Tag: 2024 NFL offseason

Commanders hire Dave Gardi as senior vice president of football initiatives

Josh Harris with another big hire for the Commanders.

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris continues to make big-time hires. On Monday, the Commanders named Dave Gardi, the senior vice president of football initiatives.

Gardi comes to Washington after working in the NFL offices for the last 21 years, including the past 10 years as the senior vice president of football operations.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters released a statement via the team’s website:

I’m excited to welcome Dave Gardi to the Washington Commanders. Dave has been one of the most highly regarded executives at the NFL League Office and is someone with an immense knowledge of the game. He will be an invaluable resource to our front office as we continue to usher in a new era of Washington Commanders football. It’s my pleasure to welcome Dave and his family to the DMV.

Gardi will handle in-game management duties for the Commanders, supporting the coaching staff and front office on compliance with NFL protocols, officiating trends and health and safety protocols.

Head coach Dan Quinn had the following statement:

Dave Gardi is one of the brightest minds in our league when it comes to football operations. He will be an incredible resource to the coaching staff as we prepare and plan for game days. Dave brings a unique perspective to our organization after working with the League Office for two decades. His addition makes our organization better across the board. I am thrilled to welcome Dave and his family to the DMV.

During his time at the league office, Gardi played a major role in developing policies and procedures to help control competitive balance and the integrity of the game.

Gardi played at Brown before receiving his law degree

Every move the Ravens have made so far this offseason

With the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, we’re looking at every move the Baltimore Ravens have made this off-season

The Ravens will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Baltimore signed Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. 

Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

With the NFL draft fast approaching, we’re reviewing every move Baltimore made this off-season.

How did Eric Bieniemy respond when asked if Dan Quinn offered him a job?

Bieniemy said in February he was not fired.

Eric Bieniemy doesn’t want to talk about the Washington Commanders anymore. On the second day of UCLA’s spring practice, Bieniemy spoke publicly for the first time since leaving Washington after one season as offensive coordinator.

A reporter mentioned Bieniemy’s departure from Washington and asked if new head coach Dan Quinn had offered him a job or about any other NFL opportunities before accepting a position as Deshaun Foster’s offensive coordinator.

With a smile on his face, Bieniemy made it clear he didn’t want to discuss his previous employer.

“Here’s what I’m going say is this: I’m here coaching at UCLA,” Bieniemy answered. “All that other stuff, you could go talk to the Commanders. I’ll leave it just like that.”

Bieniemy spent 10 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs before departing after Super Bowl LVII to become the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders. Bieniemy hoped to help improve a struggling Washington offense in what was a lame-duck year for head coach Ron Rivera in an effort to land a head-coaching job.

Things didn’t go well. The Commanders went 4-13, and Rivera was fired. After Quinn was hired, he said he had spoken with Bieniemy and wished him well, but they would not be working together in Washington.

“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.”

In an email to ESPN, Bieniemy said he was not fired.

“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.

Rivera ceded much control to Bieniemy in 2023, allowing him to structure practices to his liking and giving him complete autonomy on offense. The Commanders finished 26th in total offensive DVOA, per FTN. Heading into the season with a young quarterback, Bieniemy’s offense led the NFL in passing attempts and finished dead last in rushing attempts.

Bieniemy doesn’t want to talk about the Commanders, while Washington fans have turned the page from the previous era.

Commanders’ Sam Cosmi happy to be a dad and for changes in Ashburn

Sam Cosmi is enjoying all of the changes in Washington, optimistic for the future.

“The overall dynamic of the environment and the vibe is very positive, very uplifting and it feels great.”

That was how right guard Sam Cosmi began to speak of the differences he is already noticing with the new administration and coaching staff. Cosmi spoke with the media as the Commanders have begun their offseason program under Dan Quinn and the new coaching staff.

Cosmi illustrated this by revealing that already the team is integrating offensive and defensive players together more often rather than the previous procedures in Ashburn.

When reminded that at the end of the season, Cosmi had voiced displeasure in Eric Bieniemy’s desire to pass the ball so much of the time, Cosmi replied, “This is a pass-heavy league, which is a what it is type of thing. But I do like to run the ball. I do like to bring the attack on the defense. We’re definitely emphasizing that more (it sounds like), so I am excited about that.”

When asked regarding the Commanders using their No.2 overall pick on a quarterback, Cosmi replied, “We as a line definitely have to help him. It’s a learning process for sure, so we need to be taking things off of his plate. It’s (going to be) a whole new thing for him. So as much as we can help him and not only protect him but also mentally, that is going to be part of our job this year for sure.”

It’s not often you hear a player volunteer they need to help the quarterback mentally. Was Sam Cosmi, in that comment, volunteering that the Commanders didn’t help Sam Howell mentally in 2023?

Was he saying all the extra passing for an inexperienced quarterback was not good for Howell mentally? Certainly, Howell’s play suffered as the season continued through November and December.

Most importantly Cosmi spoke of he and his wife recently becoming parents with the birth of their baby daughter. “Dad life is one of the best things in the world. I always come home with a smile just to see my little baby girl.”

