Tag: 106.7 The Fan

Commanders to distribute burgundy towels to Washington fans

The Commanders have a plan for the “terrible towels.”

Former Washington Redskins head coach Otto Graham was credited with saying, “Don’t throw in the towel, use it for wiping the sweat off of your face.”

Sunday’s battle between the 6-2 Steelers and the home team Commanders (7-2) looks to be a tough contest. The Commanders have yet to face a defense as good as the Steelers, and the Steelers’ defense has yet to face an offense as efficient as Washington’s.

Speaking of towels, the Steelers have been known for some years to have their fans show up in attendance with their gold towels to wave during the game, exhibiting their support for the Steelers (black and gold).

Meanwhile, the burgundy and gold commanders have apparently determined that they will distribute a burgundy towel to the Commanders’ fans.

Former Redskins running back Brian Mitchell (1990-99), now an employee of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, evidently was the originator of the idea, calling upon the organization to supply burgundy towels to create some more home-team atmosphere at Northwest Stadium, Sunday.

“I need whoever the powers that be — I need you all to get burgundy towels to every fan coming into the stadium,” Mitchell said, underscoring the need to keep the Commanders’ presence strong. “We know the Steelers are going to come with their yellow, so we’re going to mix them together. It’s going to be burgundy and gold all through the stadium.”

On Wednesday, the Commanders emailed fans announcing the towel giveaway with an exciting message: “These giveaways steel the show! We’ll be handing out limited-edition rally towels and Salute to Service hats presented by Verizon this Sunday for our game against the Steelers. Let’s Command Our House and create a home-field advantage by packing Northwest Stadium with burgundy.” (Fox 5 D.C.).

Commanders’ Jonathan Allen: ‘It is unfortunate, but God has a plan’

Jonathan Allen maintaining a positive attitude despite setback. Wants to help Johnny Newton.

Jonathan Allen again Tuesday showed himself to be a strong, dependable man.

Allen, for eight seasons, has been a leader for the Redskins/Commanders and very much a leader in taking accountability, being direct, and responsible.

Having torn a pectoral muscle Sunday and being declared out for the season, Allen, wanting to fulfill his obligation to the Sports Junkies (106.7 The Fan) Allen was faithful to his weekly appearance on their show.

Even more, to get in the fulfillment, Allen telephoned the Junkies while driving…driving to his scheduled surgery. Allen expressed this is his fifth surgery, having previously endured surgery and rehab on his shoulder (twice), neck, knee, and now pectoral muscle.

“People only see the good parts about playing in the league,” said Allen. “They see the money, the fame, the title that goes with it. But there are a lot of other things that come with it as well. If you’re motivated by money, eventually you’re going to look at it and be like, ‘it’s not worth it’.”

“Money doesn’t motivate me,” continued Allen. “I’m going to be just as hungry now as I was coming back to my work year. I’m looking forward to it. Does it suck? Yes, but everyone has a job, and everyone has a part of that job that sucks. This (injury needing surgery) happens to be my part.”

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Allen was asked how it feels that the Commanders finally got a good quarterback (Jayden Daniels), and now he (Allen) suffers a season-ending injury.

“Yeah, it is unfortunate, but God has a plan, and his plan is never wrong. When you’re in the midst of it, it is easy to say, ‘Woe is me,’ and want everybody to feel bad for you. But at the end of the day, he has a plan that I’m going to be faithful to and see it through.”

“Trust me, the good thing about our situation is as long as we have Jayden, we have a chance. So I highly doubt this is going to be the only year that we’re going to have an opportunity to play some good football late in the season.”

Allen plans to remain in the building and do all he can to help rookie Johnny Newton, who suddenly finds himself having much more expected of him with Allen out for the remainder of the season.

Commanders’ HC Dan Quinn: ‘Some fun guys to coach on this team’

Dan Quinn discusses why this team is so much fun.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday, “There’s some really fun guys to coach on this team.”

