Bobby Wagner throws subtle shade at Seahawks after Commanders switch

Bobby Wagner's arrival in free agency already looks like it could be a tremendous piece of business for the Washington Commanders. The formidable linebacker might be coming to the end of his glorious playing career, but there's nothing to suggest he cannot make a huge impact for the organization after reuniting with head coach Dan Quinn in free agency.

Wagner reached his career-high in tackles last season with an astonishing 183 during what turned out to be a brief return to the Seattle Seahawks. In most cases, this would have resulted in another well-deserved deal to ensure he got the chance to finish his career on the team that drafted him back in 2012. But those in power had different ideas.

Their loss could be Washington's gain. Wagner is raising standards across the board and spearheading Quinn's culture shift on and off the field. Providing there is no alarming regression from the former second-round selection, he could make Seattle pay for casting him aside for the second time.

Commanders LB Bobby Wagner throws shade at Seahawks front office

This snub didn't go unnoticed by Wagner before joining the Commanders. The linebacker threw shade at the higher-ups for the way they handled his contract situation despite more than proving his worth last season based on comments via Heavy.com. However, the perennial All-Pro doesn't harbor any resentment as he looks to turn the page to a new chapter in the nation's capital.

"My relationship with the players and the staff and the people that work there is always great. I just think that some of the upper management didn’t handle things the right way, and it is what it is, it’s part of the business. You know, you always have those things, and I’m sure they’ll get worked out over time. I’m not somebody who holds grudges or anything like that, so I think that’s kind of where it stands."

- Bobby Wagner via Heavy.com

The NFL is a business above all else. If the Seahawks thought they could get better for cheaper, then they were well within their right to go in a different direction. Wagner and most of the fanbase might have thought otherwise, but the decision was out of their hands when push came to shove.

Weirdly, this can spur Wagner on at this late stage of his career.

There isn't much he hasn't seen or done in the game. Helping a storied franchise get back to respectability and having the extra motivation to prove his old employers made a grave error in judgment should provide the extra incentive needed for another exceptional season in a different environment.

Being around familiar faces is something Wagner wanted, especially considering this is his first experience of being part of an NFL team on the East Coast. The impression he's left up to now couldn't be more positive. Continuing this throughout the offseason and maintaining his elite-level production when competitive action arrives will guarantee the Commanders get plenty of bang for their buck regarding this particular offseason transaction.

There doesn't appear to be any bitterness from Wagner's perspective about how things eventually transpired in Seattle. That doesn't mean there won't be an added sense of drive to make those in the Seahawks' front office harbor huge regret about letting him leave once again.

Simply put, this is great news for the Commanders.