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How Richard Sherman missed mark on Seattle Seahawks' changes

Published

2 years ago

April 23, 2024

How Richard Sherman missed mark on Seattle Seahawks' changes

Things are changing and almost everyone understands it. The Seattle Seahawks will not be the same and we are starting to see the signs.

First, we found out that the basketball hoop had been removed from the team meeting room. No one was too surprised; that hoop was so connected to Pete Carroll that no new coach could possibly run team meetings with it looming over him. It would be like conducting practice with a giant hologram of the former head coach running around in translucent Monarchs! Everyone understands it. It would be impossible to build a new legacy with that symbol staring you in the face.

Non-story.

Former Seahawks RB sees both sides of ‘picture gate’ controversy

But then highly respected Seahawks’ defensive lineman Leonard Williams chatted with the media and relayed that it wasn’t the only change to the facility. Apparently (gasp!), a few of the pictures between the team meeting room and the indoor practice facility had been removed. I’m sure when he said it, there wasn’t a single thought in his mind that he would be starting a debate. He was explaining how important it was that the new group get the opportunity to build their own legacy and to define this new era of Seahawks football. No disrespect to the past, but they wanted to start something new without the constant comparisons to what took place more than a decade ago.

It made perfect sense. Heck, it made me wonder if this had been an impediment for the past few seasons.

But then we heard some were upset about it. At first, I assumed it was more of a straw man argument. Maybe someone in theory was bothered. Maybe you could craft an abstract argument about how this was insulting to the past generation of successful teams. But actually, honest-to-goodness bothered? No one in their right mind would actually be upset, right?

Right. No one who fits that description is upset, especially once they hear all the details. Especially after they learn that it’s just a few pictures in a single small space that will be replaced by digital options. When they are assured that the Ring of Honor and many of the monuments to the franchise’s success stories remain all over the building.

More: Seattle Seahawks GM addresses ‘picture gate’ at team HQ

But that doesn’t rule out every person. No, that doesn’t account for Richard Sherman.

Sherman weighed in on the X conversation between a fan and his former teammate Kam Chancellor, who were debating the issue. When the fan argued that this was common practice, Sherman took exception:

Yea I’m sure every great franchise is removing its legendary players pictures from their building because they can’t ever live up to that. Makes sense. Sure the Ravens don’t have pictures of Ray Lewis and that great defense. I’m sure Pittsburg doesn’t have pictures of all the great moments. I’m sure Dallas, SF, NE all remove pictures of the history of their Franchise because of a new coach. Makes sense.

And later:

Pete Hung a SB banner no other coach in the franchise history has done that. But it’s on brand.

Here are a few thoughts:

• 1. How surprising is it that Sherm didn’t know the whole story before teeing off?

Honestly, not that surprising. To be fair to Sherm, that doesn’t make him any different than most of the other national figures who opined about this last week. Rich Eisen took it as a sign that Pete Carroll wasn’t going to be around much anymore (no kidding!). Pat McAfee thought they were erasing any signs of the past, like he had seen in Indianapolis late in his own career. That wasn’t the case either.

I don’t expect national voices to understand each part of a local issue. I’ve done some national radio and it’s nearly impossible to be as informed as the locals are – you have to treetop a lot of subjects. But maybe you expected a former Seahawk to have a little more info? He does, after all, have the ability to call some of the folks he presumably still knows in that building.

If he had, he would have learned that this was just a few pictures and that plenty remain. He’d know that the Doug Baldwin jersey is still there. He’d know that the majority of what came down were signs bearing the slogans that were specific to Pete. Mike Macdonald might want his players to be “all in,” but maybe he has a different way of messaging it? I guess he never bothered to ask. Why? Because…

• 2. Richard Sherman doesn’t care about the Seahawks. At all. He’s made that clear many times in many ways. He doesn’t care about the franchise, the fans, or anyone else. What he cares about is Richard Sherman. And that is why he’s spouting off.

