Richard Sherman: Seattle Seahawks 'just lost their way'

Ahead of his first training camp with the San Francisco 49ers, Richard Sherman can't help but reflect on the Seattle Seahawks' unfulfilled potential.

The three-time all-pro cornerback was an integral part of the most successful run in franchise history, which included the team's first (and only) Super Bowl title after the 2013 season. But after Seattle came within one play — Malcolm Butler's famous goal-line interception of Russell Wilson to seal the New England Patriots' win in Super Bowl XLIX — of a title repeat, the Seahawks haven't been able to duplicate that postseason success, falling short of the playoffs entirely last season for the first time since head coach Pete Carroll's second year with the team in 2011.

With the famous Legion of Boom secondary dismantled — safety Earl Thomas is the lone remaining piece and is holding out for a new contract — Sherman expressed his disappointment with what he sees as the team getting in its own way.

“It’s just unfortunate. It’s really unfortunate,” Sherman told The MMQB. “I think it’ll all come out when they do the 30 for 30. Mistakes and poor judgment on things ruined what could have been a really special deal. You don’t have much left right now. And to say you’re not going to pay Earl Thomas is just ... there’s no decline in play there. He’s played the game the right way. Who do you have to pay? You have the two best linebackers in the game. You have the quarterback. You have a great wide receiver in Doug (Baldwin). And you’re paying (left tackle) Duane Brown."

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Released in March after suffering a ruptured Achilles last season, Sherman signed a three-year deal with the 49ers shortly thereafter. In an offseason marked by change, defensive end Michael Bennett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and tight end Jimmy Graham opted to sign with the Green Bay Packers. Safety Kam Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril also retired due to medical concerns.

Sherman said the upheaval was the result of a long series of self-inflicted wounds.

“They’ve lost their way. It’s as simple as that. They’ve just lost their way. When you make too many mistakes over a long period of time, you kind of dig yourself a hole. And then when you backtrack, you gotta make a bunch of rash decisions to try and fill the hole and hope that it holds up."

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Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz