Seahawks prevail over the Rams in overtime on Jason Myers field … – Los Angeles Times
Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner waves to fans after an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
(Stephen Brashear / Associated Press)
SEATTLE — Fans at Lumen Field welcomed back Bobby Wagner with adoring hand-lettered signs. With a standing ovation as he approached midfield for the coin toss. And by chanting, “Bobby, Bobby” when it was done.
Other than the result of the game — a 19-16 overtime defeat to by the Rams to the Seattle Seahawks — Sunday was a nice homecoming for the Rams linebacker, a Seahawks star for 10 seasons before he was released last March.
“It’s fun playing in this stadium,” said Wagner, a six-time All-Pro who helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. “We had a lot of great years. I’m grateful for the fans, grateful for the love they showed.”
Wagner made seven tackles in a game that wasn’t decided until Jason Myers kicked a 32-yard field goal with 4 minutes 43 seconds left in overtime.
The defending Super Bowl champion Rams finished 5-12, far from what Wagner anticipated when the Ontario native returned to Southern California.
A Seattle Seahawks fan holds a sign for Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner before Sunday’s game.
(Abbie Parr / Associated Press)
Wagner, who was voted a team captain before the season and the team’s most valuable player before the finale, amassed 140 tackles, two shy of the franchise record held by former St. Louis Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Wagner had six sacks and intercepted two passes against the Seahawks.
“There’s a lot of doubters, a lot of people that wrote me off before this year,” said Wagner, 32. “I think I silenced some of those.”
The Seahawks cut Wagner to save more than $16 million. Wagner has said he holds no ill will toward Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, Seahawks general manager John Schneider and Seahawks ownership.
But he clearly wanted to beat the Seahawks when they played in December and to spoil their playoff hopes Sunday.
Wagner came up short both times.
Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas, right, is tackled by Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner during the first half.
(Stephen Brashear / Associated Press)
“I saw him in pregame, and we had some fun kind of punching at each other,” Carroll said after the game. “I thought he played really good again. He had some terrific plays. … You know, bring out the best in him.”
After the Rams’ locker room cleared, Wagner went to the Seahawks locker room and shared a few quiet moments with Carroll in a hallway.
With one season as a Ram behind him, Wagner sounded eager for another.
“I’m grateful and I’m excited,” he said. “I’m healthy and I’m ready to do it again.”