49ers vs. Seahawks: Richard Sherman appeal to be heard this Friday, per Schefter

The 49ers are less than 24 hours removed from their victory over the New England Patriots, but they have a quick turnaround to get ready for the Seattle Seahawks. It's a normal week of preparation, but it feels like the game is just around the corner. Given the 49ers and Seahawks performances of late, this Sunday Night Football matchup is big time!

As the 49ers get ready for the game, there is some big news to get us ready. Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was suspended four games for use of performance-enhancing drugs, but his appeal has not been heard yet. It was reportedly scheduled for last Friday, but that was pushed back to an undetermined date. We now have a date: this Friday. There is no indication on the timing of a decision on the appeal, so I am not really sure if that means we will definitely get an answer before Sunday's game.

The Seahawks are already short a cornerback because Brandon Browner was also suspended. Both were reportedly suspended for using Adderall, although that kind of information is never confirmed by the league. Browner immediately began serving his suspension, while Sherman has indicated he plans on fighting it. Sherman was apparently going to claim he drank from a teammates water bottle by accident, but he has since denied that. There are some reports that he will challenge the testing process, but even in that case, the league can reveal as little or as much information as they want.

We'll keep an eye on this because the absence of both Sherman and Browner would be a tough pair of losses heading into this huge NFC West showdown.