Pete Carroll Says Richard Sherman Could Play WR for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are struggling in their Super Bowl defense due in large part to a lackluster receiving corps. Now, they're reportedly considering help at the position from the most polarizing member of their vaunted "Legion of Boom" secondary.

All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, who played wide receiver at Stanford in his college days, may be playing both ways for Seattle soon enough. Head coach Pete Carroll spoke to KIRO-FM on Friday about the possibility, per 710 ESPN Seattle's Brady Henderson (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Petra):

"

[Sherman]'s been very clear in that intent for a long time around here. It's always been a conversation that we've had, and if I need him, I'm going to him, and he knows that.

[...] He was a good receiver growing up and he has tremendous catching range and all that as we've witnessed in his defensive play, and he would love to do it. So he's ready. If we get in an emergency situation, he knows I'm coming to him.

"

Sherman's physical style and press coverage helped Seattle hoist the Lombardi Trophy following last season. Due to the rules favoring the offense, he fancies his chances on the other side of the ball.

"I'd be pretty good," Sherman said, per The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta. "Shoot you can hardly touch ‘em (receivers). So if you could hardly touch me, I'd have a nice day."

A massive NFC West showdown looms for the 6-4 Seahawks against the 9-1 Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is a dual-threat playmaker, but he has few weapons at his disposal in leading the NFL's 30th-ranked passing offense. The offseason departure of Golden Tate and the trade that sent Percy Harvin to the New York Jets left Seattle without its two most talented and explosive wideouts.

Sports Illustrated's Andy Benoit noticed how the team's receivers weren't quite up to par in last week's loss to Kansas City:

Plugging in Sherman could hardly hurt the Seahawks receiving corps. Then again, this could be a bit of tactical gamesmanship to give the Cardinals—leaders by three games in the division—a new wrinkle to think about.

In light of the contested debate between Sherman and Arizona star cornerback Patrick Peterson in the past, though, it would be fascinating to see Sherman play offense.

Peterson has been utilized in the Cardinals offense before, and a duel between Peterson as a defensive back and Sherman as a receiver would add more hype to what should be a fantastic divisional game.