I don't know about you, 12s, but to me, it seems like a sin that Bobby Wagner won't be on an NFL football field when the Seattle Seahawks face off against the Washington Commanders this Sunday.
Yeah, I know. This is actually the third week that Wagner hasn't been on the field. But with Seattle facing Washington, it really comes into focus in Week 3. Last year, he was ranked ninth among all linebackers by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That's pretty damn good for a guy still out of work.
We 12s don't need reminders of Wagner's greatness, but apparently a lot of general managers in the league do. So for those teams that have already shown weakness at linebacker - what the heck are you doing? BWagz is right there. Hey, at least the stinking Cowboys didn't sign him, although it's quite clear they should have . We can all be grateful for that.
Coming into Week 3, seven teams have allowed an average of at least 30 points per game. Surprisingly, one of those squads is the 2-0 Buffalo Bills . But even with perennial MVP candidate Josh Allen at quarterback, surrendering 30 points per game isn't the prescription for success in the NFL. Without a QB like Allen, it's a recipe for disaster. Just ask the Colts and their 71 points allowed.
I wouldn't want to see Wagner in Buffalo, but at least the Bills are still a decent team. The Chargers haven't been awful on defense, but they could certainly use help at linebacker. He fits the Jim Harbaugh linebacker mold perfectly, and he'd be back in Los Angeles , his home. But maybe, just maybe, Bobby Wagner isn't interested in coming back at all.
As reported by Grant Afseth for the Dallas Sports Journal, Wagner's former teammate Von Miller said, "If he wanted to play football, he'd be on the team. He's a man of many talents. He went and got his master's degree during the season last year. If he wanted to be on the team, he would. I think it's probably something else that he's doing right now."
I'm not so sure about that. Why hasn't he formally retired? Yes, Von Miller clearly knows much more about the situation than I do. One team we know he won't be playing for is the Seahawks. BWagz didn't fit Mike Macdonald's defense two years ago, and he doesn't fit now. After all, Ernest Jones IV is no slouch himself , and there's the little matter that Seattle has only allowed 17 points in all.
So if he does come back, it won't be with the Seahawks. The Colts would be a great fit, but frankly, GM Chris Ballard isn't bright enough to see that. I don't expect we'll see either Tyler Lockett or Will Dissly return to the field , but it's a crime that Dr. Bobby Wagner hasn't.
This article was originally published on www.12thmanrising.com as Seahawks great Bobby Wagner won't take the field for the first time in 15 seasons .