Quinn was a guest Tuesday with the “Sports Junkies” (106.7 The Fan) and seemed to enjoy himself, though he also displayed an ability to set some boundaries in terms of what questions he would answer.

Washington fans heard a lot about culture when the preceding head coach, Ron Rivera, arrived in 2020. He preached and preached culture and no doubt he felt he needed to change a good bit of the culture in Ashburn.

Yet Quinn is a much more energetic leader. He is much more vocal—not merely vocal in the sense of yelling and screaming, but vocal in the sense of frequently talking enthusiastically, frequently urging his team to compete, and also encouraging his team.

“If you are in this locker room and meeting rooms every day, often days it’s loud and fun,” said Quinn. We have a good time. We want to make sure we work our asses off and go for it in every way, really enjoy the people we do it with too.”

Yes, it is incredibly early. Yes, they have yet even to play a game that counts. However, in contrast to the Rivera team of 2020, though that team had an energetic leader in Chase Young, many on this team are displaying energy during this preseason.

“This crew is getting tighter all of the time. I saw that on the sideline the other night (at Miami). When you see somebody make a big play, ten guys run down the sideline to meet him. That’s the type of thing you can see when a team gets connected. When that energy comes from the guys that aren’t in the game, bringing to energy the guys that are. I’d hoped that would happen, so to see that take place down in Miami made me happy. To see that happen, that’s a big deal.”

It will be an even bigger deal if the team continues to develop team unity throughout the season. As former US President Harry S Truman (1945-1952) said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”

Joe Theismann: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels ahead of Robert Griffin III

Joe Theismann loves where Jayden Daniels is at and believes he’s far more advanced as a passer than another former No. 2 overall pick.

Joe Theismann likes Jayden Daniels.

The former Washington Redskins quarterback (1974-85) was a guest on “The Sports Junkies” (106.7 The Fan) Friday and was asked to assess the Commanders’ rookie quarterback from LSU.

“He checks every box that you want for a young man to play that position,” began Theismann.

Theismann voiced how important April’s draft was for the Commanders, who have a new owner, general manager and coaching staff. He has been around the franchise for decades now, and he is quite aware of how different the fan base became with Dan Snyder as owner for 24 years.

“It was the absolute must choice for the Commanders to get [Daniels] with that pick,” Theismann said. “Nothing else would have satisfied the fans, totally understand that. You watch his work ethic, and then you talk to the coaches, and you see how he applies himself. His demeanor is very, very even-keeled. That is why he was drafted where he was and was the Heisman Trophy winner.”

Not only does Theismann like what he has seen in Daniels’ work ethic and processing, but he also likes Daniels’ skill as a passer.

“I always look at how smooth the delivery is. Is it labored? Is there a herky-jerky movement to it? He’s got a great, smooth release,” Theismann said.

The coaching staff has repeatedly praised Daniels for his mental processing and learning of the offense. Theismann was a mobile QB but appreciates that passing is more important than running for a quarterback.

When asked to compare Daniels to Robert Griffin III, Washington’s second overall selection in 2012, Theismann did not hesitate to declare that he thinks Daniels is ahead of Griffin when it comes to passing.

History bears this out as well. Mike and Kyle Shanahan saw Griffin was athletic but not yet ready to process a passing offense from the pocket, so they designed a zone-read offense best for Griffin. He and running back Alfred Morris had huge success running the ball in 2012.

“He gets the ball out of his hand, and he processes very well, and he’s very smart,” Theismann said of Daniels. “To me, I have my fingers crossed that we have another C.J. Stroud. A young man that has athleticism but doesn’t place that above his ability to throw the football.”

Claims that Commanders owner Josh Harris is ‘super-duper cheap’ appear inaccurate

What have learned about Josh Harris so far? He’s not cheap and he’s putting money back into the team to build a long-term winner.

Fifteen months ago, Josh Harris was positioning himself to become the next majority owner of the Washington Commanders.

