Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Rams release Bobby Wagner
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February 23, 2023 at 5:51 pm #143022JackPMillerParticipant
Bobby Wagner started all 17 games this past season for the Rams and was PFF’s highest-graded linebacker. Wagner was voted All-Pro for the ninth straight year. https://t.co/cCFydtShx7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 23, 2023
February 23, 2023 at 6:13 pm #143023Billy_TParticipantObviously, we will get more details down the road, but my first impression of this move is . . . it’s damn stupid. Big mistake. Wagner is an All-Pro who brings major intangibles to the Rams, with leadership and toughness at the top of the list. This is going to hurt their defense big time, and it’s just so unnecessary.
Seems like another case of trying to be “nice” to the player, instead of thinking Team First.
A frustrating start to the offseason already.
February 23, 2023 at 6:45 pm #143024ZooeyModeratorFrom Jourdan at the Athletic:
The Los Angeles Rams and linebacker Bobby Wagner have mutually agreed to part ways, sources directly familiar with the situation told The Athletic. ESPN was first to report the news. Here’s what you need to know:
- Wagner, 32, played his first 10 seasons with the Seahawks before joining the Rams last season.
- He started 17 games for Los Angeles in 2022, totaling 140 tackles (81 solo) with six sacks and two interceptions.
- Wagner, a 6-time first-team All-Pro, helped Seattle win the 2014 Super Bowl.
- Sources directly familiar with the conversation said they were “positive” in nature.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Why both sides agreed to part ways
Wagner met with the Rams on Thursday for a conversation that one source characterized as really positive, and truly mutual. If it weren’t, the Rams could have saved more money against the cap by cutting or trading Wagner after June 1.
But that wouldn’t have allowed Wagner to pick his next team or would have meant joining a new team way too late in the offseason to fully onboard with them at his position.
Wagner is closing in on the final years of his career, and with all the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the Rams’ roster, it’s understandable if he wanted to find a situation that felt more “sure.” That’s why this is mutual.
Wagner can discuss his options with other teams starting now, a source said, but will officially be released when the new league year begins – reiterating the mutuality of the move. — Rodrigue
February 23, 2023 at 6:47 pm #143025ZooeyModeratorThis is a bad sign, imo. Looks like Rams insiders (including Wagner) don’t think the Rams have enough to compete for a championship. And that they don’t think they can address their needs this year.
February 23, 2023 at 7:35 pm #143026JackPMillerParticipantThis is a bad sign, imo. Looks like Rams insiders (including Wagner) don’t think the Rams have enough to compete for a championship. And that they don’t think they can address their needs this year.
I know next season is going to be tough. I predict, after the 2023 season, Aaron Donald, Matt Stafford, and Sean McVay, will retire. Les Snead, and whoever the new Head Coach will be, will have a lot of work to do.
February 23, 2023 at 7:40 pm #143027Billy_TParticipantThis is a bad sign, imo. Looks like Rams insiders (including Wagner) don’t think the Rams have enough to compete for a championship. And that they don’t think they can address their needs this year.
Agreed.
What do you think about this part, Zooey?
Wagner met with the Rams on Thursday for a conversation that one source characterized as really positive, and truly mutual. If it weren’t, the Rams could have saved more money against the cap by cutting or trading Wagner after June 1.
But that wouldn’t have allowed Wagner to pick his next team or would have meant joining a new team way too late in the offseason to fully onboard with them at his position.
Wagner is closing in on the final years of his career, and with all the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the Rams’ roster, it’s understandable if he wanted to find a situation that felt more “sure.” That’s why this is mutual.
It’s not on the Rams to help a player find his ideal landing spot in his ideal time frame, especially if it costs the Rams serious talent, and in this case, cap room too.
You can’t build a sustainable winner by worrying so much about accommodating individual players and their futures elsewhere. Treat them with respect, definitely. But the Rams should always come first.
February 23, 2023 at 8:05 pm #143028ZooeyModeratorWhat do you think about this part, Zooey?
Yeah, I dunno. I agree that they shouldn’t take a hit just to “be nice” to him. He was here one year. It’s not like he was drafted by the Rams and spend 11 years here.
Why not trade him for a 6th round pick, or something? They got that for Woods, and Woods isn’t going into the HOF.
February 24, 2023 at 7:34 am #143029wvParticipantI’m fine with it. I think its classy, and gaining a classy-rep may reap benefits down the road.
They were not gonna win a ring next year, with or without Wagner. But they can still be a playoff team.
