SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Richard Sherman wins his suspension appeal

Dec 27, 2012, 9:28 AM | Updated: 5:12 pm

By Brady Henderson

The Seahawks keep winning.

Winners of four straight games, they scored another victory Thursday with the surprising news that star cornerback Richard Sherman has won his appeal of a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Sherman said he informed teammates Thursday morning after receiving a call from his lawyer telling Sherman he won his appeal.

84de73c9-bb4d-4958-9d16-8d268ff0568f
Cornerback Richard Sherman, arguably the Seahawks’ best defender, will not be suspended after winning his appeal with the NFL. (AP)

“They were pretty excited, the coaches were excited,” Sherman told reporters. “It was just a sigh of relief for the whole team just to know that that was done and over with and we can move on from it.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Associated Press in an email that the league is reviewing the decision but would not comment further due to confidentiality reasons. Albert Breer of the NFL Network and ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that Sherman has indeed won his appeal.

Sherman’s victory means the Seahawks will have their starting cornerbacks available for the playoffs. Brandon Browner has served three games of his four-game suspension and is eligible to return after Sunday’s regular-season finale against St. Louis.

“Congrats to Richard Sherman for winning his appeal! Happy for him & it’ll be great to have him with us as we move forward,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll tweeted Thursday.

News broke following Seattle’s Week 12 loss to Miami that Sherman and Browner were facing four-game suspensions, reportedly having tested positive for Adderall.

Browner dropped his appeal while Sherman continued to fight the suspension, denying he took a banned substance and arguing that the urine sample he provided for testing was contaminated when the tester failed to follow proper procedure, leading to the positive test.

“It was a weird testing procedure,” Sherman said. “A lot of things went wrong on that day. That’s why the results came out the way it did because he [the tester] made mistakes and he did things wrong. If it wasn’t for that, there would have been no positive test.”

Sherman added: “Justice was finally served, and I appreciate the league for allowing the justice to be served and allowing me to continue to play.”

Sherman made his appeal last week, missing practice Thursday and Friday so he could attend the hearing. Days later, he had one of his finest games in Seattle’s Sunday night win over San Francisco, recording his team-high seventh interception and returning a blocked field goal 90 yards for a touchdown.

Sherman was named a Pro Bowl alternate Wednesday despite playing well enough to be a starter. His seven interceptions rank second in the NFL and he’s tied for the league lead in passes defensed with 23.

He said he isn’t sure whether his potential suspension influenced voters.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Jackson Powers-Johnson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profiles: ‘The best center’ in the 2024 class

If the Seattle Seahawks want to boost their offensive line, Brock Huard wouldn't mind if they draft Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson.

15 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Payton Wilson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: ‘Twitched up’ LB fills a need

Next up in Brock Huard's Seattle Seahawks draft profiles is a very intriguing defender in North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.

2 days ago

Seattle Seahawks Sam Howell...

Brandon Gustafson

New Seahawks QB Sam Howell describes trade, his role and more

The Seattle Seahawks have a new QB in Sam Howell, and he joined Brock & Salk on Wednesday to describe the trade that sent him to the Hawks.

2 days ago

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith quarterback...

Stacy Rost

Are Seahawks really not Super Bowl contenders because of QB?

FOX Sports' Joel Klatt said the Seattle Seahawks "don't have the requisite quarterback play" to be a Super Bowl contender. Is he right?

2 days ago

Seattle Seahawks draft profile Bralen Trice UW Huskies...

Brent Stecker

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: Pros, cons of UW DE Bralen Trice

For Day 2 of Brock Huard's Seattle Seahawks draft profiles, the former UW Huskies quarterback when with a name from his alma mater: defensive end Bralen Trice.

2 days ago

Seattle Seahawks Geno Smith...

Brandon Gustafson

FOX Sports’ Klatt: Seahawks’ quarterbacks ‘are not the answer’

"They don't have the requisite quarterback play to do that," FOX's Joel Klatt said of the Seattle Seahawks being a Super Bowl contender.

3 days ago

Richard Sherman wins his suspension appeal