Seattle, WA
John Schneider explains how Seahawks’ talks went with Bobby Wagner
Final yr, the Seahawks made a tough choice to half methods with a franchise icon. Simply over a yr later, that star has returned to Seattle.
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9-time All-Professional linebacker Bobby Wagner is again with the Seahawks after spending the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams, the place he earned second-team All-Professional honors. He signed a one-year deal reportedly price $7 million, and that information was first reported and made official final Saturday.
Throughout his weekly interview with Seattle Sports activities’ Wyman and Bob final Thursday, Seahawks basic supervisor John Schneider was requested about Wagner doubtlessly returning to Seattle, however he didn’t have a lot to say on the subject.
“No,” Schneider stated when requested if including inside linebacker Devin Bush has an affect on a possible reunion with Wagner. “You realize, we’ve been speaking to Bobby, and what I can inform you is we’ll see what shakes out, see how this goes.
“You understand how a lot respect we’ve for Bobby. … He had an awesome season this final yr. We’ll proceed to talk with him and keep in contact and see how this goes.”
Properly, there’s a purpose Schneider didn’t share a lot final week, as he defined throughout his go to with Wyman and Bob this Thursday.
“So I used to be on the telephone with you guys and we had been ready to leap on a airplane to go to Lexington (for Kentucky’s professional day) and I used to be talking to you guys and I obtained the query about Bobby Wagner, which was awkward as a result of I had a plan to fulfill with Bobby (arising),” he stated. “So yeah, that was fairly awkward.”
So how did that every one come collectively? Schneider broke down final week’s occasions main as much as Wagner re-signing.
“We flew to Lexington (Thursday) night time, frolicked, obtained up (Friday) morning, went to (Kentucky’s) exercise, flew again from the exercise and I obtained dwelling, took my spouse to dinner that night time, obtained up early within the morning, then obtained within the workplace with (vp of soccer administration) Matt Thomas, obtained along with him for some time and discovered what we’re going to attempt to accomplish assembly with Bobby,” Schneider stated. “I went to (vp of participant engagement) Mo Kelly’s home, met with Bobby all afternoon, we got here to an settlement, went down signed up these papers. Thrilling stuff, proper? Bringing Bobby again. Everyone’s jacked up for that.”
“We needed to achieve out to Bobby as quickly as he was let go. You additionally to be very cautious with an iconic participant like that, arguably the very best defensive participant within the crew’s historical past,” Schneider later stated. “We wish to make sure that all people’s on the identical web page and that communication is simple, clear and trustworthy as you might presumably be all through the free company interval.”
Whereas Schneider wouldn’t share what the Seahawks’ plan for Wagner is on the sector in 2023, he did share that each head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt have talked to Wagner about expectations and his function.
“(They painted) only a clear image of what issues issues will appear to be, (or at the least) as clear as we may be, as a result of we don’t actually understand how issues are gonna go along with guys’ rehabs and all that,” he stated. “However we’re making an attempt to get Devin and Bobby on the market, clearly, to begin out after which as quickly as (Jordyn Brooks is) again, hopefully we’ll get him within the combine and get him going as effectively. ACLs are by no means a enjoyable deal to return again from, proper?”
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