Richard Sherman is signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Richard Sherman.
The veteran cornerback announced on The Richard Sherman Podcast on Wednesday morning that he's joining the Buccaneers.
"I finally had enough conversations and came to a decision that I'm going to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Woo!" Sherman said. "All the craziness and then all the hate and all the tweets, and then everybody's mad because I didn't go to their team. I'm sorry."
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Sherman signed a one-year contract worth $2.25 million. The deal includes $500,000 guaranteed, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero added. The Bucs later announced Sherman's signing and placed wide receiver Scotty Miller (turf toe) on injured reserve to make room for Sherman on the 53-man roster.
Sherman visited the CB-needy Bucs on Tuesday after garnering interest from several clubs the past few weeks. In announcing his choice, Sherman mentioned he'd had conversations with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks about potential reunions and had also received interest from the Carolina Panthers.
"I went with the best offer I had, the best opportunity to go out there and put some great tape on, to lead another group," Sherman said on his podcast. "I feel comfortable and confident in my abilities to go out there and execute and help that team win.
"This was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, and I weighed all the options with my wife and family, and this is what we came up with, so I'm ready to strap them back up and go out there and show that these old legs still got some juice."
Joining the Bucs makes perfect sense for Sherman, who can chase another Super Bowl ring alongside Tom Brady, instead of competing against the G.O.A.T. Brady actively recruited Sherman, the best veteran CB still remaining on the market.
During a Wednesday press conference, Sherman said Brady told him, "'You better come or you're going to regret not coming,'" NFL Network's Sara Walsh reported.
Sherman has dealt with an ongoing legal situation this offseason, stemming from a July incident that led to his arrest on five misdemeanor charges -- including driving under the influence and second-degree criminal trespass -- after he crashed his SUV in a construction zone and later tried to force his way into a family member's home.
Since the arrest, Sherman has been in therapy and is reportedly in great shape, losing 15 pounds this offseason.
When healthy, the 33-year-old has shown he can still play at a high level. Sherman played only five games in 2020 due to injury. But in 2019, he was a Pro Bowler and the fourth-rated corner overall by Pro Football Focus. Sherman might no longer take away an entire side of the field as he famously did during his Seattle heyday, but he's still a very good corner when healthy and in shape.
To get a five-time Pro Bowler at this point is a coup for the Bucs, who have been riddled with injury.
Sean Murphy-Bunting (elbow) went down early in Week 1. Jamel Dean hurt his knee in Week 3, and though the CB avoided a significant injury, he is expected to miss a couple of weeks. And Carlton Davis has been on the injury report with abdomen and rib issues.
In Sunday's loss to the Rams, the Bucs needed special teamer Dee Delaney (who'd played four total snaps on defense in his career) for 51 plays. So, yeah, calling Sherman an upgrade is an understatement.
Bucs coach Bruce Arians said it's unlikely that the three-time All-Pro would be ready to take the field for Tampa Bay this weekend versus the Patriots, though Sherman wouldn't rule it out.
"In my mind, I always think there's a chance, but I don't call the shots around here," Sherman said. "I'm literally learning the plays on the field today."
