SANTA CLARA -- 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman has not hidden the fact that there is no love lost between him and the Seahawks organization. His former teammate and close friend, Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said that while it was a business decision, he doesn’t approve of how it played out.
“I thought it was really s***** to be honest with you, how it ended,” Baldwin said. “Would really have liked for him to stay here, and had an opportunity to finish his career with this organization. But that was part of the business. It doesn’t work out that way.”
Baldwin confirmed that he and Sherman remain close, adding that the two communicate regularly. They might have even spoken more this week before they see each other as opponents for the first time in their NFL careers.
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Both Sherman and Baldwin agree that the matchup will be fun, but that it’s just another game. Baldwin spoke about seeing his former teammate.
“He’s not just another cornerback,” Baldwin said. “He’s a very good, close friend of mine, who I spent over 10 years with. So he is a friend, a person that I admire and respect and appreciate. I look forward to seeing him on Sunday.”
Baldwin was very succinct when asked how he envisioned Sherman’s reception upon his return to CenturyLink Field.
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“I hope a positive one,” Baldwin said. “Everything he has done for this organization.”
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner was in agreement about how the former Seahawks cornerback should be greeted.
“He should be received with the loudest cheer that they could possibly cheer,” Wagner said. “And the warmest welcome. It’s not like he said ‘I hate this team I want to leave’. It was the business side of everything. So I would be surprised if they booed, if anyone booed.”
Wagner, like Baldwin, is disappointed that Sherman was not able to remain in Seattle, but was more restrained in his comments.
“You hope that you’re able to play a long time with the people that you came into this game with,” Wagner said. “It’s a business and the team is going to make the best decision for themselves, and he’s going to make the best for him. And sometimes it means parting ways.”
Wagner also had thoughts on how he and Sherman would act toward each other.
“Probably a lot of trash talk,” Wagner said. “You know. He’s not going to get a pick. I won’t let him get a pick. If he gets a pick he’ll definitely say something. If I get a pick on the sideline, I’m definitely going to say something to him.
“If he is about to catch one, I’m just going to come in, I’m going to check in real quick and swipe it. Hopefully he’s making it on my sideline. Maybe I’ll just kind of step in on accident and get in there."
Wagner seemed excited to see what the possible match up between Sherman and Baldwin on the field would look like.
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“They are a lot older now,” Wagner said jokingly. “So you want to say they are mature. Right? Yeah, you want to, but you probably won’t. I don’t know. Hopefully something fun.”