They need a couple more weapons on offense, a pass-rusher, and they need to pray they have what they need on the OLine.
w
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February 24, 2023 at 8:48 am #143030Billy_TParticipantI think now that the Rams have established this pattern of being really, really nice to their players, they should take it to the next level. Ask every player, in a truly non-threatening way, “Where would you like to play? If you could go to the team of your dreams, where would that be? We will do our best to accommodate you. And don’t worry about the cap implications. We got that.”
Of course, first you have to make sure the interview room is just right. Take down all those picture of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun and replace them with pictures of John Denver and Kermit the Frog. Better yet, get Denver and Kermit to show up in person. Make sure you have the best Enya Muzak to soften all the hard edges in the room. Pipe in plenty of lavender, of course. Most importantly, make sure that new batch of puppies is near the player’s chair, and within reach.
It’s also very important to avoid any kind of favoritism, so the offer to place players with the team of their dreams has to include everyone. At the end of the process, once the Rams no longer have anyone on the roster, they can then wait until the end of the draft, and restock the team with UDFAs. It just wouldn’t be “nice” for them to use their draft picks to do that.
/evil grin
February 24, 2023 at 11:02 am #143035znModeratorFor the record, BW leaving now saves the Rams 5 M.
February 24, 2023 at 12:30 pm #143036Billy_TParticipantFor the record, BW leaving now saves the Rams 5 M.
True, but if I’m not mistaken, the Rams would have saved more than twice that amount if they had cut him after June 1st. By releasing him this early, they not only lost talent and leadership; they said No to millions in potential cap savings.
Also: if they had traded him, the cap savings likely would have been greater too, and they would have gotten draft picks in return.
I honestly can’t see any upside with this move.
- This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by Billy_T.
February 24, 2023 at 12:50 pm #143038Billy_TParticipantFollow up from Turf Show Times. This is, to me at least, clear as mud:
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2023/2/23/23612725/bobby-wagner-release-rams-salary-cap-2023
Bobby Wagner release is likely post-June 1 designation; what that means for Rams
The Rams were looking to save as much money as possible for right now
By Kenneth Arthur@KennethArthuRS Feb 23, 2023, 5:52pm CST 12 Comments / 12 NewThe Los Angeles Rams made shocking news on Thursday with the report that they agreed to mutually part ways with star linebacker Bobby Wagner, only one year into a five-year contract at $50 million. The news means a lucrative year for Wagner and an opportunity for him to hit free agency again and to cash in on another payday.
The question for Rams are left with: Why now and what does it mean?
Well, the early reports suggest that the Rams aren’t going to release Wagner just yet and that he won’t be a free agent until March 15, like every other free agent. This is in contrast to an example such as Derek Carr, who the Raiders have already cut, allowing the quarterback to already meet with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets. According to Mike Garafolo, Wagner won’t be officially on the market for three more weeks, which tells us that he’s most likely a post-June 1 designation.
As a post-June 1 designation, the Rams will be able to spread out Wagner’s dead cap penalty over two years instead of one. That’s significant. It means that L.A. will save $8 million against the 2023 salary cap instead of the $5 million that was expected.
It also means that the Rams will carry a more notable dead cap hit for Wagner in 2024, so this is probably a move that signals that L.A. wants to keep building their roster for 2023. This probably isn’t a “give up and rebuild long-term” release, as many initially felt. Or…it could just mean that the Rams are still over the 2023 salary cap ($6.8 million per OvertheCap.com after the post-June 1 release) and they need to clear out as much space as possible.
Wagner isn’t the last domino to fall. Is he the last domino to fall moving out though, and how many dominos are falling in?
February 24, 2023 at 12:53 pm #143039Billy_TParticipantApologies in advance, if I’m just missing the obvious. But, I’m not getting how a player can be released in March with a “Post-June 1st designation.”
How does that work, exactly?
One would think the Rams would have to release Wagner after June 1st to do that . . .
???
February 24, 2023 at 1:44 pm #143040nittany ramModeratorThis is a bad sign, imo. Looks like Rams insiders (including Wagner) don’t think the Rams have enough to compete for a championship. And that they don’t think they can address their needs this year.
Wagner’s leaving makes me sad.
And it certainly could mean the Rams don’t see themselves as contenders this season.
However, there is a simpler explanation than to claim the best team on the planet isn’t ready to return to title contention a mere single season after the flukiest, injury-riddled year in league history. A claim that any hopefull Seattle or SF fan would make, btw, which is why you undoubtedly made it.
