49ers CB Sherman says Seahawks 'lost their way'

As one of the newest members of the San Francisco 49ers, Richard Sherman's divisional matchups against his former Seattle Seahawks teammates would have been interesting no matter what.

Sherman's remarks that the Seahawks "have lost their way" will only add to the drama.

The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback did not hold back when discussing his former team in a story published Tuesday in Sports Illustrated's MMQB. Sherman helped the Seahawks win a Super Bowl during the 2013 season but said the franchise failed to keep a good thing going.

"It's just unfortunate. It's really unfortunate," Sherman told The MMQB. "I think it'll all come out when they do the '30 for 30' [a television documentary series]. Mistakes and poor judgment on things ruined what could have been a really special deal. You don't have much left right now.

"And to say you're not going to pay [All-Pro safety] Earl Thomas is just ... there's no decline in play there. He's played the game the right way. Who do you have to pay? You have the two best linebackers in the game. You have the quarterback. You have a great wide receiver in Doug (Baldwin). And you're paying [left tackle] Duane Brown."

Sherman signed a three-year deal with the 49ers this offseason after the Seahawks released him. He ruptured his Achilles tendon last season and was limited to two interceptions in nine games. The 30-year-old California native has 32 interceptions in 105 career games, all with Seattle.

"They've lost their way," Sherman said of the Seahawks. "It's as simple as that. They've just lost their way. When you make too many mistakes over a long period of time, you kind of dig yourself a hole. And then when you backtrack, you gotta make a bunch of rash decisions to try and fill the hole and hope that it holds up."

The 49ers will visit the Seahawks on Dec. 2 and host their rivals two weeks later.

--Field Level Media