The era of the vaunted "Legion of Boom" defense of the Seattle Seahawks could be over after this season. According to Michael Silver of NFL.com, the Seahawks could move on from some of their defensive players, like Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor, who both suffered season-ending injuries.
Without Sherman and Chancellor, the Seahawks gave up 42 points to the Los Angeles Rams Sunday in one of the most embarrassing losses in team history. While Seahawks fans are expecting things to go back to normal next season, the Seahawks could not bring back Sherman and Chancellor in 2018.
Sherman, who suffered a torn Achilles in November, could count $13.2 million against the salary cap in 2018. In the offseason, the Seahawks contemplated trading Sherman but decided to stick with him this season. However, trading him in the summer could be an option for the Seahawks as they try to spare themselves from the burden of Sherman’s huge salary cap hit.
Chancellor’s playing future uncertain
For his part, the 29-year-old Chancellor’s playing career is uncertain after he sustained season-ending neck injury last month. Chancellor signed a three-year, $36-million contract extension with the Seahawks in August. Fellow safety Earl Thomas contemplated retirement in the offseason, but he might ask for an increase in 2018 that could bring him close to what Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry makes, which is $13 million per year.
If Sherman is traded, the Seahawks might also ship Thomas to other teams. Pass-rusher Cliff Avril’s future with the Seahawks is also in doubt after suffering a season-ending neck and spinal injury. The Seahawks could also part ways with defensive end Michael Bennett, who signed a three-year extension worth $31.5 million last season.
If they part ways with their key defensive players, the Seahawks vaunted defense is in for a rebuilding mode in 2018. The Seahawks currently have an 8-6 record and they need a win over the Atlanta Falcons to boost their playoff chances.
Defensive players engage in word war
After their 42-7 loss to the Rams, Thomas and Bobby Wagner engaged in a word war.
Thomas told the media that Wagner, who entered the game with a hamstring injury, should not have played as he held back the defense. Thomas believes that the backup defensive players would have performed just as good compared to Wagner’s performance. Wagner, for his part, tweeted “E keep my name out yo mouth”, but later deleted it. The Seahawks defense gave up 244 rushing yards, the highest they gave up since 2010.
