video interviews and workouts with draft-eligible players are expected.