New Rams LB Bobby Wagner on sudden Seahawks exit: 'It could have been a simple conversation'
Longtime Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner is still upset with how his exit in Seattle went down.
Wagner, who officially joined the Los Angeles Rams on a five-year, $50 million deal on Monday, was suddenly waived last month by the Seahawks after a decade with the organization.
Though he said he doesn’t have any hatred toward the Seahawks, the ending didn’t sit right with him.
“After 10 years, it could have been a simple conversation,” Wagner said, via the NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano.
Wagner spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks, who first drafted him in the second round of the 2012 draft. The eight-time Pro Bowler helped lead the team to a Super Bowl win during the 2013 season, and had more than 1,300 tackles throughout his career there.
The veteran, undoubtedly, was one of the biggest leaders on not just the Seahawks’ defense but their team as a whole.
That’s why he was so surprised when he didn’t get a call from the front office when the team decided it was time to move on.
Crazy part about all this. I played there for 10 years & I didn’t even hear it from them that I wasn’t coming back.
— Bobby Wagner (@Bwagz) March 11, 2022
Though that’s not something teams are required to do, Wagner felt the team opted not to have that conversation with him because he’s his own agent.
“Even if they wanted to go in different directions, I don’t think me representing myself played any part on my end. It was more on their end,” Wagner said, via The Associated Press’ Greg Beacham. “Maybe they didn’t want to do it. Maybe they want to kind of burn that bridge. But I feel like through this process and the last process, I’ve shown the capability of handling tough conversations we’ve had, tough conversations throughout my tenure there.
“So it was easy to just pick up a phone and call. I shouldn’t have had to find out the way I found out.”
Now, it all worked out for Wagner in the end — considering he’s landed a deal with the reigning Super Bowl champions who have had an extremely busy offseason already.
Getting to stick in the NFC West, he said, wasn’t intentional. That, though, doesn’t mean he’s not excited to benefit from that.
“A lot of people think that it went into my decision, being able to play the Seahawks. I don’t have that much hate in my heart,” Wagner said, via The Associated Press’ Greg Beacham.
“I really wanted to be happy, and I wanted to be close to home and stay on the West Coast. That was important to me. But playing the Seahawks twice a year is the cherry on top. I’ll make sure they see me every time we play. They’ll know where I’m at, and I’ll make sure I’ll tell them. It won’t be a quiet game for me."