At that time, Jason Bishop of “The Sports Junkies” on 106.7 The Fan claimed he had a source who did not think so highly of how Harris was running the Philadelphia 76ers. Bishop continued, “I’ve got a well-placed source — and I won’t say who — that said, ‘Josh Harris, if he is the one who gets the team, is super-duper cheap.’”

Also, on March 22, 2023, we wrote about how Kevin Sheehan had a guest, Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico, state on his program that “Josh Harris is a notorious value investor. He has been a runner-up in some of the biggest sports team sales in history because he is not someone who raises his price to get an asset.”

Now that 15 months have passed, what have we learned?

Novy-Williams was not saying Harris is cheap. He was saying that Harris would not lose money by ignoring the purchasing price he set in his mind. By the way, what is wrong with that? Why should someone spend more money to only purchase a franchise, when they are going to need to use much money for wise investments involving the business operations?

As to Harris being “cheap” and not spending money in ways to help the 76ers, how has Harris invested in and managed the Commanders in his first year as owner?

When Harris took the reins, the Ashburn facility was absurdly behind most other NFL franchises’ facilities. When the NFLPA grades for the Commanders’ facilities, locker room, training room and stadium came back as abysmal, Harris boldly responded, “I am not an F-minus guy.”

The Commanders announced plans to spend upward of $75 million to upgrade their playing stadium and Ashburn team facilities.

Even the unused turf practice field in Ashburn, which had sat idle for years, was removed in recent weeks.

Perhaps Bishop’s source regarding how Harris is managing and investing in the 76ers was mistaken?

Harris is clearly investing much more into the franchise than did the previous owner, Daniel Snyder. Harris is addressing the many issues he inherited. He is shelling out huge amounts of money to improve the resources for the Commanders.

Josh Harris is not cheap.

Chris Simms ‘a little shocked’ Commanders gave Dan Quinn a second chance so quickly

Former NFL quarterback criticizes Dan Quinn hire.

Chris Simms is not a big fan of the Commanders hiring Dan Quinn as head coach.

The Pro Football Talk host and former Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback provided J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington a couple of minutes to discuss the Commanders’ two major offseason moves.

Simms told Finlay: “I am a big fan of Adam Peters, obviously. I mean, he learned a little football in New England, goes to San Francisco, a part of some great regimes there. Not only did he have some of those things in place, but he got to see Kyle (Shanahan) and John Lynch do it at a team that’s kind of been at the pinnacle of football here, or at least close to it the last four or five years.”

“I’d be lying to you if I tell you I’m super-excited about the Dan Quinn hire. The first thing is I am not a big fan of hiring people within the division. ‘Oh, we’re going to hire a guy that just worked with one of our archrivals.’

“That, to me, is an ‘advantage Cowboys’ in that department. You know, Dan has done a really good job on the defensive side of the ball with the Dallas Cowboys. But you know, all in all, I am a little shocked that he has gotten a second chance this quickly.”

“I mean, barely above .500 with the Falcons. I thought the best thing they did with that football team was having Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator. It kind of fell apart after that, right?”

“He’s a defensive coach, they had a 28-3 lead. Shanahan gets blamed for some reason. Dan Quinn, who coached the defense, was supposed to stop that.”

“From the things I know and the people out there it feels certainly that Ben Johnson was choice one. It feels like Mike Macdonald was choice number two, and then it got to Dan Quinn, right?”

“But listen, I know this isn’t personal; it’s a tough thing about my job. I’m trying to be honest and give you that. Yeah, it doesn’t mean it won’t work. It  doesn’t mean maybe I am wrong about what I am sayin’, right?”

“Dan Quinn has shown me he evolved a little bit defensively from Atlanta to Dallas. Now maybe he will show me he has evolved a little bit as a head coach.”

 

Rick Doc Walker: Commanders are ‘so underwhelming’

Doc Walker talked the current state of the Commanders — on the field.

A guest on the BMitch and Finlay Show on 106.7 The Fan, Monday, former Redskins tight end Rick “Doc” Walker was on fire with how he feels about this current Commanders’ team.

