Sherman says he was blood-tested in lead-up to Super Bowl – NBCSports.com

49ers' Richard Sherman says he was blood-tested before Super Bowl 54

Richard Sherman tweeted Thursday that he was picked out for performance-enhancing drugand blood testing in the lead-up to Super Bowl LIV.

The 49ers cornerback claimed he was tested for the second week in a row.Sherman previously tweeted he was tested for PEDsand human growth hormone following San Francisco's divisional-round win over the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 11.

An independent administrator randomly selects 10 players on each team in the postseason through a computer program for urine testing, according to the NFL's 2019 policy on performance-enhancing substances. Five of those 10 players are then subject to blood tests, and no player can be tested more than six times in a single season. Players who test positive for a banned substance can be placed in the "reasonable cause testing program," under which the independent administrator can "determine the type of testing ... and frequency of testing" for whichever is shorter of two years or two full seasons.

Minutes after tweeting that he was blood-tested, Sherman wondered if any others had been leading up to a Super Bowl.

In 2012, Sherman initially was suspended four games for violating the league's PED policy. He appealed the ruling and his suspension was overturned after it was determined his urine sample was improperly collected.

"I was innocent. I was innocent to begin with," Sherman told NFL Media at the time. "That's why they have the chain of custody because it can help when people make mistakes like this. They can pour your urine into a used cup, and this is the kind of thing that can clear it up and make sure your name gets cleared.

"I appreciate that."

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Sherman, 31, has led the 49ers' resurgent defense in his second season with San Francisco. He was second-team All-Pro and voted into his fifth career Pro Bowl, recording three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.

He and the 49ers will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla. It'll be Sherman's first appearance in the Super Bowl since 2015, when his Seattle Seahawks infamously lost to the New England Patriots on the final possession of regulation.

Programming note: NBC Sports Bay Area feeds your hunger for 49ers Super Bowl coverage with special editions of 49ers Central all week (8:30 p.m. Thursday, 9:30 p.m. Friday, and 3 p.m. Saturday).

Also tune in at 1 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday for a two-hour special of "49ers Pregame Live" with Laura Britt, Donte Whitner, Jeff Garcia, Ian Williams, Kelli Johnson, Greg Papa and Grant Liffmann. That same crew will have all the postgame reaction on "49ers Postgame Live," starting immediately after the game.

SANTA CLARA -- San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward has watched the Super Bowl a lot. From the time the game ended on Sunday night through late Wednesday morning, he said he had already viewed the game film 10 times.

I just like watching it, Ward said, three days after the 49ers 30-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

He likes watching it?

Im a film type of guy, Ward explained, so I just watch the film and then I try to put myself in the opposing quarterbacks head: 'What is he thinking on this play?'

The play that everyone on the 49ers defense will remember was third-and-15. The Chiefs were down, 20-10, with 7:13 remaining, when Patrick Mahomes dropped back and looked deep for Tyreek Hill.

It was the right call, a perfect throw and a great catch, Ward said. Me, being in the middle of the field, I really couldnt get over.

Ward said his main responsibility was to take away the deep throw to the middle of the field. Hill ran a post, then turned it into a corner route. Mahomes got rid of the ball a split-second before DeForest Buckner hit him.

Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley was apparently responsible for deep ball on that side of the field. But he followed Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins toward the middle on an underneath route. Mahomes left his pass for Hill short, but Moseley was not in position to get back in timeto defend the play. And Ward did not have time to reverse direction to range toward the sideline to break it up.

Moseley, who has yet to re-watch the video of the game, did not delve into the specifics of the third-and-15 play.

Eventually, Ill watch it, Moseley told NBC Sports Bay Area. Right now, its kind of hard. Ill watch it in about a week and get the things corrected that need to be corrected.

I dont really replay it in my head. Things happen. You just got to learn from it and move on from it. They got us on a play. It was a great play call by them. Things have to be better executed and once we do that, well be fine.

The 49ers surrendered only one pass play of more than 20 yards through 3 quarters, but the Chiefs team speed had its first real impact on that play in which Hill hauled in a 44-yard pass on the games most critical play.

Ward said he had to respect the speed of the Chiefs wide receivers to turn and run any time they broke into the deep middle.

The only (way) I was going to play that better is if I wouldve guessed, Ward said. I didnt have any choice. I had to open my hips because, 17 (Mecole Hardman) or 10 (Hill), even 14 (Watkins), you cant let them run up on you. You have to flip your hips. If you dont flip your hips, theyll run past you.

[RELATED:Ward wants to re-sign with 49ers]

It was a difficult end to the season for Moseley, who proved he is more than capable of being a starting cornerback on a Super Bowl team. He replaced Ahkello Witherspoon after an injury early in the season. Then, Moseley was back in the starting lineup in the postseason when Witherspoon struggled.

Now, Moseley heads into the offseason as the presumptive starting right cornerback for 2020.And he said he knows he room to be an improved player next season.

I want to be a better me on the field, Moseley said. I just want to be a better teammate and do everything I can to make sure everything on the field is executed right, everything on the field goes right.

It definitely gives me motivation. Im ready to attack this offseason, and Im ready to provide a lot more next year.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams made another impressive run Sunday night after his teams Super Bowl victory.

Williams caught up with his friend, Raheem Mostert, in the tunnel that led to the 49ers locker room at Hard Rock Stadium. The two men embraced and exchanged jerseys.

Williams was one of the stars of the Chiefs 31-20 victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Williams rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. He also caught four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown.

Mostert told reporters on Wednesday that he understands the significance of Williams jersey and would give it back to him if thats what Williams wanted.

Hours later, Mostert took it a step further in a post on social media.

Mostert joked that he considered selling the jersey, but added, this belongs to YOU and yours! You did your thing. Hand this down for generations! PROUD OF YOU BRO! Much love.

Williams signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2014 as an undrafted rookie from Oklahoma. The next season, Mostert signed with the Dolphins but remained with the team for only one month. But during that time, the two men built a strong friendship.

We go way back, Mostert said after the game on Sunday. When I spent my time here with the Dolphins, and we always stayed connected. We played cards and video games. We really had that same mindset of being underdogs.

Mostert turned into the 49ers best running back this season. In the NFC Championship Game, he rushed for a team-record 220 yards and four touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers. Mosterthad 58 yards and a touchdown on 12 rushing attempts in the Super Bowl.

[RELATED:Frank Gore gives Raheem Mostert encouragement after 49ers' Super Bowl loss]

After the game, Mostert spoke in a somber locker room and told of how Williams was a true friend in the moments after the game.

I tried to leave before the confetti because I knew once the confetti hit, Im going to be really, really messed up, he said. But it was cool because Damien Williams came up to me in the tunnel after they won and talked to me. He told me he was proud of me, and I reciprocated the same message back.

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Sherman says he was blood-tested in lead-up to Super Bowl - NBCSports.com