Veteran Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner entered the NFL in 2012. Since that time, Wagner has quietly become one of the best defensive players of the decade.
A six-time first-team All-Pro selection, Wagner has also been named to the Pro Bowl on seven occasions. And, while Seattle’s defense doesn’t remind anyone of the “Legion of Boom” days, don’t blame Wagner. The 31-year-old Wagner has started all 10 games for Seattle in 2021, recording 115 tackles.
This week, Wagner met the Seattle media and was asked about his first game at FedEx Field — which happened to be the NFC wild-card game back in Jan. 2013. If you recall, that’s the game that changed the trajectory of the Washington Football Team over the next several years as quarterback Robert Griffin III suffered a devastating knee injury. The Seahawks would go on to win the game.
Wagner’s response is one familiar to many Washington fans.
“The field was trash, for sure,” Wagner said via Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
Bobby Wagner was asked by Seattle media today what he remembers most about the first time he played at FedEx Field, in the 2012 WC game:
Wagner: “The field was trash, for sure.”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 27, 2021
FedEx Field has a horrible track record of injuries. Earlier this month, Washington defensive end Chase Young was the latest to suffer a devasting injury at FedEx Field. Others include Joe Burrow, Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, Adrian Peterson, Griffin, J.K. Dobbins, Chris Clemons. That’s not a definitive list, but just several of many over the years.
The team installed an entirely new playing surface over the summer to Washington’s credit.
Wagner isn’t the first player to publicly talk about the playing surface at FedEx Field — and he won’t be the last. Unfortunately for Washington fans, his comments brought back some unpleasant memories to the ending of one of the most exciting seasons over the last 30 years.