Tag: 2023 NFL season

Montez Sweat strongly preferred Washington’s old name

Montez Sweat liked old name, embarrassed by “Commanders” name.

The Washington Redskins selected Montez Sweat in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. On Oct. 31, 2023, the Washington Commanders traded Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 second-round pick.

In Sweat’s five seasons with the team, Washington had three different team names because former owner Dan Snyder was forced to sell in the summer of 2020: Redskins, Football Team and Commanders.

In Tuesday’s episode of the “Green Light” podcast with Chris Long, Sweat was asked about Washington’s various names.

He clearly preferred the “Redskins” moniker.

While Sweat is no longer on the team, having signed a lucrative four-year extension with the Bears, he will endear himself to many Washington fans due to his preference for the old name.

As for the new name, Sweat said he was “embarrassed” when he first heard it.

“Oh my god, when I heard that, bro, I was embarrassed,” Sweat said. “I was so embarrassed that when people asked who I played for, I said Washington.”

Several Washington fans would agree with him.

Sweat appeared in 67 games for Washington, recording 222 tackles, including 47 for loss, 35.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.

Former Commanders linebacker Cody Barton signs with Broncos

Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are in, while Cody Barton and others are out.

It’s been a good week for Washington fans hoping for improved linebacker play. The Commanders signed former Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu to a three-year deal to kick off free agency and followed that up by signing future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner to a one-year deal.

On Friday, Washington’s starting inside linebacker from 2023, Cody Barton, found a new home. Per his agent, Barton signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos for $3.5 million. It’s the same terms he signed for in Washington last March.

Barton started all 13 games in which he played for the Commanders, recording 121 tackles, including three for loss and one interception. But don’t mistake that number of tackles for effective play. While Pro Football Focus can sometimes be controversial with its grading, PFF’s grade of 53.9 for the 2023 season was accurate.

Washington’s linebackers were a weakness during all four seasons under Ron Rivera, but it was particularly bad last season.

Commanders quarterback Jacoby Brissett agrees to terms with the Patriots

After one season in Washington, Brissett returns to the team that drafted him back in 2016.

After one year as a backup with the Washington Commanders, Jacoby Brissett is returning to the New England Patriots. On Monday, the 31-year-old agreed to terms with the Patriots, the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft.

It’s a similar deal to the one he received with the Commanders in 2023.

Brissett only appeared in three games for the Commanders last season but made his presence felt. In relief of Sam Howell late in the season against the Rams and Jets, Brissett led Washington on touchdown drives in five of his six possessions. The only drive he didn’t lead the Commanders to a touchdown on was when Washington was attempting to run out the clock in the late loss to the Jets.

In his three games with the Commanders, Brissett completed 18 of 23 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. This comes after his successful 2022 season in which he started 11 games for the Browns in place of the suspended Deshaun Watson — and was much better than Watson.

Brissett served as a mentor to Howell in 2023 and will likely be in the same position with the Patriots in 2024 if New England uses its No. 3 overall selection on one of the NFL draft’s top three quarterbacks.

 

WATCH: Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr’s top plays from 2023

The top highlights from Brian Robinson’s 2023 season.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. took a big jump in his second NFL season. While Robinson’s rushing yards didn’t take a massive leap — he rushed for 64 fewer yards in 2023 — don’t blame him.

Washington was last in the NFL in rushing attempts in 2023, while Robinson’s yards per attempt were up from 3.9 to 4.1.

Robinson really stood out as a receiver in 2023. After catching nine passes in 12 games as a rookie, Robinson caught 36 passes for 368 yards with four receiving touchdowns last season. Robinson accounted for 1,101 yards and a team-leading nine total touchdowns.

Imagine if the Commanders had committed to running the ball in 2023.

The good news is Robinson will be a featured offensive piece for new coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in 2023. Additionally, running backs coach/run game coordinator Anthony Lynn is known for assembling a strong running game.

Here’s one final look back at 2023 with Robinson’s top plays.

Eric Bieniemy on departing the Commanders: ‘I was not fired’

Bieniemy said it was his choice not to return to Washington.

When Dan Quinn was introduced as the new head coach of the Washington Commanders earlier this month, he was asked about Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy had served as Washington’s offensive coordinator in 2023 and was under contract for 2024.

“I think he’s an excellent coach,” Quinn said on Feb. 5. “I had a chance to visit with him today. We’ll continue that dialogue, but we’re not going to work together here, but in this coaching brotherhood, I wanted him to know, man, I really respect the work that he’s done……I wish EB nothing but the best and he’ll do a great job.”

