Bobby Wagner spent 10 years as a superstar in the middle of the Seattle Seahawks defense, helping lead the team to two Super Bowl appearances and winning one of them.
Now he has a chance to help deliver a knockout punch to the Seahawks’ playoff hopes on Sunday as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
Wagner seems to be relishing that opportunity, telling ESPN that he is going to be “playing the organization that you felt gave up on you.”
The Seahawks have been one of the more surprising teams in the NFL this season after losing two of their most important franchise players over the offseason. Along with not bringing back Wagner, the Seahawks also traded long-time starting quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos in a trade that is starting to look like one of the biggest steals (in Seattle’s favor) in modern NFL history.
With expectations at an all-time low entering the season, the Seahawks enter their Week 18 game against the Rams with an 8-8 record and a chance to make the NFC playoffs.
They need to beat the Rams, while also hoping for a Detroit Lions win over the Green Bay Packers in the Sunday night game.
Wagner was critical of the Seahawks’ organization for the way his release was handled, telling the media (and also Tweeting) that he did not even receive a phone call from the team after the fact. General manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll both tried to take blame for the miscommunication back in March, but by that point the damage was already done.
It was a pretty surprising exit for a player that went to eight pro bowls and was a key player on one of the NFL’s best and most successful teams for a decade.
Now Wagner will be making his first visit back to Seattle as a visiting player with an opportunity to ruin the Seahawks’ playoff chances.
Even though the Rams’ season has been a bitter disappointment, going from Super Bowl champions to only five wins, Wagner has still had a strong year with 138 combined tackles (74 solo), six sacks (a new career high), two interceptions, nine tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, and five pass defenses. He has been one of the few bright spots on the Rams.
