It should be acknowledged that last week's trade rumors involving Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman stemmed from one series of comments made by former NFL executive Michael Lombardi on The Ringer's NFL podcast.
In a conversation about New England's reported trade talks with the Saints about restricted free-agent cornerback Malcolm Butler -- the same Malcolm Butler who intercepted Russell Wilson on the goal line to clinch Super Bowl XLIX for the Patriots -- Lombardi, whose last NFL gig was in New England, offered a possible alternative scenario for New Orleans.
"For the Saints, if they were to call the Seattle Seahawks up and say, 'Look, we would be interested in obtaining Richard Sherman.