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San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman was
part of a Los Angeles Times panel, which also consisted of Rams wide receiver Robert Woods, Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, and communist LZ Granderson.
Sherman told the story of his time in 2017 when the protesting during the national anthem was spreading across the league following controversial words by President Trump. Sherman was with the Seattle Seahawks at the time. He remembers his coach at the time, Pete Carroll, stopping them before a game against the Tennessee Titans, and asked if they wanted to do something as a team.
They did not.
Sherman remembers some players speaking up, wanting to show support, but being worried about what their families might say or how any action might be perceived.
Obviously, things are different now. Racism and social injustice have jumped to the forefront of today's issues, and the country is much more understanding of the problems that plague our nation.
Sherman also discussed the challenges of growing up Black in America. They are challenges that many don't share, and the cornerback, like so many others, had to be taught how to alter the perceptions of those who would be quick to judge someone based on the color of their skin.
"We learn how to deal with police," Sherman said during the panel, "how to deal with authority figures, how to not look intimidating, how to not be the angry Black man, how to be calm. Because those are things you need to be able to maneuver in this world as a Black man. If I'm a white suburban kid, I don't have to learn how to deal with cops and keep my hands on the steering wheel, no quick movements, sometimes put your hands out the window to make sure that you're not threatening. If anybody runs up on you, try to not seem confrontational. Your parents teach you those things."
Things didn't change for Sherman when he was in college at Stanford University, a prestigious college situated just west of Levi's Stadium.
"Even in college, you have people walking by you grabbing their purse," Sherman explained. "Because if they don't know who you are, if you're not wearing athletic gear, then you're just an intimidating Black man to them. Angry Black man.
"Every time you go out anywhere, you drive, and the police pull up behind you, you know it's bad. In L.A., as soon as they get behind you, you know, 'I'm getting pulled over. My day is going to be ruined today.' So it's hard for me to fully explain the frustration. But I think people are trying to express it and finding different ways to express it, whether it's protesting, rioting, burning down buildings, etc. Not to say it's the right way, but that's how people are expressing their anger because it hasn't changed."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already stated that the league will support those who choose to speak out against systemically discriminated and peacefully protest. It's a move in the right direction, and Sherman believes NFL players will be more willing to voice their opinions now.
"I expect a lot more of them to convey these messages, to convey messages about police brutality, equality, the systematic racism that's been going on," Sherman said. "And to have statistics. Because we have really intelligent and sharp players in our league who get the information and convey it. That's the part where fans are going to have to work with us a little bit.
"With football, you want to forget about politics. You want to forget about all the stuff you have going on. But right now, you can't. When you haven't seen a Black person your whole life, you don't interact with them on a daily basis, but your favorite player is a Black player, there should be some kind of relationship and empathy there, but there isn't.
"Us using that platform to make the point might turn some fans off, but it is what it is. Guys are going to continue to fight the good fight."
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke with reporters as the team prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft. Quarterback Brock Purdy also addressed the media. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
General Manager John Lynch
Opening comments:
"This to me, there's nothing like watching our guys compete on Sundays or Thursdays or Mondays. We play a lot of different days now, but nothing like watching our guys compete. But to me, this is really my favorite time of year as an organization because I think it represents our organization coming together and working for a common goal as much as anything we do. When you look at the guys I call our
If the San Francisco 49ers decide to trade wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, it's likely to occur within the next four days—before or during Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite some unconfirmed rumors, there has been no concrete indication that a trade is imminent. Previously, the 49ers had expressed a desire to retain Aiyuk for the foreseeable future.
Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams, has swiftly refuted rumors, including one alleging that the receiver had requested a trade, claiming that the Pittsburgh Steelers were "aggressively pursuing" the receiver.
While no official trade request
Brock Purdy isn't one to seek the spotlight. He exudes politeness, respect, and an even-keeled demeanor when speaking to reporters during interviews. Nothing we've seen from the San Francisco 49ers quarterback's time off the field would indicate that it's a facade.
However, on the field, Purdy can show some fire, particularly after a big play or in an effort to ensure his teammates are on the same page as him. While praising the third-year quarterback, one unnamed former NFL executive expressed a desire to see more of that fire from Purdy in the future, believing it is crucial to his development.
"Brock Purdy is one of the most talented arms that I've seen," the former executive recently
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus unveiled a seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers, addressing several key needs for the team in the 10-pick projection. Interestingly, the mock draft sees the team adding two legacy players. But before delving into that, let's examine the first three selections.
Sikkema has the 49ers shoring up their offensive line at pick No. 31 with the selection of former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Morgan allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in his 477 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle in 2023. He earned an impressive pass-blocking grade of 87.3 and an overall grade of