Walker recalled what it was like 40 years ago playing for the fanbase, “It is the most overwhelming feeling I’ve had in my life of how much it mattered to the people in our community. There was no racism. Everybody treated you like you were family. You spill your guts; you play hurt, you do whatever it takes to get to the prize.”

Regarding the current Commanders team,
“To see these guys who are so underwhelming, fail so often, and be paid so much. I am pulling for them. But all of our kids have never seen them do anything!”

“We went 0-5 (1981). That was when you were borderline suicidal. These guys have done that repeatedly. Embarrassment was we didn’t want to show our face around this town when we didn’t win. You are that committed because you didn’t want to let people down.”

“Now it is professional. The guys can pull up in their Rolls Royce. Nothing ever made me throw up in my mouth (like) every day when guys were driving up to the park in their Rolls with nothing to show for it.”

Walker talked of how what has become news over the years for the franchise is signing free agents and drafting first-round picks.

“It’s all fake; it’s built on sand. They don’t understand; it’s like a girl is all made-up, looks good, got all the style but has horrible breadth.”

J.P. Finlay asked Walker what he made of Chase Young who “when he steps off of the bus is all-world.” Walker didn’t hesitate, interrupting Finlay, “I don’t make nothing of it, save your breath.” Brian Mitchell burst out in laughter.

When Finlay attempted to explain the Commanders have a decision on Young’s fifth-year option, Walker didn’t miss a beat. “Option? You were in last place in the division. I’m not into that (option). What place are you in? Last. So everyone/anybody is expendable.”

“I don’t believe this team is dependent on anybody because you have not been able to win with any of them. That’s me. I am not the norm, I don’t want to be the norm.”

“You got a team in last place. I wish I was the one doing the negotiations. (Mitchell again laughed). You in last place and you think you have leverage on me? You in last place in the division. You got your _ _ _ kicked twice by the Giants?”

“This team has talent, they beat the best (Eagles), but again they don’t get it. Everyone is all worried about the individuals, first-rounders, Pro Bowlers. You got all that, but you are in last place.”

“So, until they take the mindset of ‘we are not going to be kicked around and mocked until we win the hill’… that is what I get into.”

“I like Chase. He is going to be in great shape. He is going to look great. I start judging him at kickoff.”

Daniel Snyder was the talk of Grant and Danny Wednesday

Seth Wickersham, John Ourand and Mike Florio were among those who discussed the Daniel Snyder news Wednesday.

“Grant and Danny” of 106.7 The Fan hit the jackpot Wednesday. Their show revolved around the Daniel Snyder announcement of potentially selling some or all of the Commanders.

Guests for Grant and Danny included ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, Lisa Banks of Katz, Marshall and Banks, Virginia State Senator Jeremy McPike, the Washington Post’s Barry Svurluga, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, Richmond Times Dispatch’s Michael Phillips. They also had former Washington QB Kirk Cousins as well.

Of course, Cousins was there to talk football, and all of the rest were ready to talk Daniel Snyder.

Wickersham believes today was a monumental day because not only did Snyder make the move with Bank of America, but the team also clarified even more that they are exploring all options. Translated, they sent out an invitation to billionaires to place their opening bid, and let’s see where this goes.

Florio, who has certainly been no fan or supporter of Snyder, shared he had an exchange with an NFL insider. “When I sent that statement to somebody who knows how the NFL sausage gets made, who’s intimately involved in league matters, the reaction was ‘this statement says if we get the number we like, we’re the selling the team’.”

Paulsen was willing to say what any NFL ownership would most likely never wish to have known. Paulsen stated confidently, “To me this all but confirms the team needs money. They need an injection of cash. But who in their right mind with that kind of money would ever be a minority partner for the Snyders? His only hope would be to try to get a well-liked celebrity to buy in and be front facing.”

