Bobby Wagner: Playing Seattle Seahawks twice a year 'cherry on top,' not reason for joining Los Angeles Rams

All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner says he has «no hatred» toward the Seattle Seahawks but still believes they should have handled his release differently.

And he considers the chance to play his old team twice a year a nice bonus to signing with the Los Angeles Rams, even if it wasn't the reason he joined Seattle's division rival.

«A lot of people think that it went into my decision, being able to play the Seahawks,» Wagner said Monday via Zoom in his introductory news conference with the Rams. «I don't have that much hate in my heart. I think I really wanted to be happy and I wanted to be close to home and stay on the West Coast. That was important to me. But playing the Seahawks twice a year was a cherry on top, and I'll make sure they see me every time we play them. They'll know where I'm at and I'll make sure I tell them. It won't be a quiet game for me.»

Wagner spoke with reporters for the first time since agreeing to a five-year, $50 million contract with the reigning Super Bowl champions last week. A source told ESPN that the deal, which Wagner negotiated himself, includes $20 million in guarantees as well as incentives that give him the opportunity to earn up to $23.5 million through the first two seasons.

Wagner, 31, became a free agent for the first time in his career when the Seahawks released him last month, ending a 10-year run in Seattle that included eight Pro Bowls, six First Team All-Pro selections, a Super Bowl championship and a franchise-record 1,383 tackles.

And one messy breakup.

The Seahawks informed Wagner that he was being released before ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news, but Wagner had already caught wind of the team's plan to move on with younger players at inside linebacker. He voiced his