If he cared about the team, he’d know that a new coach needs to forge his own path. He’d listen to a respected player like Williams explain how much he relishes the opportunity to build something new. He’d think about this from the perspective of the franchise rather than simply his own. He’d think like the winner he was on the field rather than the person who’s taken a series of (alleged) L’s off of it.

But no. He doesn’t care what helps this team win more in the future. He doesn’t want the fans to experience a new era of success. That might take away from what he and his mates accomplished a DECADE ago. Much like his pal Russell Wilson (of whom he is so often so antagonistic), this is about preserving the legacy of the past rather than allowing for a successful future. And as Pete is fond of saying, it couldn’t be more obvious.

• 3. Sherman is no stranger to hypocrisy, but this is another great example of it. I just love that his post makes it sound like he respects Pete and this franchise too much to let a newcomer erase their accomplishments. It’s nice that he has come around to that – too bad he couldn’t have acted that way when he was playing for Pete.

In fact, my suggestion is that they use the new digital monitor that will hang in the space once occupied by the picture of his famous tip to show a video loop of his temper tantrum on the sidelines after he blew a coverage against Atlanta and refused to acknowledge it. Remember, he chose to blame everyone else and pushed aside his teammates when they tried to bring him back into the fold.

Or maybe they could put up a plaque for the “Kumbaya Room” and use it for other players who let their emotions get the better of them rather than selflessly thinking of what’s best for the team. Just a few options.

• 4. Like so many of Sherman’s outbursts, there is a little clue into what may really be going on, and it lives in the last line of his second post when he writes that this is “on brand.” What does he mean? For whom is it “on brand?” For the franchise? The front office? Mike Macdonald?

I doubt it. My guess is this is a reference to general manager/president of football operations John Schneider (although he obviously feels more comfortable hedging without a direct mention). If Pete was the father figure who lavished love and praise on the players of that generation, it was John who (in their eyes) was the bad guy. It was John who had to think realistically and move on from players who no longer had the same value they once did. And since it’s John who remained once Pete was gone, it’s easy to look at the one left standing and assume he’s trying to consolidate his power and erase the past. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sherm is one of many former players that feels as if they need to choose sides in the divorce.

He might be right about that. History has shown that while Sherman doesn’t always have a realistic view of his own actions (i.e. claiming that “no one knows what happened” in a verbal exchange with a reporter despite the recorded evidence that told us exactly what had occurred), he often will hint at a nuanced view of what is happening behind the scenes of the organization. He certainly gave us enough clues as to the reality of Russell Wilson’s time in Seattle. I don’t know exactly to what he is referring in this comment, but I’ll have my eyes and ears open. Maybe we’ll find out one day.

But for now, I would suggest that everyone (including Sherman and any other ex-player) upset about the changing of a few pictures take a deep breath and think about the real goal. The goal is to win championships. And if offering a new coach and new players a way to build their own style and their own legacy gets them a step closer to that goal, then support it. No one can take away the memories of the past and no one wants to stop honoring those immense accomplishments. They just want to celebrate new ones as well. And the new people in the organization deserve the opportunity to forge their own path to the top.

Without worrying about offending those looking for a reason to be offended.

Seattle Seahawks coverage

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How Polanco’s departure impacts Seattle Mariners’ offseason

Published

8 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

How Polanco’s departure impacts Seattle Mariners’ offseason

The Seattle Mariners’ offseason will not be completed in a nice, neat, run-it-back bow, with reports Saturday morning that Jorge Polanco and the Mets are in agreement on a two-year, $40 million contract.

Drayer: Mariners’ plan for 2B and 3B coming more into focus

The number was stunning, with most industry insiders estimating Polanco would be looking at something closer to $12-15 million per year. Even ESPN’s Jeff Passan, one of the few to estimate Polanco would receive above $15 million per year, was likely to be surprised Saturday morning.

