SANTA CLARA — Seahawks coach Pete Carroll lobbed compliment after compliment, and deservedly so, at Richard Sherman on Wednesday, ahead of the cornerback’s return to Seattle this week with the 49ers.
Brilliant football player. Bright person. Great competitor. Extraordinary performer. Remarkable comeback.
Carroll’s best praise, however, can be deciphered in a comparison of Sherman to former 49ers and Hall of Fame cornerback Jimmy Johnson. Or, actually, a comparison to how teams would shy away from them to instead target the defense’s other cornerback, which in this year’s case is embattled 49ers starter Ahkello Witherspoon.
