Bobby Wagner

The Seahawks are now just over a week into training camp and they play their first pre-season game in five days on August 9 against the Indianapolis Colts at CenturyLink Field.  Currently free safety Earl Thomas is holding out for a new contract and it doesn't seem soon that he will report unless he gets that contract or he is traded to another season. Every day that he misses camp he is being find and by the first pre-season game the amount will be around $1 million. He believes he is in the right however I believe he is being unrealistic at the same time. He wants to be covered in salary just in case he is injured that could cost him his career and at the same time probably a major reason that the Seahawks don't want to sign him to an extension he wants. He has missed a part of the last two years and another injury could cost him his career. Everyone knows that a football career is short even at the best of circumstances however the players are compensated very well these days especially someone like Thomas who is finishing up his second contract with the Seahawks. I see the problem has to do with the structure of the NFL and the players union in itself. Major league baseball and the NBA the contracts are guaranteed while the NFL contracts are not in most cases. When a player signs a contract in the NFL the only part of the contract that is guaranteed to some degree is the signing bonus. Say a player signs a second contract (first contract is called a rookie contract) for example may be announced that he has agreed to $40 million over four years. Some players may get that full amount however likely most will not. Depending on how they play it could turn out that they play only one or two years.

Saying all this to is that many fans and media would say that Earl Thomas is the best player on the defensive side of the ball for the Seahawks and one of the top in the NFL. He could have been even if Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril were still on the Seahawks. Right now though I would say that Bobby Wagner is the best player on the defensive and probably second to Russell Wilson on the whole team. Along with K,J. Wright they are probably the best tandem of linebackers in the NFL. At this time the linebacker positions are probably the top unit on the Seahawks. If either K. J. Wright and or Bobby Wagner were injured for a period of time that would slow the Seahawks team down. I believe the safety position will be Ok without Thomas but sure would be quite improved with him on it. I expect that Wagner once again will be a pro bowler and he has led both the Seahawks and the NFL in tackles the last few years. The Seahawks not only hope that whoever starts at the third linebacker spot will help out them well as those who are trying to make it as backups help the team in the long run as well. The times I have seen Wagner on Television or the radio I find him to be quite the person. I think of him as a pro bowler off the field well as on. We hope that he and K. J. Wright will be able to perform up to their normal playing if not even further if that is possible. I look forward to hear another tackle has been made by Bobby Wagner. I am sure we won't see much of him in the pre-season games. I look forward to see the up and coming linebackers for the Seahawks even though they may only play mainly on special teams. Go Hawks!!