BOBBY WAGNER: Feels good to be back. Nice to be back in 54. Nice to be back in some beautiful weather. It's cool.
Q. Having been here for a long time, being back here, does it feel any different?
BOBBY WAGNER: I mean, obviously the main thing is the main thing but the feeling is always different. Like you come back, there's pretty much not too many people that you play with when I first got here but there's some familiar faces still and I still understand that the whole vibe and the whole culture here. I'm excited to be back.
Q. What's this defense like? Is it a whole lot different than it was when you were here before in terms of the scheme and stuff like that?
BOBBY WAGNER: I think there's like kind of a combination of a lot of defenses but there's some tough that we ran in the past, some stuff that I got introduced to are the Rams. So this is the time to build a defense and so we are just trying new looks, new formations and I'm excited to just learn and get to know everybody again.
Q. What's the change you were talking during your time with the Rams last year?
BOBBY WAGNER: From a schematic situation? I played a lot more on two -- I was more to the boundary a little bit more versus my time here, I was more to the passing strength.
So being exposed to that a little bit I definitely feel like added to my game and I would say that's pretty much the biggest thing. There was a difference the way we played the running game, but the running game is always just find the guy with the ball, so that's never been -- that's never been tough.
Q. What's your impression --
BOBBY WAGNER: It's good. I'm always a guy that you just kind of check out their personality and just how they vibe with the culture but as far as like football-wise it's really tough to figure out who is who until we get in training camp and put the pads on and everybody talks a good game until the pad get on. But from what I've seen so far, I've been really impressed and all of them seem eager to learn. You know, when you walk into the building, they have got their playbooks open, which is, you though, not as normal as people may think because there's a lot of distractions but I'm excited to see their growth.
Q. Stepping into a bigger role -- do you see a day --
BOBBY WAGNER: As a leader, yeah, maturity level, probably not much. From what I've heard and from I've watched from afar, he's definitely stepped up a lot as a leader, as a person, as a player. I'm excited to continue to grow with him.
Q. How do you feel physically and all that? Year 11 and doing this and everything.
BOBBY WAGNER: I feel good. I feel good. It's a normal off-season. I think I played a little more basketball, a little more yoga. You know, did some different things to get in better shape and just trying to continue to play at a high level and try to perform, and show people that it can be done.
Q. What's the system asking now that's different from when you first came here?
BOBBY WAGNER: I don't think it's too different. Mixture of coverages. I feel like before when I was here early on in my career and things of that nature, we ran a lot of cover three and that's pretty much what we were in the whole time.
But as I was kind of later in my career, we added Cover 2, cover four, cover six, just different things. So I think that's just the difference is more a mixture of coverages versus just sticking to one.
Q. Has something shifted in that way to where the offensive game has made it to where cover three, cover one stuff isn't good enough any more and that you have to do most things?
BOBBY WAGNER: I don't know that that's the face. It's waves, the league comes in waves. Same thing with offenses. Offenses don't use fullbacks until a fullback plays amazing and then everybody feels like they need a fullback. And when tight ends is a thing, everybody gets a tight end, and running backs, go down the list.
For us, it was like cover three and as more cover three was seen and a lot of people figure out how to beat cover three, then people transition away from it.
A lot of people are enamored with the Vic Fangio staff, that's the way it is right now and who knows what it is going to be next. You see a lot of teams want to go back to cover three. It's just the cycle we're in.
Q. Do you like 54 --
BOBBY WAGNER: I like 54. 54 is a natural number for me. It looks good for me. I like these colors. I feel like my j's are going to be nice.
Q. What seemed different about Geno, now that you were aware for a year and you come back?
BOBBY WAGNER: I think the biggest thing is just he got the experience and he the got reps. I think a lot of times when I was here, it was always behind Russ. So the majority of his represents came in the preseason or came after Russ kind of got his looks but now you see what it looks like when he's getting the looks, when he's recording and when he's doing everything. You see the confidence grow, and I'm excited to play with him.
Q. The interception that you had --
BOBBY WAGNER: I don't see where people wouldn't think it was an interception. It was, clearly. The league said it was an interception. I said it was an interception. I feel like between those two, it was a really powerful thing. And then like, are they really going to give it to a rookie, older guy been in the league for a long time, young guy.
Q. What is your biggest takeaway from being in another city, another team?
BOBBY WAGNER: Biggest takeaway? I don't think I've ever been asked that before. First time I'm thinking -- biggest thing is appreciation. Kind of how good things are. You see what things are when you're winning and you see what things are when you're not winning. Valuing people and relationships because you think that you'll be around all these people for a long time and then it could be over just like that. I think the biggest thing is, too, no matter how many years you're in this league, it's still a business. So at the end of the day the business will always come into play at some point and you always have to be prepared for it. I've always just tried to handle business the right way so when I get out of here, they know -- I'm a person that knows how to handle business good and bad. That's kind of what I've learned.
Q. In the off-season -- what was that experience?
BOBBY WAGNER: It was cool, a full circle moment just doing the work with HBU (ph) to get out there and be a part of that and being a part of young people to see this way earlier than I got to see it, it was pretty cool. And I'm thinking about doing my business MBA, so I think that will be cool.
