The Los Angeles Rams got scarier by acquiring All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner on a five-year, $50 million deal.
The 31-year-old defensive ace will get $12.5 million guaranteed and a $5 million signing bonus.
With him on board, the Rams will have an enviable core in Wagner, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
Football fans speculate that Wagner signed with his hometown team to get revenge against the Seattle Seahawks.
Staying in the same division gives him at least two opportunities to show his former team what they are missing.
However, Greg Beacham of the Associated Press pointed out that vendetta isn’t Wagner’s reason for continuing his career in California.
Bobby Wagner says he didn’t pick the Rams just because they’re in Seattle’s division.
Having said that, he absolutely cannot wait to remind the Seahawks what they gave up on: pic.twitter.com/lfKw6TcVjd
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) April 4, 2022
Wagner said, “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.”
He continued, “I really wanted to be happy, and I wanted to be close to home and stay on the West Coast.”
Even if he has spent a decade in Seattle and played college football at Utah State, he’s still a Los Angeles kid by heart.
It’s where he was born and went to high school, meaning that he has a lot of family in the area.
Wagner Wants Happiness
The happiness that Wagner seeks might come in two forms.
First, the Rams are in a position to defend their Super Bowl title, especially after re-signing quarterback Matthew Stafford to a long-term deal.
Wagner would like to win another championship after winning one with Seattle during the 2013 season.
But happiness may also be in the form of defeating the Seahawks, as he said in his statement.
“But playing the Seahawks twice a year was 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,” Wagner said.
Sounds like a stern warning to Seattle’s questionable offensive line.
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