Category: Around the NFC East

Did the Commanders overpay in their trade for Carson Wentz?

The cost of acquiring a quarterback is high, but did the Commanders overpay for Carson Wentz?

The quarterback market is heating up, with teams giving up draft picks for passers in the last two days. After the Broncos landed Russell Wilson from Seattle, the Washington Commanders – despite multiple red flags – struck a deal for Indianapolis Colts QB Carson Wentz.

ESPN’ Adam Schefter is reporting the terms of the trade and clearly, the Colts wanted to get rid of their quarterback. Yet, Washington was willing to part with third-round picks in 2022 and 2023, and will move down five spots in the second round, too.

It was certainly public knowledge that former Eagles offensive coordinator and current Colts head coach Frank Reich loved Wentz, resulting in Wentz being traded from Philadelphia to Indianapolis last offseason.

Red flag alert!

After only one season with Wentz in Indy, there was Reich – just one week ago – refusing to say he was committed to Wentz for any future seasons. Reich was indirectly informing his fellow NFL competitors that he was making Wentz available.

Another red flag.

Now, only one day after losing out on Wilson, why have Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew reacted so quickly to take on the contract of Wentz, while giving up multiple valuable draft choices?

Have they overreacted here in trading so soon for a quarterback that has been anything but impressive his last two seasons?

After losing Wilson yesterday, it seems they were on the rebound to make a move now and thus overpaid.

Entering the third season of his contract, Rivera might be feeling the pressure to win now at the cost of future roster-building through the draft. And based on what we saw from Wentz the last two seasons, his value has noticeably declined.

How did Rivera and Mayhew draw the conclusion that Wentz is such an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke, that they made this type of deal?

I can’t believe I just wrote about this two days ago in how important it is to not present yourself as desperate in negotiations. Yes, Rivera has the right to make the trade, but with all the obvious red flags, what happens if he is wrong on this trade?

Robert Griffin III again fails to deliver

Robert Griffin III’s alleged “tell-all” book about his time in Washington isn’t happening after all. Hmmmm……

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Similar to his NFL career, Robert Griffin’s tell-all book has also gone south very quickly.

Griffin who had an outstanding 2012 season and then informed coaches he would no longer run the offense that fit him perfectly, quickly learned he was not the pocket passer he fancied himself to be, never again experiencing NFL success.

Only months after boldly proclaiming on November 30 he was providing NFL and Washington fans an exclusive tell-all book, it has apparently died just as quick a death.

Griffin had promised details of the medical mismanagement he had received, the sexual harassment permeating the organization’s walls and the deep power struggle between Mike Shanahan and Daniel Snyder.

Griffin in his audio promo said, “I am so excited to announce I wrote a book, and it’s coming out August 2022, entitled, “Surviving Washington.” So, Griffin was claiming to have already written the book?

Why has Griffin deleted the promotional video from Twitter? Why is the pre-order link on Simon and Schuster’s website inactive? Voluminous, terribly written books are published annually. So, why wasn’t this book published? Do you think there was a book written?

“The Sports Junkies” Eric Bickel deserves some credit on this one. While nearly everyone announcing the book was speculating how much Robert would detail, Bickel from the start was having absolutely none of it.

Raising his voice in confidence, he had proclaimed on the Sports Junkies that this book would never occur, never see the light of day.

Even more, when many Washington commentators in 2014 (print, or airwaves) were taking the safe route, wondering when Griffin would develop into an NFL quarterback, who could succeed in the pocket, it was Bickel who boldly proclaimed on the Sports Junkies that fans were clueless and did not understand that it was already over for Robert Griffin. (Actually what Bickel declared was much bolder–and more entertaining; here is the link).

Bickel is an admitted homer; a homer who has always rooted for the team and objectivity sometimes gets lost (it does for all of us). However, he has been on to Robert Griffin longer than most. Therefore, Thursday’s Sports Junkies segment announcing the cancellation of the Robert Griffin tell-all project was in essence a victory lap for Eric Bickel.

When Ryan Fitzpatrick went down in this season’s first game, there was Robert Griffin tweeting for Washington to make the call to himself, so he could come in and rescue the 2021 team. Bickel proclaimed Thursday, “I don’t think he is a bad guy, but he is the biggest attention-whore in football… I know him so well, and I’ve never met him,” expressed Bickel.

