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New York Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Once the NFL's most intimidating defender, James Harrison isn't the James Harrison you remember
Everywhere James Harrison went during Super Bowl week this year, he heard it. Fans yelled it at him as he walked to the New Orleans convention center from the Loews Hotel. Reporters asked him during interviews on radio row. NFL brothers Jerome Bettis, Nate Burleson, Cam Heyward, Deion Sanders all had the same query. Advertisement He must have been asked hundreds of times: 'Are you going to fight Chad Ochocinco?' Everything in his history said he would. In a photograph taken of him as a baby, Harrison's soft little fists are balled — and raised. When he played Pee Wee football, they called him Pitbull. At his high school, where racial tension burned hot, a fellow student mocked him. Harrison left hand marks around the kid's neck. In a separate incident, he tried to fight one of his assistant coaches. In the NFL, he was fined repeatedly for knockout blows, so he took on the league's commissioner, calling Roger Goodell a crook, puppet, devil, punk, dictator and a homosexual slur, among other things. His nickname with the Steelers was Deebo after the bully from 'Friday' known for his scowl. During a segment of 'Inside The NFL' last fall, Ochocinco — once body slammed by Harrison in a game — challenged his old nemesis to a fight. It seemed like a gag, but a bout was scheduled for Super Bowl week. It didn't happen; Harrison was healing from a meniscus repair. So during Super Bowl week, Harrison and Ochocinco met for an interview on the 'Nightcap' podcast. At one point, Ochocinco stood from his chair as if he wanted to take on Harrison right there. Ocho knows that if pushed, Harrison will not walk away. So Harrison wants to fight, right? His words say so. 'If he wanna fight, we gonna fight, baby,' he says. But his eyes? His eyes say this isn't the James Harrison you remember. Being the youngest of 14 children in a blended family provides some context for who Harrison became. 'You might have to fight for a few things if you're one of 14,' says Shawn 'Stretch' Armstead, a college teammate whom Harrison says knows him better than anyone except God. 'What he was taught in reference to survival might be different than what others were taught.' Advertisement From a young age, James revered his father, James Harrison Sr., whom the family called 'J.' A truck driver, J was said to be so strong he could spin and roll 55-gallon drums with one hand while taking a drag of a cigarette with the other. As a child, J tended to a farm before sunup, then walked 10 miles to school, passing four schools that wouldn't have him because he was Black. As an adult, he gave all of himself to his family, including the six who weren't his biological children. It was James' mom, Mildred, who had the heavy hand. When she snapped the belt, James sometimes ran to his father. Until he was 12, James knocked on his parents' bedroom door at night so he could sleep with them. Mildred would have none of it, but when she drifted off, J quietly let him in. Every Saturday, J and James went fishing. When one of James' Pee Wee coaches told his father that James wasn't practicing hard, J told him if he wasn't going to go 100 miles an hour, he couldn't play anymore. That was a turning point. Not long after, J told Mildred their son would play in the NFL. In high school, where Harrison was one of the very first Black students at Coventry High near Akron, Ohio, he was different from the others in ability and mentality in addition to skin color. A linebacker and running back, he had scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Nebraska, among others. Then came the suspensions. One was for trying to fight that coach. Another for using an obscene gesture in a game, which Harrison says was in response to a racial epithet. They might have been overlooked if not for the BB gun fight. It was, in his memory, typical high school horseplay. An assistant coach was involved, and several players in the locker room were shot with BBs, including Harrison, he says. But a parent was angry, and Harrison was blamed and charged with misdemeanor assault. The charge was reduced to disorderly conduct, to which he pleaded no contest. Advertisement His scholarship offers were rescinded. Kent State was still interested, but Harrison did not qualify academically, so he paid for his first two years and eventually made the team as a walk-on. By then, he had built a wall around himself. He could be bullheaded and resentful, according to Armstead. He didn't like to run and, admittedly, was poorly conditioned until his final year of college — 'I had wind issues, man,' he says. So despite 15 sacks in two seasons, Harrison was considered too surly and short at 6 feet, and no team dared draft him. In April 2002, he signed with the Steelers for a $4,000 signing bonus. Understanding the pro game did not come easily for Harrison, and he often dealt with his confusion by stopping in the middle of a practice rep, disrupting the entire team. If a coach dared scold him, Harrison gave him his famous glare — the furrowed brow and stare into the soul. He was equally tantalizing and infuriating, one of those prospects who keeps getting chances but