The Seattle Seahawks made a move that many die-hard fans loved, bringing back eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner in free agency. However, former Seahawks legend Richard Sherman claims that the reunion was almost ruined by general manager John Schneider being “disrespectful” in negotiations with Wagner.
Sherman spoke about the situation on 93.3 KJR, a Seattle sports radio station. He detailed that he was constantly talking with Wagner during his contract negotiations and that Schneider was severely lowballing Wagner.
“I mean, just lowballing a guy,” said Sherman during the interview transcribed by Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. “There’s a difference between lowballing and being disrespectful and they got borderline disrespectful. Thankfully, Bobby really wanted to be with the Seahawks, and he really wanted to come back home. Because other people offered him more money.”
Richard Sherman on @933KJR today talked about Bobby Wagner's fit with the Seahawks. Said Bobby brings consistency, leadership & a difference maker in the middle of the defense
Also said Seattle initially lowballed Bobby to the point it was borderline disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/f9aC3IEY6n
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) April 5, 2023
Wagner was only signed to a one-year $5.5 million contract by the Seahawks. This hails in comparison to the five-year $50 million deal he signed with the Los Angeles Rams last offseason.
It certainly seems like a bargain for the Seahawks considering he is coming off a year in Los Angeles where he was named to the All-Pro second team.
Wagner may simply just be loyal to a fault toward the Seahawks, and may not get the same loyalty back from the organization. The veteran linebacker revealed on Wednesday that he plans to take his NFL career “a year at a time”, and ultimately wants to retire as a member of the Seahawks.
“I hope to play longer than this one year,” Wagner told The News Tribune. “But I think we are at that point where you take it one year at a time.”
[Michael-Shawn Dugar on Twitter, The News Tribune]