Cosmi also expressed that being a father has given him an additional perspective on what it means to work his job. “You have that little one to take care of when you go home. Having that addition and building my family makes going to work even more special because you have another thing to work for. I’ve enjoyed every second of it, truly.”

New era begins for Dan Quinn and the Commanders

Dan Quinn and the Commanders begin their offseason program on Tuesday.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn had a smile on his face last week when discussing the beginning of the team’s offseason program.

With Quinn being a new coach, the Commanders can begin their offseason program two weeks before other teams. On Tuesday, Quinn and general manager Adam Peters will welcome players back to Ashburn.

The offseason program comes in three phases.

  • Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program, with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only. The Commanders begin this phase on April 2.
  • Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills. This includes “perfect play drills” and drills/plays conducted at a walk-through pace with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.
  • Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs.” No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted. Washington begins OTAs on May 15.

The Commanders will hold a voluntary minicamp later this month (April 22-24), and the mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13.

Washington has signed 22 new players this offseason, more than any team in the NFL. The Commanders added quarterback Jeff Driskel and running back Jeremy McNichols on Monday, just before the offseason program begins.

It will be a busy month for Washington. The Commanders will host multiple visitors this month ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. The draft begins on April 25.

Jets offseason workout dates announced

The Jets’ offseason workout schedule is set.

The NFL announced Friday the offseason workout dates for all 32 teams. With the Jets still having the same head coach, their offseason workouts will start later in the month of April.

Here’s how the schedule breaks down for the Jets:

  • First day: April 15
  • OTAs: May 20-21, 23, 28-29, 31, June 3-4, 6-7
  • Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13

The first phase of the offseason program is strength and conditioning. The second phase begins with the OTAs and then the third phase is the mandatory minicamp.

The Jets have a host of new free agents in the mix, plus quarterback Aaron Rodgers back from his Achilles injury, so these practices will take on extra importance in a season full of pressure all over. Training camp should start sometime in late July, a bit later than last season with the Jets not playing in the Hall of Fame Game as they did last season.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn was a bouncer in college

Dan Quinn’s impressive resume includes his time as a bouncer in college.

If you looked across the NFL at every head coach and guessed which one was a bouncer in a previous life, which coach would you name?

If you said Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, you’d be correct. In an interview with JP Finlay of NBC Washington at this week’s NFL Annual League Meeting, Quinn discussed his hectic first 50+ days on the job, including going from evaluating his new roster to free agency.

Now, Quinn and general manager Adam Peters are in full draft evaluation mode.

While Finlay kept it mostly serious with Quinn, he did ask him about attending college at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland, about 30 minutes from one of the East Coast’s most popular vacation spots, Ocean City.

Quinn acknowledged he had a lot of fun during his college days, where he was so good that he ended up in the school’s Hall of Fame. He said Ocean City was a lot of fun and a place where he had some cool summer jobs, one of which included being a bouncer.

Quinn noted he was a bouncer at more than one local bar, to which Finlay replied:

“If you were the bouncer, I would have behaved,” Finlay joked.

Quinn’s reply: “They didn’t.”

In looking back at Quinn’s time as a player at Salisbury, there is this legendary photo.

Quinn certainly looked the part of a bouncer — or pro wrestler.

15 biggest salary cap hits for the Ravens in 2024 after first wave of NFL free agency

With the second wave of free agency heating up and updated signings, we’re releasing the Ravens 15 biggest salary cap hits according to Over The Cap. 

Change is always good for the soul, and after a stunning loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game, Baltimore has undergone a dramatic reconstruction that could pay off with championship dividends.

Changes hit the defensive coaching staff as Mike Macdonald accepted the Seahawks head coaching job, Anthony Weaver became the defensive coordinator in Miami, and Zach Orr was promoted from inside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.

Baltimore signed Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

With the second wave of free agency heating up and updated signings of cornerback Ka’Dar Hollman, linebacker Chris Board, and offensive guard Josh Jones, we’re releasing the 15 most significant salary cap hits according to Over The Cap.

Where do the Ravens rank in spending at each position after first wave of free agency?

We’re looking at where the Baltimore Ravens rank in positional spending after the first wave of NFL free agency

The 2024 salary cap is set at $255.4 million.

The Ravens will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

The talented running back could earn $20 million throughout the deal.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

The Ravens have $13,884,766 in available cap space, and they’re paying out over $113 million on the offensive side of the football.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re examining Baltimore’s positional spending ranking.

All figures are via OverTheCap.com and official NFLPA records.

2024 NFL offseason: Details on key dates and Ravens contract options paid out

We’re looking at key dates and contract options that’ll free up millions in cap space for the Baltimore Ravens after the first wave 2024 NFL free agency

With free agency off to a roaring start, the Ravens and 31 other NFL teams have started financially retooling to advance to the 2024-25 postseason.

Prior to free agency, we looked inside at key offseason dates starting with the first week of the 2024 league year, which began March 13.

Some dates will free up cap space for Baltimore, while others force GM Eric DeCosta to make hard decisions.

Here’s a look at the key dates and players impacted.