The more things change, the more things stay the same, for Robert Griffin.

53 years ago today: Washington head coach Vince Lombardi

On this day, 53 years ago, Vince Lombardi made history.

It was 53 years ago today in Washington football history Vince Lombardi appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated March 3, 1969.

Lombardi appearing in coat and tie, the cover read, “Vince Lombardi Puts a Legend on the Line.”

Lombardi in Green Bay had turned things around instantly with a 7-5, 1959 team, the first winning Packers team since Curly Lambeau’s 1947 (6-5-1) team. All Lombardi accomplished in his nine seasons with Green Bay was a winning season each year, an 89-29-4 regular-season record, 3 NFL Championships, and the first two Super Bowl Championships.

Retiring on top, following 1967 season, Lombardi was an executive with the Packers in 1968 and miserable.

Hired by the Redskins in 1969, Lombardi at his first press conference proclaimed, “Gentlemen, it is not true that I can walk across the Potomac River—not even when it is frozen.”

Washington had been 5-9 in 1968, and had last enjoyed a winning season in 1955 (8-4), long before any of the Redskins Lombardi inherited. There were however three future Hall of Famers: Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor and Chris Hanburger.

Sam Huff returned for the 1969 season, having come out of retirement to play one season under Lombardi. Lombardi promised in that first press conference, “We’re going to have a winner the first year!”

Indeed Lombardi was a winner, leading Washington to a 7-5-2 record in his only season in Washington. He was diagnosed with colon cancer June, 1970, and died September 3, 1970, only age 57.

A few more excerpts quoting Lombardi in the SI issue:

“I’m not a legend, because I don’t want to be a legend. One main reason I came back to coaching is that I didn’t want to be regarded as a legend…I’m too young to be a legend.”

“Now a good coach is a good coach. Right? If you take all 26 coaches in pro football and look at their football knowledge, you’d find almost no difference. So if the knowledge isn’t different, what’s different? The coach’s personality. See?” He paused, then laughed—arararararargh!—and said, “Now how am I supposed to explain my own personality? What am I supposed to say? That I’m a great leader? A mental powerhouse? That I’ve got charisma?”

“You cannot be successful in football—or in any organization—unless you have people who bend to your personality. They must bend or already be molded to your personality.”

“I believe a man should be on time—not a minute late, not 10 seconds late—but on time for things. I believe that a man who’s late for meetings or for the bus won’t run his pass routes right. He’ll be sloppy.”

“I just heard the other day about a kid I used to coach in high school. I heard he’s in trouble. I heard he’s drinking, doing a lot of heavy drinking… Lombardi rubbed the three-diamond setting in his huge Super Bowl ring and he said, “It’s corny and it’ll sound awful in writing, but you just feel bad when you know you couldn’t get through to a kid like that.”

 

Did Washington offer to trade for Aaron Rodgers?

Did Washington make a trade proposal for Aaron Rodgers? It was another day full of Rodgers’ drama.

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Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is amazing at extending plays, finding the open receiver downfield, game after game, year after year.

No. 12 has passed for over 4,000 yards in 10 different seasons and each of the last four. While Taylor Heinicke threw 15 interceptions during the 2021 season, Rodgers played each game in 2018-2020, and 16 of 17 in 2021 to throw 15 interceptions. Oh, this while, passing for 136 touchdowns.

A 136:15 touchdown/interception ratio?

You bet, I would love to see Rodgers in Burgundy and Gold! And so would Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Cam Sims, Adam Humphries and J.D. McKissic.

Yet, isn’t there another side to Rodgers? Last year during the offseason, we heard and read ad nauseam how Rodgers was feeling like the victim, not respected, not loved by the Packers front office.  Am I the only one that doesn’t want to hear again this offseason how he is leaning to retirement one day, wants to be traded another day, is unhappy the next?

Two days ago Rodgers felt the need to inform Pat McAfee that he had just completed a 12-day cleanse.  12 days of cleansing the body, eliminating unwanted waste, removing toxins from your body? Not exactly the 12 Days of Christmas, huh? Sounds somewhat private to me, but Rodgers then continued, “I was going through some pictures from the last year and felt an intense amount of gratitude for the life that I have and the lessons I’ve learned.”

Would that gratitude include Mark Murphy and the Green Bay Packers management who signed Rodgers to that $134 million deal? Or that this upcoming 2022 season (according to Spotrac.com) Rodgers is set to count $46.1 million against the Packers salary cap?

