TAMPA (FL) -- A week after Tampa Bay Buccaneers put starting cornerback Sean Murphy Bunting on injured reserve for the season, Bruce Arians announced that Jason Licht, general manager, reached out to Richard Sherman, veteran cornerback, to gauge his interest.
"Jason reached out. We got to see," Arians stated Monday, just one day after his team beat the Atlanta Falcons 48-25. This brought them to 2-0. He's got other things. It's as simple as 'I coach those that we have and let him manage the rest. We will also help other guys. It's not a question of "No", we'll talk to each other and then if it's the perfect fit, we'll move forward."
Murphy-Bunting will not be able to play for the Bucs indefinitely after he injured his right elbow against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Arians said that he will have to miss at most three games due to his injury, but he did not give a timeline for his return. It appears that he will not need surgery.
Their other starter, Carlton Davis suffered a mild hamstring strain but played against Atlanta with no issues (he did have to leave the game briefly after getting the wind knocked out him). Jamel Dean, their third cornerback, has struggled.
Sherman, 33, will provide valuable experience to one the league's youngest defensive backfields. He's also a good tackler, which has been a problem for the Bucs' defense in two games this season. He's a cornerback, so the team will continue to use Ross Cockrell as a nickelback. Safety Mike Edwards also plays nickelback snaps. One of his snaps led to a pick-6.
Sherman is still working through legal issues. In connection with an incident at his wife's home in Redmond, Washington in July, Sherman was arrested and charged with five misdemeanors. He was also charged in resisting arrest, driving under the influence, and recklessly endangering road workers.
Sherman pleaded guilty to the five charges and stated in a Twitter statement that he was "deeply sorry" for his actions.
King County prosecutors and sheriff obtained an "extreme-risk protection order" for Sherman in February. This bans Sherman from possessing guns, after Sherman was deemed a threat to himself and others. The case details were not released.
The Bucs have in the past signed players with legal and character issues. The Bucs signed wide receiver Antonio Brown in the final eight games of his suspension. They also re-signed him last offseason to a one-year contract.
