The Rams' new $50 million linebacker says teams thought it was a prank when he texted them in free agency

• Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner represented himself in free agency.
• When Wagner texted team personnel, including those on the Rams, they didn't believe it was him and thought it might be a prank.

When Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner texted front office personnel on teams during free agency, they weren't convinced it was really him.

Wagner told The Los Angeles Times' Gary Klein that he represented himself in free agency, forgoing an agent.

When free agency opened, Wagner texted multiple teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he eventually signed a five-year, $50 million contract.

However, teams didn't necessarily believe it was actually Wagner, who made eight Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams over 10 years with the Seattle Seahawks.

"Everybody thought it was a fake," Wagner told Klein.

That includes Rams GM Les Snead.

"I think he signed off as 'Bwagz,'" Snead said, "and I'm like, 'OK, is this real?'"

Eventually, the Rams confirmed that it was Wagner, who they had great interest in signing.

According to Klein, Snead wanted to draft Wagner in 2012 but missed him by three picks. Snead then instituted what he calls the "Bobby Wagner Rule" — if he is going to lose sleep over missing out on a player, he makes sure to get them.

As for Wagner, this was the second time he negotiated his own contract. Wagner told Klein he wanted to familiarize himself with the complexities of negotiations and an NFL contract.

"I want to go into business after football, and I felt like I wanted to make sure I eliminated any reason why I wouldn't be a fit for business," Wagner said. "And so, doing a contract is one, especially doing an NFL contract because it's so complex."

Wagner and the Rams kick off the NFL season on Thursday against the Buffalo Bills.