Richard Sherman announces he has signed with Buccaneers, former All-Pro joins Tom Brady in Tampa

Richard Sherman is heading to Tampa. The three-time All-Professional nook announced on his podcast on Wednesday that he has signed with the Buccaneers. This comes after Sherman visited with Tampa Bay — his first official free agent go to of the yr — and was recruited by quarterback Tom Brady to hitch forces and assist the group repeat as Super Bowl champions. Following Sherman’s announcement, the group confirmed the signing by means of their social media channels. ESPN’s Adam Schefter additionally provides that it’s a one-year deal for Sherman. 

“I lastly had sufficient conversations and got here to a call that I will go play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Sherman mentioned. “I went with one of the best provide I had. The most effective alternative to go on the market and put some nice tape (collectively), to steer an excellent group. I really feel comfy and assured in my skills to go on the market and execute and assist that group win. … This was a possibility I could not go up. I weighed all of the choices with my spouse and my household and that is what we got here up with.”

Sherman famous on his podcast that the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, and Seattle Seahawks all confirmed some curiosity in bringing him aboard however he finally got here to the conclusion that the Buccaneers have been one of the best. 

“Clearly, they’re coming off the Tremendous Bowl,” Sherman mentioned when requested why he determined to go along with Tampa Bay. “They returned all their starters. They’ve an excellent veteran group. Tons of expertise. Clearly, with Tom Brady on the helm, you at all times have an opportunity. Elite receiving corpse. And an excellent grizzly entrance seven and a really gifted again finish, so it is a possibility — like I mentioned — I could not go up. It is a confirmed group and I simply have to go in there and present that these legs nonetheless acquired some juice.” 

Sherman additionally confirmed that Brady was a key piece to getting him to signal with Tampa. 

“He reached out initially simply to see if I used to be in form,” Sherman mentioned. “He and I’ve had a relationship over time and he is been very — he is an excellent man. … We each thought it could be actually cool if we acquired the chance to play collectively sooner or later in time. Clearly, with our conditions, it did not appear probably at any cut-off date, however he reached out and mentioned they could categorical curiosity and, clearly, he needed to play with me. Then their entrance workplace reached out and the dialog began just a few weeks in the past once they misplaced [Sean Murphy-Bunting] after which it form of steamrolled. 

The addition of Sherman comes at an excellent time for a Buccaneers secondary that’s permitting essentially the most passing yards per sport by means of the primary three weeks of the season. That is partially as a result of unit being gamed up with Sean Murphy-Bunting on IR with a dislocated elbow whereas Carlton Davis (hamstring) and Jamel Dean (knee) additionally coping with accidents. Because it pertains to Dean, he reportedly averted a critical knee harm after exiting Week 3 early, however his availability within the quick time period is doubtful, which made the pursuit of Sherman all of the extra vital. 

The 33-year-old was final on the sphere with the San Francisco 49ers in the course of the 2020 season. He was restricted to simply 5 video games performed final yr as a consequence of a calf harm, however totaled 18 tackles and snatched an interception.