The Seattle Seahawks clearly believe the strength of their team lies with their defense - a defense that has finished in the top-10 in total league rankings four seasons running and ended the 2013 and 2014 seasons ranked first out of 32 NFL franchises.
While a large majority of the unit's top performers - safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, cornerback Richard Sherman - have already been locked up with new big-money deals, the defense's quarterback, the man in the middle, linebacker Bobby Wanger, continues to operate on what remains of his rookie NFL contract.
Fortunately for Wagner and the Seahawks faithful, that may be about to change.
"While the Russell Wilson talks have gone slowly, #Seahawks turn their attention to an extension for Bobby Wagner. They've begun discussions," Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted Monday.
While much of the headline space in Seattle has been focused on the efforts of Seahawks GM John Schneider to come to some type of equitable, fair market value deal with Wilson, his franchise quarterback, it seems his signal-caller on the other side of the ball may wind up getting locked up first.
Wagner, 24, finished 2014 for Seattle with 104 tackles, two sacks and three passes defensed, despite appearing in just 11 regular season games. Like all great players though, Wagner stepped his efforts up in the postseason, nabbing 31 tackles and one interception as he and his Seahawks teammates made their way to Super Bowl XLIX.
Wagner's efforts last season were rewarded with a Pro Bowl nod, the first of his career, and an All-Pro selection. He indicated recently, while talking to Jayson Jenks of The Seattle Times, that he'd like to get an extension done "soon" but wouldn't put unnecessary pressure on the situation.
"I've heard nothing so until I get something to sign then I haven't heard nothing," Wagner said.
If Rapoport's report is correct, he should both know something - and be rewarded with a whole boatload of cash - in the not-too-distant future.
