After seven seasons with the Seahawks, it looks like the Richard Sherman era could be coming to an end in Seattle.
According to NFL.com, Sherman has reached out to multiple teammates over the past 24 hours to say goodbye and let them know that he won't be on the team in 2018. One of those teammates who got a message from Sherman appears to be Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane, who sent out a cryptic tweet referring to No. 25 (Sherman) on Wednesday.
That text message got my heart hurting ... damn 25 was my Dawg #WhatsNext
— jeremy lane (@StayingInMyLane) March 7, 2018
Although the Seahawks haven't announced any moves in regards to Sherman, a decision on his future will likely be coming soon. According to NFL.com, Sherman was scheduled to meet with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider at some point Wednesday.
Of course, this meeting doesn't necessarily mean Sherman is going to be released or traded. As a matter of fact, when asked about the meeting, Sherman told NFL.com that he's "just having a conversation with management."
On the other hand, it was probably slightly more serious than that because NFL.com is also reporting that Sherman is expected to be released in the next couple of days. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora has reported that the Seahawks have been trying to trade Sherman, but they haven't been able to find any suitors because everyone is expecting him to get cut.
If the Seahawks do decide to move on from Sherman, it wouldn't be a total surprise. Not only did they attempt to trade him last offseason, but the 31-year-old has been battling injuries over the past year. Sherman missed seven games in 2017 after tearing his right Achilles tendon, and also had to have surgery on his left leg this offseason to clean out bone spurts.
The Seahawks would also pick up some serious salary cap space by releasing Sherman. The cornerback is scheduled to count $13.2 million against the cap in 2018 and the Seahawks would get $11 million of that back if they were to release him.
Sherman has been in Seattle since 2011, when the Seahawks selected him in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Over the past seven seasons, Sherman has been voted to the Pro Bowl four times and been named a first-team All-Pro three times. The cornerback also led the NFL in interceptions in 2013, the same year the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Broncos.