not commitments. In September 2022, the Steelers released him. It was the first of three times he would be cut before ever playing a regular-season down in the NFL. In the summer of 2004, he was without a team, and football was looking like an impossible dream. He started planning an alternate future — climbing in the cab of a truck and making an honest living, like J. Then, as camp was about to start, the Steelers called. There had been an injury, and they needed another linebacker. It was one last shot, and he committed himself in a way he never had, removing the television from his dorm room and preparing 1,000 flashcards to learn the defense, studying alone long after most lights were out. In training camp, his preparation and power came together. On one play, guard Alan Faneca, then a veteran All-Pro, pulled. Harrison crashed into him with a collision as loud and startling as an old tree hitting the ground. Faneca staggered backward, Harrison darted to the ball carrier. His teammates looked at one another with wide eyes. Advertisement Harrison earned a roster spot and made his name on special teams. It wasn't long before Harrison began to live like he played — without brakes. Harrison raced his Suzuki GSX R-1000 at 195 miles per hour on I-76. Cruising speed, he says, was 130. Flashing lights didn't slow him either. 'If I pass you at 160, you're going to have to catch me at 160,' he says. 'I'd pull off, park my bike and have somebody bring me a change of clothes.' He followed the lead of his OGs from the restaurants to the nightclubs to the after-hours parties. They hit it hard until it was almost time for a 7 a.m. workout, which he did not miss. Vodka was his go-to, not for flavor but potency. 'I drank to get drunk,' he says. 'If I got into the club and the cats are already there, and I needed to get where they were, I need six shots. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.' He was at the center of his universe, and the only time that mattered was now. Promiscuity became a way of life. 'The more, the merrier,' Harrison says. The concept of saving money was beyond him. When he signed a three-year, $4 million deal with a $1 million signing bonus in 2005, he thought he was rich. After spending lavishly on partying, eating out, buying one house for himself and another house for his parents, cars for himself and his father, expensive rims and audio equipment, he realized he was almost broke. Then teammate Duce Staley showed Harrison one of his biweekly paychecks. The star running back made more in two weeks than Harrison's $225,000 yearly salary. In 2007, Harrison turned 29. He had never been an NFL starter. And then a revelation hit him with the kind of force with which he usually hit a flashy kick returner. 'I said I got to get right,' he says. 'It came down to the realization that I used my body to make money, and the longer I could have my body healthy, the longer I could make money.' Advertisement In 2007, Harrison stopped drinking for the most part. When pressured by teammates, he gave the bartender his credit card and told him to give him water disguised as vodka or tequila. 'I had them thinking I did 10 shots of tequila when I did 10 shots of water,' he says. 'They'd say, 'How you doing it?' I'd say, 'This is what I do, dude.'' He put together a team of specialists for naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, dry needling, cupping, IVs, chiropractic work and myofascial work — eventually he would spend up to $600,000 a year on health and recovery, paying for some of the specialists to travel to him regularly from Arizona, Detroit, Ohio and New York. Finally, he became a starter. Wearing wristbands that helped him remember assignments, Harrison had 8 1/2 sacks and seven forced fumbles for first-year head coach Mike Tomlin, making the first of five consecutive Pro Bowls. He was unlike any other pass rusher in the NFL. 'Being a short linebacker, he was like a bowling ball,' Steelers teammate Troy Polamalu says. 'Impossible to block.' 'It wasn't natural talent,' says former teammate and current ESPN commentator Ryan Clark. 'He didn't have the long arms, he wasn't running a 4.4 or 4.5 in the 40, he wasn't cat quick. Everything was tenacity, intimidation and an unstoppable belief that he was the baddest human on earth. 'There was so much that went into him being as great as he was that had nothing to do with the physical.' His effort, once questioned by his Pee Wee coach, became preternatural. Polamalu says Harrison, who wore a weighted vest in practice, may have been the hardest-working teammate he ever had. Harrison never wanted to come off the field, continuing to contribute on special teams long after he was an established starter. 'When you are cut as many times as he was, told you're not good enough as many times as he was, there's only one way you feel you can make it,' Clark says. 'He was inspiring with the way he worked before practice, after practice and the intensity he had during practice. Nobody did what James was willing to do.' Advertisement Harrison had 16 sacks in 2008, when he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year and made one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history after intercepting a Kurt Warner pass in Super Bowl XL. Harrison improvised on the play, surprising Warner by dropping into coverage when he was supposed to rush. Then, at 276 pounds, he outran the entire Cardinals offense, going 100 yards before barely making it to the end zone, where he collapsed on his back. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau called it the most outstanding defensive play he's seen. 14 years ago today, @JHarrison9292 made one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history with his 100-yard pick-6!#HereWeGo | #NFL — NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 1, 2023 By then, Harrison was known as the most intimidating defender in the game and a classic representative of his franchise's ethos, a destroyer in the line of Ernie Stautner, Mean Joe Greene and Jack Lambert. In 2010, though, it became clear the edge he played with had two sides, and he began taking punishment as well as giving. They say intent can't be judged, but he didn't hide his. He was on record saying he wanted to tackle his opponents so violently that they couldn't play again that day. There were controversial hits to Vince Young, Mohamed Massaquoi, Drew Brees, Jason Campbell and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Harrison was teammates with Josh Cribbs at Kent State, but he laid him out so brutally that even Harrison's mother took exception, slapping him on the head. The NFL fined him $125,000 that season. Even as Harrison reigned as the most feared player in the NFL, he was becoming a loving father. Near the end of Harrison's breakout 2007 season, James III came along as a surprise. Harrison and the baby's mother, Beth Tibbott, wanted James III to have a sibling, so Henry was born two years later. Advertisement When James III was a baby, Harrison and Tibbott argued. Police said Harrison broke through her bedroom door, slapped her in the face and snapped her cell phone in half. An assault charge followed. He underwent anger management and psychological counseling. Tibbott, a criminal defense attorney who declined an interview request for this story through a representative, didn't want to pursue the case. Charges were dropped. 'It was a learning experience, God's plan,' Harrison says. 'Without that, maybe I don't become the person I am today. I wish it hadn't happened. If I were the man I am today, I would have de-escalated that real fast.' Being a father was never in Harrison's plans. He knew children require time and love, and feared what they could take from him. And take they did — over time, his selfishness was uprooted, replaced by responsibility, compromise, patience and purpose. 'His ability to empathize, love and soften — as much as James can soften — all came from being a father,' Clark says. 'He's still Deebo, though, and that's kind of cool.' Harrison is convinced he wouldn't be alive if not for his sons. When one of his kids says, 'I love you,' his response is, 'I love you more.' He has shown it partly by trying to provide for their future. Harrison became a saver and proprietor of residential real estate. 'I'm secondary to everything they have going on, and it's a blessing,' he says. James III, 17, is a football player who bears a resemblance to his father in personality and build. Lankier Henry, 15, also plays football and runs the 100-meter dash, long jumps and high jumps. The boys split time between Harrison and Tibbott's homes, but the four of them function as a family. 'We're all together,' Harrison says. That includes Henry's bearded dragon and James III's banana ball python, who recently escaped and went missing in Harrison's house for six months until Harrison found him. Advertisement He has drawn attention for his parenting style, which includes eschewing unearned awards and keeping no secrets. 'We give trophies for everything, and it makes kids feel entitled to getting something for doing nothing,' says Harrison, who auctioned off a Patriots AFC Championship Game ring after he played four games for them during the 2017 season. It had no value to him because he thought he didn't earn it. The ring had value to someone else, as it sold for $18,600. For most of his life, Harrison's faith had been like an oil reservoir — beneath the surface and untapped. As a child, he went to church on Easter and for funerals, that's it. He did it for his grandmother Willie Pearl Massey, whom he calls a 'holy roller.' When she died in 2004, he had prayer hands tattooed on his shoulder in her honor. His only prayers were before games with teammates, and then he did it selfishly, he says, to avoid injury. During training camp with the Steelers, Harrison's dorm room was across the hall from Polamalu's, and they spent a lot of time together. To Harrison's annoyance, their conversations were mostly about what Polamalu wanted to discuss — spiritual matters. Polamalu, a Greek Orthodox, had a red cross sewn on the back of his jersey. He told Harrison the sisters at the Nativity of Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg, Pa., did it for him for his protection. Harrison asked him if the sisters would sew black crosses on the backs of his jerseys. They did. Polamalu started calling him 'Iakovos,' James in Greek. About two years ago, Harrison started wondering what his purpose was. Then he started going to church. Tibbott and the boys followed. The three of them were baptized. Harrison waited. The truth is, he was scared. 