That puts the Packers over the cap; so, how will the Packers respond? Rework a few contracts, release a few players, threaten a few with pay cuts or they will simply be released?

If ESPN’s Dianna Russini is accurate, she reported today that Rodgers wants to be the highest-paid player in the NFL. Not only does he want to be the highest-paid player, but she added, “by a wide margin.”  Yet, Russini said teams have already offered the Packers trades for Rodgers.

I wonder if the most endearing factor attracting these teams to Rodgers is his “intense amount of gratitude?”

Washington great Charley Taylor dies

Washington great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charley Taylor dies at age 80.

Pro Hall of Famer and Washington Redskins great Charley Taylor has died at the age of 80 (1941-2022).

Taylor spent his entire 14-year career with Washington (1964-1977), drafted in the first round (3rd overall) of the 1964 NFL draft from Arizona State.

Taylor finished his career as the all-time NFL leader in receptions (649), was first-team All-Pro in 1967, an eight-time Pro Bowler, voted to the All-1960’s team, and enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 1984 class.

He concluded his career amassing 9,110 receiving yards and 79 touchdowns with Washington. Though Taylor never played in a 16-game regular season, he still remains second in franchise history in receptions (649) and receiving yards (9,110) and has the most receiving touchdowns (79) in Washington history. Taylor also rushed 442 times for 1,488 yards and 11 touchdowns overall.

Wearing No. 42 his entire Redskins career, Taylor was drafted as a running back and excelled out of the backfield as a receiver his first few years in Washington. During his rookie 1964 season, Taylor accumulated 1,569 yards from scrimmage (755 rushing, 814 receiving) becoming the first player in NFL history to gain 700 yards both rushing and receiving and was voted the Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year.

The former Arizona State Sun Devil led the NFL in receptions in the 1966 and 1967 seasons. He was moved full-time to wide receiver beginning in the 1967 season.

Taylor would conclude his NFL career, serving on Joe Gibbs’ Washington Redskins coaching staff as wide receivers coach (1981-1993).

PFF has ranked Washington’s 2021 NFL draft class

Where did PFF rank Washington’s 2021 NFL draft class after one season?

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Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 NFL teams 2021 NFL draft class and where players were taken is part of their formula determining how successful a draft class performed.

For instance, Chase Young was drafted in round one, Antonio Gibson in round three and Kam Curl in round seven of the 2020 Washington draft. Their value would be determined upon what they’ve produced and according to where drafted.

According to PFF, Washington’s 2021 NFL Draft class came in at 22nd behind a good year from tackle Sam Cosmi (round two). But LB Jamin Davis (round one), CB Benjamin St Juste (round three) and WR Dyami Brown (round three) left much to be desired last season.

TE John Bates (round four) came on strong later in the season, while S Darrick Forrest (round five) was mostly injured. LS Cameron Cheesman (round six) snapped consistently, while round seven choices William Bradley-King, Shaka Toney and Dax Milne flashed some potential in their limited action.

The Patriots, Texans and Chiefs graded out as the top three 2021 draft classes, while the Jaguars, Buccaneers and Vikings were ranked the bottom three classes.

Philadelphia was ranked the top team in the NFC East at 9th behind some good play from WR Devonta Smith, guard Landon Dickerson and defensive lineman Milton Williams.

Dallas got great play from Micah Parsons (round one) ranking 12th.

Washington was next at 22nd, and the NY Giants 26th who no doubt would have been higher had WR Kadarius Toney been able to stay on the field longer this season.

We here at Washington Wire recently graded Washington’s class:

Grading each of Washington’s 2021 NFL draft selections

 

Washington fans enjoy Eagles and Cowboys losing

The Eagles and Cowboys lost Sunday, giving Washington something small to cheer for after a disappointing 2021 season.

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Sunday was sort of a gift for Washington fans.

Although Washington lost four of their final five regular-season games, failing to qualify for the NFC playoffs, Washington fans enjoyed Sunday’s first two Wild-Card games when the Eagles fell to the Bucs 31-15 and then the Cowboys came up short in Dallas (23-17) to the 49ers in a thriller.

In Tampa, the Eagles were simply outplayed from the opening whistle. Tom Brady led the Bucs on two long early touchdown drives to lead 17-0 at the half.

