Safety Jimmie Ward isn't eager to hear about his team, the San Francisco 49ers, getting deep into talks with free-agent linebacker Bobby Wagner, recently released by the Seattle Seahawks. Not because he doesn't want Wagner, an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro, as a teammate. It's because the safety likes the group of linebackers on the 49ers' roster right now.
"Bobby Wagner is a great player, but I won't sit here and say, 'Oh, we need Bobby Wagner,' because I feel like that would be a slap in the face to all the linebackers in the room," Ward said via Instagram (h/t TheSFNiners). "Bobby Wagner plays the same position as Fred Warner, so it'll tell me one of two things. Well, mainly one thing: We get Bobby Wagner—OK, who is we about to deal because I know he's not going to sit on the bench?
"I know he's not a special teams player, and that's one thing I feel like we need. ... I feel like since we lost our special teams coach (Richard Hightower)—he just went to [Chicago]—I feel like we need players that's willing to play special teams. And not just willing to play special teams, I'm talking about dominate special teams."
Ward adds that he will welcome Wagner with open arms if the 49ers acquire the veteran linebacker. He just feels the current group of linebackers is hungry to prove itself. One of those hungry young linebackers is Azeez Al-Shaair, a player Ward feels has worked hard for his opportunities and improved over the years.
Al-Shaair had a career year, recording 102 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, two sacks, an interception, five passes defensed, and a forced fumble through 13 starts.
"He got his opportunity this year," Ward added. "Man, he didn't look back. He had an outstanding year, his best year he's had so far since he's been with the Niners."
You can listen to Ward's entire reaction below.
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