'You know what I was afraid of?' he says. 'I was afraid something was gonna come up out of me.' Finally, in August of last year, in a ceremony at Victory Family Church in Cranberry, Pa., with his mother, sons, Tibbott, Armstead and another friend in attendance, Harrison took the plunge. But instead of something coming out of him, something went into him. He calls it peace. Advertisement 'It's something I know I wouldn't have without that relationship,' he says. 'And the more I understand and build my relationship with (God), the more peaceful it is.' Now, Harrison calls Armstead and Polamalu to talk about his faith. Armstead says there is less ego, harshness and anger in his friend. Polamalu says Harrison is allowing more people to see what's beneath his shell. At 4 a.m., about the time he used to order his last vodka of the night, Harrison starts his day by reading a devotional, then posting it for his 1.4 million followers on Instagram and 432,000 followers on Facebook. 'I was going to stop posting them,' he says. 'Then there was a voice I heard. 'You need to do this — you don't know who it may help.'' Harrison believes he has discovered his purpose. But if his heart has softened, the rest of him has not. On his 44th birthday, Harrison loaded up 44 plates weighing 45 pounds each on the sled and moved 2,025 pounds as if he were returning a few shopping carts to the corral. On his 45th birthday, he bench-pressed 545 pounds. He may try to break that personal record in July. At 265 pounds, the 47-year-old Harrison looks no different from when he played. He thinks his jacket size is either a 52 or a 54. The tailors from the Pro Football Hall of Fame may make that determination someday. Harrison's superiority over about five years suggests he may one day be fitted for the gold jacket that inductees like Polamalu wear. 'At his peak, I don't think there was anybody more dominant in the history of the game,' Polamalu says. 'I might have to put Aaron Donald up there, too. But James was taking on sometimes four guys and still almost making a tackle.' When Harrison started his first NFL game 20 years ago, J told Mildred their son would be a Hall of Famer. J died in 2016, but James would like to make his dad proud one more time by wearing the jacket he believes he has earned. Advertisement What else is left? Harrison wants to see his sons grow up to be the kind of men his father was. He wants to hold their children. He would like to go further down the road he began walking last August when he was baptized. And step into a ring with Ochocinco? Twenty years ago, maybe even 10 years ago, he would have made Ocho rue every word and left him in 85 pieces. But things are different now. If Ocho keeps coming at Harrison, no doubt the Deebo will come out of him. But that doesn't mean he wants to fight. 'Dude,' he says. 'The older I get, let it go.'
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN dismantles theories of a bounce-back season for an Eagles' annoying rival
ESPN dismantles theories of a bounce-back season for an Eagles' annoying rival ESPN's Bill Barnwell puts the Commanders ' trash-talking WR Deebo Samuel on a list of breakout or bust candidates We're still three months away from the Philadelphia Eagles' season. It doesn't matter much. Everyone has this figured out. Or, that's what they've decided to tell themselves. The NFC East is a two-horse race. The Eagles and the Washington Commanders will battle it out for divisional superiority. That seems to be the consensus (and it's probably accurate). Josh Harris's squad has been busy. They went to work after losing the NFC Championship Game. Among the big offseason moves were trades that led to the acquisition of tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Don't lose any sleep, Birds fans. It appears the Worldwide Leader in Sports remains unmoved by Washington's addition of the latter. Bill Barnwell shuts down theories of a bounce-back season by a familiar Eagles nemesis. It's been a while, and it's still hard not to get a little salty. The San Francisco 49ers lost Brock Purdy in a game that would decide the NFC's representative in Super Bowl 57. Philadelphia probably would have won anyway, but the loss gave the Niners a reason to complain. And, boy, did they ever complain. At the head of the nonsense was Deebo. This carried on until a grudge match came during the following season. The 'Whiners' showed up to Lincoln Financial Field, many of them wearing all black because they were attending a funeral. The worst part about it was that they followed through on their threat. They annihilated the Birds on their home turf, and, to make matters worse, Samuel was brilliant. You've probably watched enough football to know things can, at times, get personal. It's been a while, but Philadelphia's shot at revenge hasn't come yet. They haven't played San Francisco since, so they'll have to settle for a pair of games vs. Deebo Samuel and the hated Commanders this season. Yes, as petty as it sounds, Deebo still sits on a most-wanted list bearing the names of guys like Nick Wright, Chris Simms, and Jared Verse. Another crack for Vic Fangio's defense will have to wait. Philadelphia and Washington don't cross paths until they see each other in two of the final three weeks of the regular season. One trusted voice believes, however, that