The Los Angeles Rams once again landed the star player on the market as Bobby Wagner agreed to a deal to come home to Southern California.
With the Seattle Seahawks looking to rebuild after trading away Russell Wilson, Wagner was a logical release though it still came as a surprise when it happened. Despite entering his 32-year-old season, Wagner showed during the 2021 campaign that he has plenty left in the tank and remains one of the most reliable defenders in the middle of the field.
It was reported that the linebacker was choosing between the Baltimore Ravens and the Rams, but it sounded like playing in front of his family at home played a huge part in his decision. However, being able to play against the Seahawks at least twice a year was an added bonus and something he acknowledged, via Cameron DaSilva of USA Today:
“A lot of people think that it went into my decision, being able to play the Seahawks, but I don’t have that much hate in my heart,” Wagner told reporters on Monday. “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 was the cherry on top. And I’ll make sure they see me every time we play them. Y’all know where I’m at, and I’ll tell them, it won’t be a quiet game for me.”
Wagner also voiced his displeasure with how his time in Seattle came to an end:
“I just think that after 10 years, it could have been a simple conversation,” Wagner said. “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. Maybe they didn’t want to do it. Maybe they want to kind of burn that bridge.”
Either way, Seattle’s loss is L.A.’s gain and it should be an electric matchup the first time these two teams meet in 2022.
