Seattle talks about Richard Sherman's return with 49ers

The flamboyant cornerback remains a central figure in Seattle's success in consecutive Super Bowl games

RENTON, Wash. – Pete Carroll watched a Seahawk employee with a puzzled look as he continued to answer questions about a player who is no longer in the Seattle locker room.

"Very good festival of love for Sherm," Carroll joked.

The imminent return of Richard Sherman to Seattle this week has dominated the conversation and will dominate attention before Sunday's game between the Seahawks and the new Sherman team in San Francisco. For a good reason too. Sherman remains one of the central figures of Seattle's success during Carroll's tenure, which included the franchise's only Super Bowl title.

However, his stay in Seattle ended with a complicated separation out of season. It is a commercial decision that eventually led Sherman to settle in a new home in San Francisco. And while the relationship between Sherman and the Seahawks was sometimes controversial, there was respect for what he had helped the franchise to accomplish.

"We had tremendous conversations throughout the stages of what happened in the end," Carroll said. "Sherm and I were sitting in my office, eyes in the eye, discussing everything and it was very simple and clear and he was running his own business and he had to be really on top, what he was , and did a fantastic job for him too. But our communication was excellent.

Sherman has been three-time All-Pro during his seven seasons in Seattle. After being selected in the fifth round, he became one of the NFL's top halfbacks, an anchor for the Legion of Boom secondary club in Seattle that was completely dismantled as a result of departures and injuries. Sherman always seemed to be at the center of all the attention, that it was about talking with Tom Brady after defeating the Patriots in a regular season game of 2012, of antics directed against Michael Crabtree after the 2013 NFC championship game, or bark against coaches the sideline.

The time had clearly come for a change and it included some of Sherman's critical comments about Carroll's release. Carroll said that he was not bothered.

"I know who Sherm is. I know him very differently from what you probably think. I think of his world, "said Carroll. "There were times (when) he was here where he could have said something I did not agree with and that I had to work through that and so on. He is his own man. He was a stallion of a guy when he was here and what was coming out of the transition was coming out. I'm crazy about that.

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin sees Sherman as a mentor. When Griffin arrived as a rookie last year, Sherman became a guide for Griffin on how to be a professional.

"I did not expect him to take me under his wing as he did, it was a surprise to me, but I'm grateful to him," Griffin said. "I came in, he had his arms open for me and no matter what it took, I remember that he had said," I will not give you that much unless you can handle it unless you that I know you can. "I remember that after the first matches, it was like," You know what, I see you're ready. I'll give you everything I know and we'll start from there. It's not like he was paid to do things like that. He does not do it. So, you can say he's really a real guy. "

Bobby Wagner joked that there would be a lot of bad talk and that he would not let Sherman get caught, even if it meant getting out of the sidelines to make sure that did not happen. Wagner became serious when asked what kind of reception Sherman should receive. The sports radio was filled with questions about whether Sherman should be congratulated or booed on his return.

"It should be received with the greatest joy possible and a warm welcome. It's not like he said, "I hate this team, I want to leave." There is a commercial aspect to everything, "Wagner said." I'd be surprised if anyone hoisted it. "They hooted at it, they were not fans of Richard Sherman. I think he deserves applause, he was part of the team that helped make the city the first football championship, and I would expect nothing but respect. "

NOTES: LB K.J. Wright is "missing from the team" this week in rehab on his awkward knee that has led him to miss the last two games, Carroll said. Wright will not be playing this week. … Seattle activated RB J.D. McKissic in the alignment of 53 men. McKissic was absent all season after being injured on foot during the pre-season and was placed in the injured reserve. He returned to practice last week.

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