there isn't much to worry about, as he doesn't think the Eagles will see the same dominant version of Deebo that they have gotten used to seeing. One of his more recent takes is NFL offseason signings, trades who could break out -- or flop. Guess who earned an unfavorable mention. "Samuel is the YAC god. Samuel has ranked first (2021), first (2022), first (2023), and second (2024) in ESPN's YAC score over the past four seasons. While he benefited from playing around other star playmakers and for Kyle Shanahan, he exhibits a generational ability to break through tackles and run away from a great trick, but it hasn't led to spectacular seasons." Barnwell's take isn't flattering, as he laments that great moments by Deebo in the Bay Area were impressive but never capable of being sustainable. "Samuel will create a few big plays out of nothing and run through a few defenders. He's going to drop a few more passes than you would like and miss a couple of games each season, but that's perfectly reasonable for a WR2. He will do well with the high quantity of screens and RPOs the Commanders ran last season, but don't expect his production to reach the 2021 heights." While the assessment is fair, it's also slightly disappointing. Beating Deebo Samuel and Washington isn't enough. It's most satisfying to beat young, cocky, and brash opponents when they are at the top of their game. We've all seen this movie. We know how it ends. Philadelphia will beat the Commanders fair and square. Deebo will find some excuse for losing. The whining will never end. Credit Barnwell for another masterpiece. This one saddens us a little. Oh well, we still have the grudge match in the distant future vs. the 49ers to look forward to, whenever league offices get that one back on the Eagles schedule.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy football managers should proceed with caution with Deebo Samuel Sr. in 2025 — here's why
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.) Every offseason, fantasy football managers want to know: who can you really trust in your lineup? One name that has popped up — along with a big dose of skepticism — is new Commanders receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. In the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens got into the weeds on Deebo's prospects now that he's in Washington. Is he someone you can rely on, or is caution the smarter approach? Advertisement [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Let's break down what they said, what the numbers show and how you should treat Deebo in your 2025 draft plans. Deebo Samuel Sr. joins a new team Washington added Deebo Samuel to help take Jayden Daniels and the offense to the next level. But as Matt and Andy pointed out, the Commanders otherwise didn't do much to upgrade their receiver room: "[Deebo Samuel] is the only, like, real pass catcher addition here," Matt said. 'Zach Ertz is another year older. ... The other spots along the offensive line, we don't quite know what's going to happen.' Advertisement So, Deebo is clearly being counted on to be more than just a gadget player or possession guy — he's supposed to be a difference-maker on this team. Wiht that said, there are some real red flags. Both hosts had real reservations about what Deebo still brings to the table. "Deebo is such a complicated player because he built his reputation on the one great season, right? The 1,400-yard season. ... That one big season represents about 30% of his career receiving production and the rest of the career is full of isolated good games and a whole bunch of really quiet games," Andy said. Deebo's 2021 breakout was legendary. But since then? He simply hasn't come close to repeating it. Deebo's been in a steady decline since his monster season Matt highlighted some stunning Reception Perception data: 'Deebo Samuel last year ... 39.7% success rate vs. man coverage. That is ... the third lowest mark I've ever charted, ever, ever, ever. ... Deebo's never been a great man-beater, but it was better than that previously. ... This was consistent on film before the pneumonia thing.' Advertisement Translation: he's struggling to separate, even before last year's health issues. Deebo's game relies on explosiveness, breaking tackles and YAC. But he's battled injuries, illness and just wear-and-tear, especially as he creeps closer to 30. Both Matt and Andy also wonder if this offense is even built to make Deebo a reliable fantasy starter. 'I'm not saying that I'm betting against the Commanders ... but if by Week 8 we're kind of looking back and saying like, 'ah, yeah, did we take another step here?' I think that's the question. … Taking the next step to, 'okay, we went from conference championship to now we're in the Super Bowl' ... I'm a little skeptical that this was enough on offense," Matt said. Advertisement If the whole offense takes a step back, Deebo's ceiling — and his weekly floor — could take a nosedive. Is there any upside to drafting Deebo? The only thing working in Deebo's favor is that the Commanders did, in fact, give up a draft pick and are paying him to be involved. Same OC, young QB and a thin receiver group means he'll get his chances. Also, his YAC skills and ability to break the game open are still tantalizing if he's healthy and properly used. Nonetheless, the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast crew clearly leans skeptical on Deebo, and with good reason: He's trending down statistically and on film He's no longer the focal point of a Shanahan offense designed to maximize his strengths The Commanders' offense could be clunky or slow out of the gate His 'one big year' is fading more and more into the rearview Unless Deebo shows he's regained his burst and Washington's offense gels early, he's the kind of player you draft as a WR3/flex, not someone you trust every week as a locked-in starter. If he drops in drafts and you want to chase upside, there's a path. But if you're hoping for that 2021 magic, the Yahoo team says you should temper expectations.