Richard Sherman is back where it all began.
The colourful cornerback begins his first season with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday when they kick off the 2018 campaign on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. Sherman, 30, returned to southern California in March when he signed a three-year, US$39-million deal with the 49ers the day after being released by the Seattle Seahawks following seven seasons.
The six-foot-three, 195-pound Sherman played his college football at nearby Stanford before being selected in the fifth round, No. 154 overall, in the 2011 NFL draft by Seattle. It was with the Cardinal that Sherman made the switch from receiver to cornerback as a junior.
By joining the 49ers, Sherman remained in the NFC West Division. But more importantly, it was the chance to return to California — Sherman is a native of Compton — that prompted the four-time Pro Bowl player to sign quickly with San Francisco.
"It's everything I needed in a team," he said during a recent conference call. "It's a West Coast team, it's a great environment, it's a familiar place for me.
"The defence is similar to what I've been running my entire career. They have a quarterback (Jimmy Garoppolo) who can win ball games and they paid me the money I was looking for."
Sherman is also entering a new partnership with DAZN Canada, an online streaming service. Canadian football fans will be able to subscribe to watch all NFL games live and on-demand.
"Obviously we have fans all over the world and across Canada," Sherman said. "You have to give people the opportunity to see the games.
"I think this is an opportunity to give people in Canada the chance to watch any game, no blackouts, no restrictions at all."
Connecting with Canadians is nothing new to Sherman, who visited Vancouver often during his time in Seattle.
"It's a beautiful city," Sherman said. "I thought the people were nice.
"Obviously it's similar to Seattle in a lot of respects."
The 2017 campaign was a tale of two seasons for San Francisco. The 49ers were 1-10 before Garoppolo, who was acquired from New England, became the starter.
Garoppolo led San Francisco to five straight wins and a 6-10 record. The 49ers averaged 28.8 points under Garoppolo compared to 17 thorough their first 11 regular-season games.
Garoppolo signed a five-year, $137.5-million deal in February. While that move and San Francisco's strong finish last year has created plenty of optimism for the 49ers, Sherman said what happened in 2017 is irrelevant now.
"Nothing that happened in the past, the wins and the losses, will have any bearing on this year's result," Sherman said. "That's the way you have to treat it.
"Obviously staying healthy is a huge part of it. It's about execution and the quarterback has to play well. How he goes is how we'll go."
The 49ers' defence also will look to Sherman, a Super Bowl champion entering his eighth NFL season, for leadership this season. The league's interception leader in 2013, Sherman registered 367 tackles, 32 interceptions, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in Seattle as an integral part of the 'Legion of Boom.'
But that heralded defence is a thing of the past after Seattle dismantled its roster this off-season. Among the veterans released or not re-signed were Canadians Luke Willson and Jon Ryan.
Willson, a tight end from LaSalle, Ont., played his first five NFL seasons with Seattle after being selected in the fifth round, No. 158 overall out of Rice in 2013. Willson signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent.
Ryan, a 36-year-old punter from Regina, spent 10 seasons with Seattle (2008-17) before being released last month. He quickly signed with the Buffalo Bills but was among their final cuts.
"They're two of the best guys I've ever met," Sherman said. "Both are tremendous people and tremendous athletes and I'm very thankful to have met them."
This season will be one of adjustment for Sherman and other NFL players after the league implemented its new helmet rule. Players can't lower their helmet to initiate contact or lead with it. Doing so will result in a 15-yard penalty, fine or ejection.
Sherman isn't a fan of the new rule.
"There is no "make adjustment" to the way you tackle," he tweeted. "Even in a perfect form tackle the body is led by the head.
"The rule is idiotic and should be dismissed immediately. When you watch rugby players tackle they are still lead by their head. Will be flag football soon."
The 49ers will play the Seahawks twice this season — in Seattle on Dec. 2 then at home Dec. 18. But Sherman doesn't have either date circled on his calendar.
"This game is a business," he said. "It's a job and when you get an opportunity to go to another job, that's what you go do.
"When you put too much into it and be emotional about it, that's kind of when you lose yourself. We did some really cool things (in Seattle), I met some great people and have some amazing memories and I look forward to making more memories and doing more amazing things."
Sherman also isn't worrying about how Seattle fans will react to his return.
"I don't care either way," he said. "My approach will be the same as it was when I played in that uniform ... go out there and play and try to win the ball game."
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
