SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider acknowledged the team has listened to trade offers regarding cornerback Richard Sherman, but downplayed that a deal may actually happen.

Schneider made his comments in an interview with the Seahawks flagship station in Seattle on Wednesday. Schneider said, “What you’ve seen lately in the news is real. That’s on both sides,” in regard to recent rumblings that teams have inquired about Sherman.

FILE PHOTO: Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider responds to a question during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

While open with the discussions that have taken place, Schneider was quick to give the impression that a deal was unlikely to happen.

He said there has been clear communication with Sherman about what is going on. He says the trade rumors haven’t been a secret and “people find things out and we’re not going to lie to each other.”

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