A great Week 18 Cody Barton could end Bobby Wagner’s Seahawks career
If Cody Barton plays lights out against the Cardinals, that could be a major factor in allowing the Seattle Seahawks to move on from Bobby Wagner. We face the proverbial double-edged sword Sunday.
The Seahawks wrap up their strangest season of the Pete Carroll era Sunday when they visit the Cardinals. The Hawks can’t get the satisfaction of knocking them out of the playoffs. However, a Seattle win could bump Arizona down to the fifth seed and a trip to Dallas. Yes, the Cards came to life against the Cowboys, but we all know about second games. An Arizona win gives them a home game, no matter what the Niners and Rams do.
So a little payback for past Zona indiscretions would be nice. Two years ago, I wrote about just how much of a pain in the – well, you know where – the Cardinals have been for the Seahawks over the past few years.
Things haven’t improved, as the week 11 loss set off much of the social media firestorm demanding the Seahawks tear it all down. The Seahawks won’t be torn down to the bottom and rebuilt. Do changes have to be made? Certainly.
With Cody Barton, is the Seattle Seahawks future now?
And that brings up the performance of Cody Barton. He was pressed into service against the Lions and filled in admirably for BWagz. Then again, it was the Lions, so maybe the 84.4 grade from Pro Football Focus should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, as reported by Miguel Pobre for heavy.com, Brock Huard liked what he saw from Barton.
This was by far the most significant action Cody Barton has seen this year. Until Wagner’s injury forced him into the lineup, his previous snap count high was 25, versus the Vikings in week three.
If you’ll recall, that was before Ken Norton Jr. realized the entire league was running three and four-receiver sets, and an extra defensive back might be beneficial for your pass defense. The following week, Sidney Jones went from zero snaps to every defensive snap, and Cody Barton grabbed some pine.
Listen, there’s no shame in taking a seat behind Bobby Wagner. That realignment doesn’t mean Barton can’t play the pass. It just means that three defensive backs can play it better than three linebackers. Barton has looked good in limited action, to be sure. The Cardinals will give him the best test of the season, and the Seahawks certainly hope he passes.
The question is, should the 12s hope he passes too? I mean, sure, we want the guy to dominate. But if Barton looks like he can pair up with Jordyn Brooks and be the new Wagner-Wright, that means Bobby Wagner is done in Seattle.
According to spotrac.com, the Seahawks can release their All-World Hall of Fame linebacker for just $3.75 million. That’s about Jody Allen’s coffee budget for a week. Not knocking her, just saying the lady has some cash. Still, saving over $16 million cap room would be attractive to the Seahawks.
Next. 3 Hawks likely playing their last game for Seattle. dark
I think Barton is up to the task. Not up to filling Bobby Wagner’s cleats; no one can do that. But combined with Brooks, they could start their own Killer Bs, along with players like Tre Brown and Marquise Blair. You read it here first. Frankly, I’d much rather see the best damned middle linebacker on the planet stay for one more season. 2023 is yours, Mr. Barton, but for now, we need BWagz.