It's painfully obvious many here don't understand the job (and/or the value) of an agent. The agent is there for the client--writer, athlete, actor, whatever--, and works for their best interests. Period. Their best interests are not limited to MOAR MONEY! Their best interests are just that: the interests which best further the career and life of their client. They benefit from the financial side of it with a percentage, sure, but it's not all SHOW ME THE MONEY! that we all automatically assume is the case about agents. It's the whole package. The agent is there to help the player get not only the "best deal available" but also get the goals he's set for himself in life. It's much more than just "business is business".
Will Russell Wilson's career be better with Wagner and a couple million less per year over the long run, or will the additional money do him better? This isn't a cut-and-dried answer, and depends on the team, the player, the players surrounding him, and a lot of other circumstances. The agent is working to better the athlete's entire career, and if that means sacrificing a couple of million in salary to ensure a better shot at another championship run and better endorsements after, then that's the better course of action. I'd think Russell and his agent came to the conclusion that having a little extra money available to sign Wagner was more important in the long run to him than an extra million or so. That seems like a no-brainer, even from a non-agent perspective.
Is the agent working to enhance the player's PR? Most certainly. He may not necessarily be a PR guy, but image is part of the considerations. It's not a callous, heartless, calculated act to try and work for the best image for the player. IT's all a part of marketing him, just as anyone would do on a resume, a CV, an evaluation, whatever. Are they blowing smoke up people's asses? Yeah, of course they are, at least a little--that always happens in any job field, in any situation where someone has to list their assets and skills. But it's no more than anyone else trying to make themselves or a client look good, and it's not a bad thing to do so. It's "setting your best foot forward", as they say. Nothing more.
I have no doubt Wagner, and McDaniel, and every other player on the Seahawks' roster was taken into consideration. Yes, I'm sure they factored Wagner's potential contract in heavily; it plays into how well Wilson will do next year from a team perspective. Being on a winning team boosts a guy far more than being on a losing team, no matter how great the individual player is. Look at Barry Sanders. Great guy. Everyone considers him one of the best. Fades into the sunset because he played on a shitty never-was Lions team. A good agent recognizes this and won't let it happen to his client if he can help it.
So could Wilson have gotten a truckload more money by holding out and signing next year for a ton more? Most probably. Did he take a "team-friendly" deal by signing now, and at less than people thought he might? Again, probably. Was it in his best interest to do the latter rather than the former? I certainly think so. And that's why an agent does what an agent does. (S)he gets the best deal for the client, while taking into consideration the money, terms, rights, future considerations, and other factors.
And in this case, it was a well-thought-out win-win. We'd do well to celebrate this.
If he intended to play this year for 1.5 mil, why would he have a $10 million insurance policy? That's closer to what I heard...I think.