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Must Start 2025 Hot To Make Super Bowl Run
The Washington Commanders may have had the NFL's easiest schedule during the 2024 season. And they may have relied on some miracle wins along the way to help them reach the conference championship game. But that was then. This is now. Advertisement Despite finishing second in the NFC East, and an upcoming second-place schedule in 2025, the Commanders have the eighth-hardest upcoming schedule in the league. While official games and times will be announced later tonight, the Commanders should find solace in the fact that they won't have to face tougher opponents compared to the likes of their NFC East counterparts in the Philadelphia Eagles. That doesn't absolve them, though. Washington still has several different matchups on their upcoming plate this season including matchups against the AFC West, and AFC North. These contests won't be easy for Washington. Advertisement The organization also has matchups against fellow second-place teams like the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and Atlanta Falcons. They might not be world-beaters, but those organizations are more than capable of pulling out wins against a good Commanders team. That's why Washington - harboring Super Bowl dreams - needs to start out fast in 2025. Washington was 7-2 at the start of the season last year. There were plenty of one-score wins including two against the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. If the Commanders want to be seen as true title contenders, they'll need to be even better than last season at the start. Their schedule still may not be as tough as other opponents in their own division, but Washington still has a difficult slate upcoming. And they'll need to be ready for it as early as possible. Related: Commanders Unique Deebo Role Gets Cryptic Prediction from Quinn Related: Commanders' Dan Quinn Gushes Over 'Remarkable' Jayden Daniels
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Sherman believes 49ers trading Deebo ‘simplifies' the offense
Why Sherman believes 49ers trading Deebo 'simplifies' the offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area The 49ers agreeing to trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders on Saturday, if nothing else, provided San Francisco clarity on its offensive pecking order for the 2025 NFL season and beyond. Former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman reacted to the trade on the latest episode of the 'Richard Sherman Podcast' and explained how the move can benefit the still-star-studded offense as a whole. "Sometimes you have too many mouths to feed"@RSherman_25 reacts to the 49ers trading Deebo Samuel to the Commanders — Richard Sherman Podcast (@RShermanPodcast) March 5, 2025 'Sometimes you have too many mouths to feed and you don't have enough footballs,' Sherman explained. 'There's only one football and you're trying to feed Christian McCaffrey, [George] Kittle, [Brandon] Aiyuk, you're trying to get it to Deebo and now you got this draft pick in [Ricky] Pearsall and you're trying to make sure you keep everybody happy and it's very difficult to do. 'And I think this kind of simplifies things. I think it gets Kittle more involved in the offense, and he obviously has been fantastic and one of the best tight ends in the game, and I think that's something down the stretch that Kyle Shanahan realized, that 'Hey, we're not using George Kittle enough, we need to find a way to get him the ball' and you cannot get everybody the ball when you have so many mouths to feed.' Sherman not only believes trading Samuel simplifies the 49ers' offense, but takes some pressure off quarterback Brock Purdy's shoulders. 'I think this is, sometimes, addition by subtraction,' Sherman said. 'Kinda simplifying 'Hey, I don't have to get the ball to all these guys anymore, I can just run the offense more straightforward.' 'If the San Francisco 49ers were going to have to pay Deebo's bonus and pay his salary for the year, then of course they would get more draft compensation. This was a situation where they got something for him and they put him in a place he wanted to be and he was able to keep the salary that he was making.' Sherman and Samuel were teammates on the 49ers for two seasons in 2019 and 2020, and if there is any former player who knows how valuable Samuel was to San Francisco — and could be for the Commanders — it's Sherman. However, the five-time Pro Bowl corner believes a parting of ways was best for both parties. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast
