Sherman says he wants to finish career as a Seahawk

While players were away from team facilities this spring, talk of Richard Sherman's departure from the Seattle Seahawks became a central focus of the 2017 offseason.

But now that there's some action on the practice field, the All-Pro cornerback is squashing any rumors he wants to leave town.

Speaking to reporters Thursday after minicamp practice, Sherman made it clear that he wants to stay in Seattle for a long time.

"I would definitely like to retire a Seahawk and finish my career here," said Sherman, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. "We started something special and I think it would be best to end something special here"

" ... I think this is great city. I think it's a city I'd like to raise my kids in. The people here are much more polite than the people in L.A. and I'm from L.A."

Sherman has shook off reports that there has been unrest within the Seahawks' locker room, and said he hopes the entire core of the team can stick together.

"As realistic as anyone else retiring a Seahawk," said Sherman, when asked how realistic he felt retiring in Seattle would be for him. "Earl Thomas, Kam (Chancellor), Russell (Wilson), myself, Doug Baldwin, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright have played here their entire careers and really cemented a legacy here, so it'd be odd to see the team without certain guys."

Sherman, 29, has two years remaining on his current contract.