Space does not permit here, but might it suffice to say, for now, money does not buy happiness? The Snyders are billionaire owners of an NFL franchise. Yet, consider all of the losing of games, the losing of the fan base, the past few years of investigations, bad press and being despised and wished gone by virtually every single fan of the franchise.

With all of that, perhaps might the Snyders now simply want to sell out and live a quiet, peaceful life in luxurious wealth?

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Commanders may not be impressed with this draft

Are the Commanders even interested in a wide receiver at No. 11 overall?

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The Sports Junkies’ Eric Bickel unveiled Thursday that he has a source informing him that the Washington Commanders front office is not high on this upcoming 2022 NFL draft.

Bickel on the morning 106.7 The Fan show said it was explained to him that usually in the first round there are 10-12 players that everyone covets as special and then there is a drop-off. Well, EB said he was told this year, that the Commanders feel there are about two elite players to trade up for in this draft.

“My understanding is they don’t love this draft,” Bickel said. “It makes sense why they went after Carson Wentz. They don’t really want to take a receiver at No. 11 either. What they want to do is trade out. Which makes sense, and if they can’t they will take the best player available.”

“If they loved any of the quarterbacks in this draft they wouldn’t have put their reputation on a guy that is sort of dicey as Carson. I think Carson could go either way. He could hit, but he could also bust.”

“They don’t really think there is great value at receiver at 11 for them. They are hoping someone falls in love with a guy at 11, moves up to get him and they can move down and pick up some other picks.”

Washington has six picks this year (Rd 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 7) and Jason Bishop was not shy, pointing out the first four picks by Ron Rivera and the staff each of the last two seasons has not been impressive with the exception Bishop made of Antonio Gibson. “I just don’t put a lot of stock into what Ron Rivera and that scouting department and the Marty’s really see in this draft. That’s just me. They didn’t do great the last two drafts.” Bishop then did correct himself saying he had forgotten about John Bates having a good rookie year.

Bickel, on occasion, has mentioned a source that provides him some insider information. It will be interesting to see if Bickel’s source was playing him, knowing it would get on the airwaves, or actually being truthful with him.

 

Is Washington wanting to trade for Deshaun Watson?

Would Washington be in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes if cleared in his current legal situation?

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On their 106.7 The Fan Show, “BMitch and Finlay,” J P Finlay and Brian Mitchell Thursday discussed Deshaun Watson and his possibility to be traded during this 2022 NFL offseason.

Listeners were reminded that Watson has control of a “no-trade clause” in his contract. Thus, Watson would wave the no-trade clause to go to one of the places, he desires to go play.

When Finlay brought up Seattle having cap space, Mitchell responded questioning why Seattle would want to trade a QB with no major problems, for a QB that may have some problems. Finlay rebounded, saying Watson is 10 years younger and may be cleaning up his problems.

Mitchell went as far as to say Seattle would be dumb to make this happen.

“Certainly, echoed Finlay. “What I am saying is Watson to Seattle, Russell Wilson to Washington, and the Commanders send three first round choices and Payne (Daron) to Houston.”

Mitchell said for now he can’t see a top-notch QB thinking this is a great destination. Finlay said it was all hypothetical, to which Mitchell responded he wanted to deal in reality.

Both then agreed the home run may not come, to which Mitchell said he is tired of Washington getting only singles or a strikeout at QB.

Apparently, ESPN had made a comment to which the two referred saying that for now, teams willing to work to trade for Watson were Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

USA TODAY’s Josina Anderson later debunked that ESPN report.

Tampa Bay certainly has a big hole at QB with the retirement of Tom Brady. The Vikings have Kirk Cousins but are they actually going to want to pay Cousins all that money ($45 million)?

Why would Houston bring in Kirk Cousins when they already like Davis Mills, a young former third-round pick?

The Vikings are already over the cap for next year, so there will be releases of some players, and bringing the Watson contract might necessitate even more releases.

Certainly with the AFC already possessing several good, young quarterbacks, one would think if Houston deals Watson, he would be dealt to an NFC team. We should know soon if Washington makes a play for Watson.