Seattle Seahawks release cornerback Richard Sherman

One of the most revered players in Seattle Seahawks history is now on the open market.

Cornerback Richard Sherman was released by the Seahawks on Friday morning, making him a free agent that Seattle will attempt to re-sign at a reduced price. He is recovering from a season-ending Achilles tendon injury and was due $13-million in the final year of his contract.

By releasing him before the beginning of the new league year Wednesday, the Seahawks have given Sherman a head start on finding a new team. Seattle was unable to trade him with that salary and coming off a serious injury.

“They wanted the financial flexibility going into free agency but expressed that they wanted me to return and will be in contact,� Sherman told the NFL Network.

A fifth-round pick out of Stanford in 2011, Sherman became a fixture in the “Legion of Boom� secondary, along with safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. That group helped lead the franchise to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning it in 2014.

Sherman, who will turn 30 this month, was born and raised in Compton. At Dominguez High, he starred on offense and defense in leading the Dons to a Southern Section Division III championship. He also won a state championship in the triple jump and was salutatorian of his senior class.

Sherman, a three-time All-Pro first teamer, is tied with Kenny Easley for fourth in Seahawks history with 32 interceptions, behind Dave Brown (50), Eugene Robinson (42) and John Harris (41).

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UPDATES:

11:20 a.m.: This article was updated with background about Sherman’s high school career.

This article was originally published at 10:50 a.m.