Q. What do you think about the real estate thing?
BOBBY WAGNER: It's amazing. I was here when he was working on it. He was taking the classes and doing the things and seeing where it's grown now to where he's got an official partnership with the team is awesome. I hope anybody who is selling their house, I've got a guy for you, his name is Tyler Lockett. I won't give you his address but I got some information and he's amazing at his job and give him an opportunity.
Q. Have other guys talked to you or sought advice or anything?
BOBBY WAGNER: There's a few people that hit me up. Again, I never thought it was, like, something that everybody was going to do. I just think the people that had the confidence to represent themselves and take control of their business. You know, they have an option if they want to do that. So I always just look at it as another option for guys.
But you know, if you want to do it, you've got to take it seriously. There's a lot of guys doing their own deals and make something good money.
Q. In general guys that are hitting you up, are there things they are all concerned about or do they have a general question usually?
BOBBY WAGNER: I would say the biggest question that I get is probably what to expect. That's probably the biggest question is what to expect.
But I think it's a very -- it's one of those things where you have to control your emotions because I feel as players, that's what they waiting on. The biggest thing is they think we can't control our emotions or when things aren't going the right way, we are going to s PA Z out and that's why everybody feels like this need to be a middle person. But if you can master your emotions, you can accomplish whatever you want.
Q. You're now the only guy left on the field here from the team that won the Super Bowl years ago. Does that seem like a weird thing at all?
BOBBY WAGNER: You know, when you're sitting in the indoor, and you see all those names that was on the team and where it's at now, it definitely crosses your mind.
But you know, it's evolution. So I always felt like I was going to be, God willing, one of the ones that got to be around for a long time, so here we are.
Q. Can you be that guy again?
BOBBY WAGNER: Yeah, that's my -- that's my takeaway. A lot of people can have the green dot but I will be the guy for sure.
Q. Devon, what's it like playing with him?
BOBBY WAGNER: It's cool, when he would the drafted, we had a chance to have some conversations a little bit. Being able to work with him and be on the field with him and pass down the knowledge that I have has been fun. Again, I'm excited to get out there and play, put some pads on and just stop. This time, it's really for the offense. We're just kind of in the way.
Q. The line of scrimmage, what stand out to you about seeing him run, tracking him, linebacker?
BOBBY WAGNER: This is the first day, so you watch how he runs. You watch how he cuts. Even the stuff that we're doing now, we're not doing much with the offensive lineman, so it's really just routes on there and we are really just kind of shouting at each other. So it's really kind of hard to game.
But you know, when training camps come, ask me that question and I'll have a better answer for you.
Q. Is there intentionality in changing the narrative, whether it's social media or whether it's them thinking about life after football, negotiating contracts, is there some intentionality you've seen in the last few years?
BOBBY WAGNER: I definitely feel like there's been -- it's been very intentional. But I think it's more so people from the outside looking in are opening their minds up that, you know, we are not just athletes. There's a lot of people that draw. There's a lot of people that do business. There's a lot of people that do real estate. Like we are capable of doing other things but I think sometimes we get put in a box that football is our only thing.
Or if we're doing something else outside of football, then we are not as focused on football as we should be. I think it's more so the outside opening up to the possibility of guys doing more than just the sport that they play, as well as guys are intentional. Like LeBron, uninterrupted starter because he was tired of players being interrupted and their stories being interrupted.
It was definitely intentional but I think the world is starting to see us as more than just the ball that we carry or the ball that we shoot or anything like that.
Q. Did you keep your place here from the time you were gone or did you start completely home?
BOBBY WAGNER: No, I was always home. Seattle was always home. Regardless of the situation, it was always Seattle or California. I was always going to be in Seattle or California and whenever I'm done, it's going to be Seattle and California. I'll be around. If you see me, say hello.
Q. Did you already see the helmets?
BOBBY WAGNER: I have. They are fire. They are very fire. It could be great if they were black but we won't go there.
Q. Is there a perception -- when you said the idea the players, the perception that if they are going to go outside of football, do you think some players are reluctant to compress their interest in other things because of that?
BOBBY WAGNER: I think so. I think there's a lot of players that do other things than just play ball or play whatever. I think it's just the idea of doing more. I feel like you always look for a reason if a player is playing bad, you look for a reason for why he's playing bad and so if you can pinpoint him doing something outside of what he should doing, then it's easy and then that makes it less attractive for a guy to do that.
And so I think even Draymond, Draymond started doing a Podcast because he wanted to do a Podcast, and when he had a game that he wasn't playing well, everybody went straight to the Podcast. But when they were doing well, winning championships, things of that nature. They loved the Podcast. So it's a love/hate relationship with the media. They will build you up and bring you down. That's where emotion comes into play. It's just understanding it's part of the game and not worrying about what people say and do what you feel is right and if your intentions are good, then the universe will speak to it.
Q. Lakers still got a shot?
BOBBY WAGNER: Yeah, Lakers have a shot. LeBron is about to go 4-0. I mean, he did 3-1. He was down, you know, down 3-1 and did it. I've got hope that he'll do it again.
Q. What did it mean to you, the ovation last season and when it was announced you came back, all the love on social media what did that mean to you?
BOBBY WAGNER: That was amazing. I didn't expect it to be like that to be honest. I knew there was going to be some love but just when I came back, I never stayed in a hotel actually in Seattle. That was my first time in actual downtown Seattle. That was cool. But the staff that was there was dope and the people in the morning was cool and then walking out and getting that reception was pretty cool.
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