Richard Sherman on Ravens release of Earl Thomas: ‘It’s really sad’

The Ravens’ release of All-Pro safety Earl Thomas last week prompted 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman to tweet out support of his former teammate.

Perennial Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas‘ tenure with the Baltimore Ravens came to an abrupt halt last week after the team elected to release him following an on-field training camp scuffle with fellow teammate, safety Chuck Clark.

In doing so, Baltimore will absorb roughly $15 million in dead money by voiding the remaining three years on his initial four-year deal, which is a substantial amount to consider and likely paints a picture that runs much deeper than the initial frictions seen between Thomas and Clark last week. If anything, the Ravens likely looked at this recent incident as a proverbial “final straw.”

As the Ravens look forward and try to fill the void left in Thomas’ wake, one of the defensive back’s former teammates, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, came to Thomas’ defense in a tweet over the weekend:

“It’s really sad how things have played out for a man who is like a brother to me,” Sherman said. “Just know that when @Earl_Thomas gets back on the grass he will be out to make a point! Still one of the best in this league and I look forward to him being able to prove it again”

Sherman and Thomas, of course, made names for themselves during the vaunted “Legion of Boom” days with the Seattle Seahawks, stretching from when they started playing together in 2011 until Sherman’s release from the team in early 2018.

Sherman would go on to join the Niners on a free-agent deal shortly after being let go, while Thomas’ exit from Seattle following an injury-plagued 2018 season came with its own clashes with the front office.

Particularly if you recall Thomas flipping off the Seahawks sideline after being carted off the field with a serious leg injury.

Both Thomas and Sherman managed to resurrect their respective careers after moving on from two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy in Seattle, Thomas joining an already-elite Ravens defense and Sherman joining what was then an upstart San Francisco team. Unlike Thomas, who likely created some serious rifts within the locker room, Sherman has since adopted the stance of a senior member amid a primarily young 49ers defense.

Baltimore probably wishes it could have gotten that kind of Thomas instead.

Regardless, the Ravens already boast a loaded secondary and will likley be able to absorb Thomas’ absence.

Thomas, meanwhile, hopes other teams out there will have a similar feeling about his efforts as Sherman does.