49ers' Sherman delivers shots prior to Seattle return

Richard Sherman ventures to Seattle as a visiting player for the first time this Sunday and is eager to play against his former team.

The San Francisco 49ers cornerback was released by the Seahawks in March and is still disappointed that the team let him go while he was recovering from an Achilles injury.

"You just expect after you've done so much for a franchise that they wouldn't cut you while you're hurt," Sherman told reporters on Thursday. "It's kind of more respect thing than anything, but they did, so you've kind of got to roll with the business.

"They've rarely ever cut anybody while they were hurt. We hadn't honestly seen that very often."

Sherman played seven seasons as the headliner of the Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" defense, recording 32 interceptions while earning three First-Team All-Pro selections.

But he didn't leave on a happy note and displayed that Thursday by offering a blunt critique of the organization, particularly with how far it has fallen after reaching the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons (2013-14).

"If you just look at the draft classes we had early on and the draft classes they've had in the last three, four, five years, the truth is the truth," Sherman said. "I don't have to make stuff up. People can take it how they want to. It's unfortunate that things have gone the way they have."

Seattle is 6-5 entering Sunday's contest and quarterback Russell Wilson is enjoying a solid season with 2,531 yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Sherman said he is looking forward to seeing some of his former teammates but Wilson isn't one of those folks.

"I don't really have a relationship with Russell," Sherman said. "We were teammates. We played through a very special time for the franchise."

When Wilson's playmaking ability was brought up and it was pointed out how many plays he makes outside of the pocket, Sherman had a quick rebuttal with a reference to a 2016 game against the Green Bay Packers.

"Yeah, I've also seen him throw five picks in the game, so you see what he's capable of on both sides of it," Sherman said. "You understand that he can be defended, so you go out there and give it your best shot."

Wilson was asked about Sherman by Seattle media members on Thursday and termed his former teammate "as good as it gets at corner" while applauding the way he approaches the game.

"He's going to be a Hall of Fame corner," Wilson said. "He's a guy that meant so much to our football team when he was here. Just how many plays he made. ... He was always able to teach the younger guys as well.

"And so, to be able to go up against him in practice every day helped my career and just helped my understanding of the game and just confidence in everything else going against one of the best corners. ... So I'm grateful for that."

Sherman doesn't have an interception in nine games for the 49ers, and he said he is unsure what type of greeting he will receive from the rabid Seattle fans.

Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin, a close friend of Sherman, is hopeful it will be a warm greeting that has an emotional impact on Sherman.

"From a humanistic standpoint, I think it's very difficult to separate those emotions," Baldwin said. "He gave so much blood, sweat and tears while he was here. I think him coming back there will be some emotions there. ... I think that will definitely have some emotional baggage with it."

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)