The Seahawks could lose a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft for failure to disclose CB Richard Sherman’s knee injury on the league’s weekly injury report, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. That would be an elevation from the fifth-round pick Seattle was docked last September as a result of a repeat violation during organized team activities.
Mortensen reported that the Seahawks, who could also be fined, are cooperating with the league, contending that Sherman did not miss a snap, which should be strongly considered on their behalf.
The Seahawks didn’t disclose that Sherman played half the season with a sprained MCL until coach Pete Carroll brought it up at his season-ending press conference at the VMAC Monday.
“I didn’t realize that we hadn’t even revealed it,” Carroll said. “I don’t even remember what game it was. It was somewhere in the middle (of the season). He was fine about it, he didn’t miss anything. Same with Russell (Wilson), he was fine about it. I don’t know how (players) do that, but they did.”
The Seahawks likely will argue that Sherman not only didn’t miss playing time, he didn’t miss practice and was never in danger of doing so, thus no violation. Sherman was listed several times under the NIR (not injury-related) category, which is often taken to mean a rest day. Retired RB Marshawn Lynch was often listed as NIR.
A second-round pick would be a steep price to pay for hiding the injury. The Seahawks own the No. 56 overall choice, a selection Seattle needs to replenish its roster.
But the Seahawks have been punished by the NFL three times in the past five years for rules violations, which is why the league may be considering increasing the level of punishment this time.
The first three were about permitting too much physical contact during off-season team practices, finally causing the league to take away a fifth-round choice, in addition to fines.
See Art Thiel’s column “Huskies, Seahawks Disguise Their Hurts.”
Notes
The Seahawks Thursday signed TE Chris Briggs, DT Rodney Coe, WR Jamel Johnson, DB Demetrius McCray and WR Rodney Smith to futures contracts.
12 Comments
This smells fishy. How does PC say with a straight face that he didn’t know it wasn’t reported? How about others in the organization? I’m sure PC doesn’t personally file the reports. Was there ever an injury to Sherman? Or was Pete making that up in an effort to deflect and explain away some of Sherman’s bad behavior? Unbelievable!
If Sherman’s injury was truly significant and legit, is he going to play in the Pro Bowl in a couple of weeks!
This is sad. Your points are well taken. A second round pick would be severe at this point. But I didn’t notice Sherman gimped at all, no wrap or brace on the knee, and if he practiced every week . . .
It was a surprise to all of us who watch him regularly. But it’s also possible for smart, tough guys to avoid detection via meds and discipline.
Good questions. I think Carroll’s intent was to give Sherman a partial excuse for his behavior, a dubious idea at best. Then he was caught in a procedural error.
Every starter on every team plays hurt at least some of the time. If an injury doesn’t risk missing a game, it shouldn’t require a report.
The definition of injury is always subjective, but Carroll made the mistake of calling Sherman’s injury “significant.”
A ridiculous price to pay for a minor infraction (that only exists to establish a more accepting line in Las Vegas for NFL games). If a 2nd round pick is taken away, Carroll and Schneider should list every player with a hangnail on the report each week in 2017 as an act of defiance.
Tom Brady has a permanent place on Belichick’s weekly reports. No way to know if he’s hurt. Again, he gamed the system.
Been a Yuge (yeah I know) supporter of PC. But really. “I didn’t realize that we hadn’t even revealed it,” Does ANYONE really believe that? So, what is it? He’s out of touch or got caught (again) with his hand in the cookie jar. ( He lied) Too strong. O.K. He fibbed. (again). A 2nd-round pick. Where’s GM JS ? Guess he didn’t know either. It’s USC part Deux.
He’s a player’s coach and he likely did it to give Sherman cover. I don’t think it was nefarious.
USC and SEA vastly different. But Carroll was careless. He was trying to protect Sherman with a story about injury, but failed to leave a credible trail.
Credible trail or believable lie?