It all changed during last season, and then after the season when he received a generous contract extension as one of the first decisions made by new GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn.
"That's one of the reasons we got him is not only is he a tone setter, but he has a voice that everybody listens to," Glenn said, referring to his physical play on Wednesday. "You want that out of your middle linebacker who is actually standing in front of the huddle, because there's a respect factor when it comes to that regard. So, listen, these practices, they'll get chippy every now and then, but these are grown men, and they're not kids, and they understand how to get work in. The one thing I told the guys is: 'Listen, we compete, but we protect.' I think the guys did a good job of that."
Holding on to "their own guys," meaning mostly draft picks, has been one of the mantras preached by Mougey and Glenn. And for Sherwood, it's a badge of recognition about how important and valuable he is to the defense and the entire organization.
"You know, obviously, I'm blessed to be in this position," he said. "It's not that it doesn't mean anything, but it's about going out there and play football. It doesn't mean anything if I don't go out there and perform. So again, when I get my chance to show who I am, it's about showing the people that they didn't make a mistake, and it's about giving back to them, because of what they gave to me."
As Wilks goes about fine-tuning a potentially elite defensive unit, he knows that the man in the middle -- Sherwood -- has the moxie to emerge as the heart of the defense.
"This guy, man, he is so focused," Wilks said. "I even tried to joke with him a little bit and he's just like, here [he gestured with his hand way out front]. And when you look at a guy getting paid, you always have that question of whether or not he's going to continue to progress or settle, and I can see that every day. He stays late after the meetings, he's always asking questions, he's communicating with the guys, in the front, on the back end. He's definitely the glue."