Two third-quarter Eagles turnovers then resulted in Brady’s two-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski and one of 36 yards to Mike Evans, and it was 31-0 Bucs.

Meanwhile, in Dallas, the 49ers leading 23-10, Jimmy Garoppolo threw a terrible interception to the Cowboys’ Anthony Brown. Five plays and 28 yards later, Dak Prescott scored from five yards and Dallas who had trailed 23-7, now only trailed 23-17 with 8:02 remaining.

After forcing a San Francisco punt, Dallas drove 56 yards in five plays; however, the final play Prescott had decided to run up the middle for 17 yards to the 49er 24-yard line.

Chaos ensued; the Dallas offensive line hurried to the apparent new line of scrimmage, and got set. But the official whose duty it is to mark the ball for the next play, had difficulty as the Cowboys’ lineman unknowingly did not make room for him to enter to establish the spot for the next play.

The Cowboys consequently, lost two or three seconds, and time expired, not permitting Prescott to stop the clock with an incomplete pass. Had he been permitted to dump the ball, it would have allowed the Cowboys to have one final pass attempt from 24 yards.

Yes, of course, for Washington fans the Eagles and Cowboys losing in the playoffs on the same afternoon was only a consolation prize, but a pretty good one at that.

 

Former Washington LB/DE Ryan Kerrigan has good game vs. Bucs in playoffs

Former Washington pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan was a bright spot for the Eagles in their playoff loss to Tampa Bay.

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Former Washington outside linebacker and defensive end Ryan Kerrigan certainly made a major contribution Sunday in the Philadelphia Eagles 31-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Kerrigan drafted in round one by Washington in the 2011 NFL Draft (16th overall) played ten seasons with Washington, but after only starting one game in the 2020 season, was not re-signed and chose to sign with the Eagles.

Sunday against the Buccaneers, Kerrigan managed to achieve 1.5 sacks, three tackles, two of which were solo tackles. Kerrigan also was credited with two tackles for a loss and two additional QB hits.

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The former Purdue Boilermaker in his 10 seasons with Washington recorded 95.5 sacks, an additional 120 tackles for a loss and 149 QB hits.  Kerrigan also achieved the distinction of having intercepted three passes and returning each one for a touchdown.

Kerrigan signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in the 2021 off-season and strangely enough seeing limited action in 16 games this season recorded only two QB hits and no QB sacks. This was the only season Kerrigan did not record at least one QB sack.

When with Washington, Kerrigan played on playoff teams in 2012, 2015 and 2020. Sunday with Philadelphia, consequently marked the first time Kerrigan had participated in the playoffs in consecutive years.

Perhaps if Kerrigan retires this offseason, this playoff game Sunday will be a good way for him to conclude his otherwise productive career as a pass rusher.

Washington’s all-time leader in sacks, Kerrigan is a lock to make the team’s Ring of Fame.

Washington terminated another coach Sunday

Three seasons in a row, losing to Washington led to a coach’s firing.

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The Washington Football Team has made it three in a row, three seasons in a row.

When Washington defeated the NY Giants 22-7 in their 2021 season finale, the Giants Tuesday, fired head coach Joe Judge.

You are probably thinking, “Big deal, he deserved to be fired. The guy was a bull in a china closet and didn’t produce a winner.”

Oh, I concur, but what is interesting is at the conclusion of the 2020 season, Washington traveled to Philadelphia, won the season finale 20-14, clinching the NFC East and Eagles head coach Doug Pederson was fired.

All Pederson had done in Philadelphia was win the division in 2019, earn a wild-card berth in 2018 (while additionally winning a playoff game), and march through the NFC in 2017, before defeating the Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII.

Even more, three seasons ago, Washington went to Carolina in 2019 and defeated the Carolina Panthers 29-21. Although it was only week 13, only December 1, their coach was fired, not permitted to coach the final four games of the season. That coach was Ronald Eugene Rivera.

Three consecutive seasons, you lose to Washington, boom, you are gone. Doesn’t matter if you’ve been to the playoffs three consecutive seasons and won a Super Bowl (Pederson), or if you’ve been to a Super Bowl (Rivera), or just a loose cannon like Joe Judge.

So, in summary, three separate NFL owners in the last three seasons, have lost late to Washington and determined they must start all over with a new head coach.

What must other NFL owners think of the Washington franchise?