“He’s not getting $20 million a year,” Passan told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Tuesday. “I think at the end of the day, it’s probably going to be $14-17 million a year. If there are two teams duking it out at the end, maybe it goes up a million a year. It looks like it is going to be a three-year deal, but something along the lines of three (years) for $45-50 (million). I think that’s about right.”

The one move Passan says could make Mariners the AL favorites

The estimated $17 million salary sounded outrageous to the show hosts, but a lot can change this time of year, namely the Mets losing Pete Alonso to the Orioles. In comparison, Polanco is not exactly a splash after the loss of Alonso, but his versatility and offense when healthy (an .821 OPS in 2025) were attractive to the Mets.

Polanco going elsewhere was certainly a possibility – perhaps established as a good possibility when he failed to sign quickly, unlike the Mariners’ No. 1 target of the offseason, Josh Naylor. They were well aware of this with president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto recently admitting the odds were technically against them with numerous teams involved. The Mariners valued Polanco but were outbid by a team that needed to make a move. So they must move on.

While the Mariners remained engaged in talks with free agents this week, it is the trade market where the most attractive candidates reside, with the Cardinals expected to trade Brendan Donovan and the Diamondbacks making Ketel Marte available.

Donovan and Marte would be great fits on the field and on the salary spreadsheet for Seattle, but they would come at the cost of prospect capital with the Cardinals, and to a lesser extent Diamondbacks, dealing from a position of leverage.

The Cardinals do not have to deal Donovan, who has two years remaining under club control, but his value presents new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom the opportunity to make a significant early organizational mark.

In the case of Marte, the leverage he brings the Diamondbacks is short-lived as he will become a 10-and-5 player in the first weeks of the season, meaning he will be able to veto any trades at that point.

Can the M’s give up what Arizona wants for a Ketel Marte trade?

On the free agent market, despite reports that agent Scott Boras reached out to the Mariners about third baseman Alex Bregman having some interest in the team, the big-ticket players appear to remain off limits for the Mariners. They have maintained that the door would be open for Eugenio Suárez in the right circumstances. Assuming that would be a one-year deal, that signing seems unlikely to happen. The remaining free agent infielders appear to be more stopgap options of the take-a-chance variety with names like Willi Castro, Luis Rengifo or even Adam Frazier available.

The loss of Polanco and his production at the plate put Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander in the position where they are going to have to make a gamble. They have a track record of making trades that end up requiring lower-ranked prospects than expected. If that is not the norm this winter, then do they make that painful prospect trade, or trade a starter from the big league roster? Does ownership decide it can make a gamble in expanding the budget for a higher-priced free agent, or does it take the gamble of making smaller moves, essentially staying where they are, seeing how it plays out and attempting to make big moves at the trade deadline once again?

The Mariners and Mariners fans have just been hit with a large dose of uncertainty. In the uncertainty are opportunities, however, and the remainder of the offseason should not be quiet.

More Seattle Mariners offseason coverage

• Backup catcher target emerges for Seattle Mariners, per reports
• Salk: What we know and think about Seattle Mariners’ offseason needs
• Why Nolan Arenado could make sense as a Seattle Mariners trade target
• Seattle Mariners pick two, lose one in minor league phase of Rule 5 draft
• With a tweak, Jose Ferrer could be special in Seattle Mariners’ bullpen

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Kraken fall to Mammoth 5-3 for 7th loss in 8 games

Published

20 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Seattle Kraken fall to Mammoth 5-3 for 7th loss in 8 games

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dylan Guenther scored a go-ahead power-play goal in the third period and the Utah Mammoth beat the Seattle Kraken 5-3 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Utah Mammoth 5, Seattle Kraken 3: Box score

Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists, and Kailer Yamamoto, JJ Peterka, and Lawson Crouse also scored for the Mammoth. Kevin Stenlund had three assists and Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 shots.

Mason Marchment had two goals and Ben Meyers also scored for the Kraken in their seventh loss in eight games. Phillipp Grubauer had 26 saves.