I submit that the Rams wanted to keep Wagner and would have if not for the residual Seahawk stench that must be emanating from every pore of his body.
Think about it – he was a Seahawk for OVER A DECADE. With that length of exposure, there isn’t going to be enough Rightguard on the planet to mask the resulting odor. He was immersed in the combined fetor of Wilson, Sherman, Lynch, and Carrol for years and years.
And Tate. Don’t forget that f’***ing Tate.
Imagine what it must have been like for Rams players to share the cramped quarters of a locker room, team bus, and team plane with him (I speculate a similar experience could be had by spending several hours in wv’s living room).
That could also explain the rash of “injuries”. Players faking or purposely injuring themselves to get away from the smell.
It also probably fueled the rumors of McVay’s and Donald’s retirements. I’m surprised they were the only ones included in this speculation.
Anyway, I bet they never sign another longtime Seahawk ever again. And don’t even consider a**holes like Kittle and Deebo when their current contracts expire. That would be several orders of magnitude worse.
February 24, 2023 at 5:03 pm #143041joemadParticipantbetter to part with an aging player a year sooner than a year later.
Bobby Wagner = Clay Matthews
I really liked both of these players with the Rams, but LBs >30 are not very effective for that kind of money.
always remember his Mike Curtis tackle on the trespassing “JOEFAN” vs the 49ers at Levi.
Like ZN stated $5M
Good Luck
February 24, 2023 at 6:44 pm #143042Billy_TParticipantDoes anyone here understand how a March release can have a Post-June 1st cut designation?
NFL rules and regs are weird.
February 24, 2023 at 7:15 pm #143043Billy_TParticipantbetter to part with an aging player a year sooner than a year later. Bobby Wagner = Clay Matthews I really liked both of these players with the Rams, but LBs >30 are not very effective for that kind of money. always remember his Mike Curtis tackle on the trespassing “JOEFAN” vs the 49ers at Levi. Like ZN stated $5M Good Luck
I don’t know about that “aging player” thing. Wagner had 140 tackles, 6 sacks, and 2 interceptions last year, from an inside linebacker spot. That’s clearly All-Pro production.
When was the last time a Rams ILB put up those kinds of numbers?
Is it really likely he’d fall off the cliff that much from there?
February 24, 2023 at 7:36 pm #143045ZooeyModeratorThe Floyd and Ramsey stuff has to be placed in the “Rumor” category until it happens, but the way the wind is blowing, it sure seems like the Rams are clearing cap space by getting rid of players who seemed to be at the core of the philosophy that won them a Super Bowl.
It seemed apparent to me that the Rams were investing in critical superstars, and filling the roster with players they acquired by stockpiling a lot of 3rd day draft picks.
Now they seem to be shedding that core, and I don’t know what to make of that. To me, losing Wagner, Floyd, and Ramsey without apparent heirs on the roster is crazy. We are now down to Donald on defense.
On offense, there is Kupp and an aging Stafford. And whatever Cam Akers shows up.
That’s not a competitive roster. And I don’t get it.
February 24, 2023 at 7:52 pm #143046Billy_TParticipantThe Floyd and Ramsey stuff has to be placed in the “Rumor” category until it happens, but the way the wind is blowing, it sure seems like the Rams are clearing cap space by getting rid of players who seemed to be at the core of the philosophy that won them a Super Bowl. It seemed apparent to me that the Rams were investing in critical superstars, and filling the roster with players they acquired by stockpiling a lot of 3rd day draft picks. Now they seem to be shedding that core, and I don’t know what to make of that. To me, losing Wagner, Floyd, and Ramsey without apparent heirs on the roster is crazy. We are now down to Donald on defense. On offense, there is Kupp and an aging Stafford. And whatever Cam Akers shows up. That’s not a competitive roster. And I don’t get it.
Agree with all of that. Plus, if the Rams are down to just Donald, will he stick around beyond this year? I kinda doubt it.
Kupp turns 30 this summer. Stafford turned 35 this month. Donald seems ageless, so I don’t worry about him, other than the likely retirement. But I’m not getting a sense of this team’s overall philosophy regarding core and complementary players anymore. It seemed pretty clear before their Super Bowl season how they were building toward that. Not this season, though.
Winning the Super Bowl was glorious, and the Rams get major props for all of that. They did it their way, etc. But did the aftermath have to go like this? Couldn’t they have found some way to sustain the winning and the window a bit longer?
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