On Saturday, Bieniemy’s next destination was revealed. He was returning to the college game to be UCLA’s offensive coordinator/associate head coach for new coach DeShaun Foster.

To say Bieniemy’s one season in Washington didn’t go well would be an understatement. Bieniemy’s offense ranked first in passing attempts and last in rushing attempts, despite starting Sam Howell at quarterback, a 2021 fifth-round pick with only one NFL start on his resume entering 2023.

The Commanders were ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in most offensive metrics, including FTN’s offensive DVOA (26th).

After Quinn took over as head coach, he hired Kliff Kingsbury as his new offensive coordinator and put together an impressive offensive staff that included former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn and former Eagles OC Brian Johnson.

In an email to ESPN Saturday confirming his decision to join UCLA, Bieniemy mentioned he had other NFL opportunities and that he had been “applauded and lauded.”

He talked about why he was excited to join Foster and help UCLA.

And then he mentioned his former team:

“I have no regrets with the Commanders,” Bieniemy wrote. “Contrary to what some think and what has been put out in the media, I was not fired. I actually just chose not to stay. Learned a lot and that is always a good thing.

That conflicts with what Quinn said. Maybe the word “fired” was never used when Quinn and the Commanders discussed Bieniemy’s time in Washington, but there was no way Bieniemy was returning in 2024. It’s not personal from Washington’s end, either. The results speak for themselves.

Look, Bieniemy deserves a pass for some of the things he had to deal with in 2023, but he didn’t help things. There are the aforementioned lackluster results, the failure to run the ball to help a young quarterback, but it was his alleged issues with players that were a larger problem.

It began as early as training camp when former head coach Ron Rivera acknowledged some players had come to him to discuss Bieniemy’s coaching style. Rivera backed off those comments a day later, but there were clear issues.

Those issues were brought to the surface again in December. After the season, several players, veterans such as Charles Leno Jr., Logan Thomas, and Sam Cosmi, didn’t exactly give Bieniemy a ringing endorsement.

In short, Bieniemy wasn’t coming back to Washington. He can phrase it however he likes; that’s his choice. But Quinn and new GM Adam Peters were moving forward with a new offense and a new offensive coordinator.

It is interesting that Bieniemy would choose to mention his departure from Washington and what “has been put out in the media.” Nothing from the Commanders was “put out in the media.” It came straight from the new head coach.

Recapping Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII victory on Chiefs Wire Podcast

On the latest episode of @TheChiefsWire podcast: @EdEastonJr and John Dillon recap Super Bowl LVIII and look ahead to the 2024 offseason.

We’re back with an all-new episode of the Chiefs Wire podcast! This week, we’re recapping the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The Chiefs have become the first team since the New England Patriots in almost 20 years to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles. We check in with the post-Super Bowl LVIII press conferences featuring comments from head coach Andy Reid, quarterback, and game MVP Patrick Mahomes,

Chiefs Wire managing editor John Dillon recaps Kansas City’s Super Bowl victory over San Francisco, focusing on the team’s grit and plans to attempt a three-peat as champions.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. shared his thoughts on Kansas City’s offseason plans after winning their second consecutive Super Bowl. He spoke with wide receiver Mecole Hardman following his game-winning walk-off catch as he worked a shift at Raising Cane’s.

Listeners can look forward to being well-informed about the Chiefs’ securing back-to-back Super Bowl victories and three wins in the last five years with eyes on more in the future.

Check out the link below to get your Chiefs talk before the offseason.

Commanders’ fans surprisingly among the most sober in the NFL

It’s been a rough 20+ years for Washington fans, but better times are ahead.

It’s been a difficult 25 years for the Washington Commanders. It was in 1999 that Daniel Snyder began his reign of terror as owner, alienating one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases in all of sports.

Washington’s attendance plummeted over the years, and the team’s performance on the field gave fans plenty of reasons to drink. However, according to a recent study from BACtrack, Commanders’ fans are among the most sober in the NFL.

The rankings were based on blood alcohol content (BAC) numbers recorded by BACtrack, which showed that Commanders fans had an average blood alcohol content figure of 0.058 when tested, 29th in the NFL.

In a surprise, fans of the Kansas City Chiefs — back-to-back Super Bowl champions — drink the least among NFL fans.

The most “drunk” fans, according to the study? The Tennessee Titans, with a BAC of 0.093.

