Batavia, IL
Colliders’ middle linebacker Bobby Wagner angered management this offseason when he decided to hold out. Wagner was the 5th rated linebacker after the regular season, and a strong post-season propelled him to the #2 spot and the Colliders to a championship. Wagner is entering the final year of his contract and is set to earn $9.61, but he wants to be paid $18.39.
Some outside observers expressed dismay that Colliders’ management wouldn’t just pay the man, especially given that under the rules they could extend him three more years and get a salary reduction on the first year. Should they have a change of heart, they could lock him in at $15.63 this year, with salaries of $17.19, $19.77, and $23.72 to round out the deal. Wagner has been a consistent performer over the course of his career, with last year being his best yet, as he averaged 10.481 points per game.
Outside observers don’t know how Hammond operates, however. Devonta Freeman found that out the hard way, when Hammond refused to match his $50 offer sheet during restricted free agency. The Colliders replaced him with rookie running back Joe Mixon, who’s $12 price tag is significantly lower. Wagner’s tweets about his dissatisfaction with Batavia management led to the drafting of not one but two linebackers last Saturday. The writing is clearly on the wall – Wagner’s on his way out.
Hammond said he’d listen to offers for Wagner’s services, but he was also happy to just let him sit for seven weeks and then press him into action for the playoff push. While some teams expressed interest in Wagner early on, the market may have cooled a little. Hammond seems unfazed, however. “We’re happy to keep him on board for depth purposes. But we’re not going to set a precedent by overpaying a player, no matter how good he is.”
New linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone need to make contributions early, because fans in Batavia are expecting another title. They’ll get restless if Wagner is posting 10-15 points from the bench.
© 2017, Josh Hammond. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.