After a scoreless first period, Marchment put Seattle on the board with a backhand shot at 3:35 of the second.

Schmaltz tied it at 8:09 with an unassisted goal. He attacked off a breakaway and chipped the puck over Grubauer’s shoulder from close range.

Yamamoto then gave Utah its first lead with 6:36 left in the middle period.

Seattle had several shots at an equalizer during a two-man advantage lasting nearly two minutes, but the Kraken came up empty.

Marchment then got his second goal of the night and fourth of the season at 7:50 of the third, slapping the puck home from long distance to tie it.

Guenther gave Utah a 3-2 lead with 7:05 remaining, successfully converting a power play.

Peterka and Crouse added empty netters over the final three minutes, and Meyers scored for Seattle with 43 seconds to go for the final margin.

Up next

Kraken: Host Buffalo on Sunday.

Mammoth: At Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Seattle Kraken dealt another tough blow on the injury front

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Brock: How rookie DL can fit in Seattle Seahawks’ defense

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Brock: How rookie DL can fit in Seattle Seahawks’ defense

The Seattle Seahawks focused heavily on their offense during the draft this past spring, using nine of their 11 selections to pick players on that side of the ball.

Just two of their picks were defenders: safety Nick Emmanwori and defensive lineman Rylie Mills.

Seattle Seahawks waive 2 players, have options to fill their roster spots

After returning from an injury suffered in the season opener that forced him to miss three games (and essentially four since he played on four snaps in Week 1), Emmanwori is making his case to be in consideration for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Mills, on the other hand, has yet to play a snap while recovering from an ACL tear suffered last December during his final season at Notre Dame. But the fifth-round pick appears to be nearing his NFL debut. Mills, who was designated to return to practice from injured reserve Nov. 26, was a full participant in practice for the first time last Friday. He was ruled out of Sunday’s game against Atlanta, but practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday as Seattle prepares for a matchup with Indianapolis this Sunday.

The Seahawks have until next Wednesday to decide if they will activate Mills to the 53-man roster or place him on IR for the rest of the season. So it may be another week until he makes his debut, and it’s no guarantee that he will play this season. If he is activated to the 53-man roster, how will he fit the Seahawks’ standout defense? Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard shared his insight about the role the Notre Dame product could play during his Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Thursday.

“I do remember watching him a number of times and just, gosh, he was a good college football player,” Huard said. “He’s big now. He’s 6-5, 290 (pounds), and to be honest with you, you know where he fits a little bit more? He would fit a little bit more in a traditional, kind of old school Pittsburgh Steelers 3-4 defense. He would be that five-technique defensive end that could play that spot and be very stout.”

Mills is similar in size to star Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who measures in at 6-5 and 310 pounds. But one key difference is Williams has more length, which is a concern Huard has about Mills.

“The challenge and what I’m anxious to kind of see in how they utilize him eventually is he’s not real long (Mills had 32 5/8 inch arms at the draft combine)” Huard said. “He’s not like Leonard Williams with that length. He’s not necessarily like a (Quinton) Bohanna and a (Brandon) Pili at 330-plus pounds either. (He’s) 6-5, 290, fairly athletic, super smart, super savvy, but he’s a little different than all the rest of these D-linemen.

“He’s certainly not an edge player and he doesn’t have some of the size or the length of some of the interior (linemen).”

Every Rylie Mills sack (17.0) 👀💪
The best of @ryliemills99 ➡️ https://t.co/tBCRILE4Eh#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/kdxRT6F6c5
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 21, 2025

However, Huard is confident the Seahawks can figure out the best way to utilize Mills’ skills just like they have with another player on their defensive line who lacks some of the ideal measurables: 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II.

“Like they’ve done with Murphy, who also is not prototypical in some of the size, they will play to his skill set,” Huard said. “(Mills’) greatest skill set, frankly, might just be his brain.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Seattle Seahawks coverage

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• Seahawks Notebook: Coach leaves team; two players designated to return

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