Now, having undergone two name changes since 2020 and Snyder having sold the team to a group led by Josh Harris after multiple scandals, things are looking better for the Commanders.

From their website, BACtrack explains the methodology:

  • Data was collected anonymously from users of the BACtrack app, which syncs with smartphone-compatible BACtrack breathalyzers. Data used in this report was collected from U.S. users who opted into sharing their data by activating the BACtrack App data storage, having location services turned on, and allowing the BACtrack app to access their smartphone’s Bluetooth. 
  • Over 28,000 unique BAC tests were reviewed for this report. 
  • To identify where fans of each NFL team are located, we utilized a map of NFL fan allegiance using Twitter data created by Matt Sorenson in order to associate BAC results with NFL teams across the country.
  • Data represents positive BAC readings. Regular season game data represents unique BAC tests collected anonymously at 6 AM the day of game to 6 AM the day after the game. 
  • Each team’s specific game schedule was used for their respective fans’ data. Regular season 2023-24 NFL games ran from September 2023 to January 2024.
  • This data does not represent data from all users.

WATCH: Top 10 plays from the Commanders’ 2023 season

Looking back at the top 10 plays from the 2023 season

The 2023 season was a forgettable one for the Washington Commanders. After winning their first two games, the Commanders lost 13 of their final 15 to finish the year with a 4-13 record.

Head coach Ron Rivera was fired last month, and a new era of Washington football began. Owner Josh Harris hired Adam Peters as the new general manager and Dan Quinn as the head coach. Quinn put the finishing touches on an impressive coaching staff last week.

While it was an ugly season overall, there were some positive things. The most significant change for Washington came in July when Harris and his partners purchased the Commanders. Additionally, Washington came away with the No. 2 overall pick in the quarterback-rich 2024 NFL draft.

As far as what happened on the field: What were the top plays from last season? Quarterback Sam Howell was outstanding at times, leading Washington to a come-from-behind win over the Broncos in Week 2 and leading the Commanders to a game-tying touchdown in Week 4 to force overtime.

Unfortunately, Howell — and the rest of the team — struggled throughout the second half of the season.

Courtesy of Washington’s social media, here are the top 10 plays from the 2023 season.

Commanders guard Sam Cosmi enjoyed a breakout season in 2023

There weren’t a lot of bright spots for Washington in 2023. Sam Cosmi was one.

There weren’t a lot of positive things to say about the 2023 Washington Commanders. After beginning the season 2-0, Washington would lose 13 of its final 15 games to finish 4-13.

It was a tale of two seasons for Washington’s offense. Throughout the first half of the season, quarterback Sam Howell was among the NFL’s leaders in passing yards and big-time throws, but he was on pace to shatter David Carr’s 21-year-old record of being sacked the most times in a single season.

In the second half of the year, Howell’s sacks went way down, but his turnovers went up, and he regressed overall. There were issues everywhere. Howell, receivers not getting enough separation, coaches refusing to run the ball and offensive line problems.

On that offensive line, there was one bright spot: Right guard Sam Cosmi.

The 2021 second-round pick moved to guard ahead of last season and became the best player on Washington’s offensive line. While the rest of the group is a question mark heading into the 2024 offseason, Cosmi gives new general manager Adam Peters a building block along the offensive line.

According to Pro Football Focus, Cosmi finished the 2023 season with an overage grade of 80.6. That was No. 5 in the entire NFL.

Even more impressive, Cosmi was good as a run blocker (80.9) and a pass blocker (74.0). PFF credited Cosmi with only one sack allowed in 2023.

The Commanders could look to extend Cosmi heading into the final season of his rookie contract. If that doesn’t happen, his price could keep going up with another impressive season.

The Simpsons share perfect clip to describe Steelers season

The Steelers season was a huge letdown for many fans and The Simpson had some fun with it.

Whether it is predicting the future or just describing the present, The Simpsons just seem to always get it right. Their latest was a series of tweets with each one showing a clip from the beloved TV series that perfectly describes each NFL team’s 2023 season.

The one they posted for the Pittsburgh Steelers really hit the nail on the head. The clip, that you can see below is of Grandpa Simpson pounding away at a typewriter saying, “Many of us are resentful, bitter individuals who miss the good old days.”

If that doesn’t perfectly describe many in the current fanbase, I’m not sure what does.

The Steelers finished the 2023 season at 10-7 and snuck into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Steelers trend of playoff futility continued, which brought out the bitter, resentful fans who miss the glory days of the Steelers when playoff wins were easy to come by.

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