Sherman says he’s expecting this to be his last year with the 49ers
How Richard Sherman fared Monday night could be an excellent gauge for his 49ers’ future, especially how he matched up with Stefon Diggs, the Buffalo Bills’ leading receiver.
Sherman says it’s “not looking likely” he’ll be resigned by the 49ers.
Is this just posturing of a 32-year- old cornerback who represents himself or the hard and simple truth?
“That’s the sad, sad truth,” Sherman said in a Saturday night podcast with NBC Sports Bay Area. “It’s one of those years where it’s not from anybody’s fault that it may not work out. And it will be a sad parting because I’ve really enjoyed my time here.
“I’ve enjoyed this team. I have brothers on this team, and I think we still have work to do. But I don’t know that the circumstances will allow it.”
Sherman pointed to how the 49ers have more than 40 pending free agents, as well as other players who merit a contact extension, such as linebacker Fred Warner, who Sherman singled out in the podcast.
Sherman went so far as to say it would be “miraculous” and “cool” if the 49ers re-sign him once his threeyear contract expires.
Working against that, beyond the 49ers’ quantity of free agents including Trent Williams and Kyle Juszczyk, is a decreased payroll under the pandemic- impacted salary cap.
Also, there is the fact Sherman will be 33 next season, and he’s just returned from a nine-game absence caused by calf trouble; he left his Seattle Seahawks’ seven-year tenure with Achilles concerns.
C oa ch Kyle Sha nahan and general manager John Lynch have professed deep appreciation for having Sherman and a desire to retain him, but it’s not that simple, as Shanahan acknowledged last week.
“Now there’s lots of stuff that go into it at the end of the year and how we’re going to balance all this out and wait to figure out what the salary cap is and stuff with what happens,” Shanahan said Thursday. “But I know Sherm’s time here, he’s been everything we’ve hoped and more. And I really hope that these next whatever games we have left, I really hope that’s not the end of it.”
Sherman, in his interview Saturday with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, said: “I’ve enjoyed my time. I’ve loved every moment of it. And I wish we could continue it for a couple more years, but it’s not looking likely.”
The 49ers’ search for a veteran shutdown cornerback may have already produced one this season in Jason Verrett’s renaissance. Problem is, like Sherman, Verrett is unsigned beyond 2020, as are cornerbacks K’Waun Williams, Jamar Taylor, Ahkello Witherspoon, Dontae Johnson, Emmanuel Moseley and Ken Webster, the last two being exclusive rights free agents.
DEBUT FOR HARRIS >> Cornerback Tim Harris, the 49ers’ final draft pick last year, got activated for his likely NFL debut. Harris (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) has had to overcome a string of injuries, most recently a calf issue two months ago. He spent six seasons at the University of Virginia and capped his tenure in 2018 after receiving medical hardship status the previous two seasons.
The 49ers put cornerbacks Jamar Taylor and Ken Webster, both of whom were special-teams assets, onto Injured Reserve last week.
SIGN OF THE TIMES >> A day after State Farm Stadium hosted the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Cardinals, signage around the venue mirrored the 49ers’ from Levi’s Stadium, including their ironic motto this season: “Faithful To The Bay.” The 49ers flew to Arizona on Wednesday to escape Santa Clara County’s COVID-19 guidelines banning contact sports.