Grant and Danny 106.7 the Fan – Syndication Server

‘Commanders’ brand not growing on QB Mark Rypien

Mark Rypien fully supports the new direction of the franchise, but not the name.

Mark Rypien cares a lot about the current state of the franchise for whom he once quarterbacked to a Super Bowl title.

Rypien was in town Monday for a golf charity event for Heroes and Legends benefiting wounded American military warriors. At the event hosting their weekday afternoon show (106.7 The Fan) were Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier. Here is their discussion with Rypien.

The former Super Bowl XXVI MVP expressed his love for seeing the team move back and play its games at the old RFK site. He spoke of how playing at the site would bring back memories for grandfathers, who could then share them with their sons and grandsons at the new stadium.

“It almost hurt ten years ago to come back to the stadium to a Cowboys vs. Redskins game and see more Cowboy fans in the stadium,” said Rypien. “It’s embarrassing. That’s not what we were all about.”

Rypien is certainly aware that “we need to put a product out there that wins week-in and week-out and be consistent.”

Paulsen expressed he was still trying to get used to the name (Commanders) and asked Rypien, “Is it growing on you at all?”

“No,” responded Rypien.

“It never will. I never played for the Commanders.”

Rypien then elaborated in a very respectful manner, “I absolutely support the Commanders and what they’re doing now. But, I never played for them. It’s just this day and age now that we have to deal with.”

“I just hope they don’t lose the fact that we were ‘Redskins.’ That’s all I played for. That’s what I knew, and that’s all we remember.”

“We are going to support these guys because that’s the era we are in.”

“I am not a Commanders’ legend. I am a Redskin. I love my guys.”

“I want to support these guys, this team, and get this Commanders football team back to playing the type of football the Redskins played back in our era.”

Commanders’ Adam Peters: ‘I couldn’t be more excited’

Adam Peters explains why he’s excited about 2024.

Are you ready for some football?

Commanders new general manager Adam Peters is ready for some football.

He told “Grant & Danny” of 106.7 The Fan on Thursday, “I couldn’t be more excited,” said Peters. “I can’t believe it. It just felt like the blink of an eye that we’re here now.”

Peters said he was even talking on the practice field last week with some of the Commanders coaches about how fast this offseason and preseason have gone, and they will be in Tampa soon for the season opener.

“I am the most excited, but I think our fans should really, really be excited about this next week and what’s to come with this team…I am excited about our offense with Kliff, and the way he runs it, and the guys that are executing it. It’s going to be a really fun offense to watch. It’s going to be a fast offense. It’s going to put defenses in a bind with what we do.”

The Commanders gave up the most passing touchdowns in the NFL last season and surrendered the most points. But with all of the additions and subtractions Peters has made, he also feels better about the defense.

“I really love how fast and physical the guys are playing, the mindset of the guys and the leadership of that side of the ball too. So I’m honestly just really excited about how we played and how we’re going to play in the style of how we play.”

Now, of course, that is coming from a general manager who is comparing last year’s team and how they played to what he has assembled in his first offseason with the team. He is not attempting to persuade the fan base that the Commanders are going to the Super Bowl this year.

Yet, looking at all his hard work and the hard work of Dan Quinn, his staff, and the players, Adam Peters is excited that this team is trending upward for this season.

Commanders’ GM Adam Peters: ‘We are trying to win now’

Peters talked about the Dotson trade and trading to teams within the division.

George Allen came to Washington in 1971, became the head coach and general manager, and proclaimed, “The future is now.”

Adam Peters boarded the Washington NFL ship in 2024, and he again told Grant & Danny (106.7 the Fan) Thursday, “It’s not a rebuild; it’s a recalibration.”

This being his first time as a team’s general manager, Peters expressed to Grant and Danny, “We are trying to win right now. We do have goals to be really good this season.”

In recent history, the NFL has had a team each season rebound really well from a really down year the previous season. Last season, it was the Houston Texans, who had been 3-13-1 in 2022 and fired Lovie Smith. They hired Demeco Ryans, drafted C.J. Stroud, and finished 10-7 atop the AFC South in 2023.

Peters feels the responsibility on his shoulders to get the Commanders turned around in 2023 after not having a winning regular season since Kirk Cousins was the quarterback in 2015 (9-7) and 2016 (8-7-1). “It is my job as a general manager and really in conjunction with DQ (Dan Quinn), and we make every decision together, is to be good now and to build for a sustainable team for the future, a team you guys will see compete for championships every year.”

It’s a delicate balance, but Peters and Quinn are attempting to make decisions not simplistically based on winning now or winning in the future. They seek to embrace both—getting better for 2024 and beyond.

As for why he traded receiver Jahan Dotson to division rival Philadelphia, Peters expressed, “That was clearly the best offer. A tie is going to go to the team outside the division. But there’s not always going to be a tie. In this case, they (Eagles) were very bullish on Jahan, and rightfully so. But every time, it is going to be different. If it’s the Cowboys and the Steelers, and everything is the same, and we are making a trade, it’s probably going to go to Pittsburgh.”

Clinton Portis outspoken on his time in Washington

He is still not a fan of Jim Zorn. And who was his favorite QB?

Clinton Portis was a beast of a running back.

Portis, a Redskins running back for seven seasons, started 83 of his 84 games and rushed for 6,824 yards, including 46 rushing touchdowns and 345 rushing first downs.

Portis was a more than capable receiver out of the backfield, catching 176 receptions for 1,340 yards (7.6). Even more noticeable was the spirit and intensity with which Portis was a blocker in the passing game. He was truly an all-around, dependable, and fierce NFL running back.

Portis appeared on the “Grant and Danny” show (106.7 The Fan) Thursday and made some striking remarks reminiscing on his playing days with the Redskins (2004-2010).

Portis said in Washington, he had five offensive coordinators in his seven seasons, who all wanted to do something different. That’s understandable, as Portis did have four offensive coordinators (Don Breaux, Al Saunders, Sherman Smith and Kyle Shanahan).

But Portis then claimed he “might have played for nine or ten quarterbacks.” Actually it was only six (Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell, Todd Collins, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman).

The former Washington running back said, “I left the DMV so upset because I felt like for years I was the savior, and I turned into the problem. That left a bitter taste in my mouth before I came back to broadcast, where I fell in love with the city.”

When Grant Paulsen asked Portis who his favorite Washington quarterback to play with was, Portis actually had no answer, pausing and then saying, “That’s crazy.”

Paulsen then supplied him with names of quarterbacks, to which Portis replied, “But I think Donovan (McNabb) had something going on. It was different. He was at the end.”

Indeed, McNabb did have some career lows that 2009 season in Washington, as his TD rate and QBR were his lowest, and his interception rate was his highest. He was traded after only one season to Minnesota and released during his lone season with the Vikings, never playing again.

Back to Portis’ favorite quarterback in Washington. He asked who they got from Kansas City. Grant Paulsen had to provide Portis with the name: Todd Collins. Portis then said Collins was his favorite. How strange is it that Collins was his favorite, yet he didn’t remember his name?

Portis then strangely blamed the coaches for Jason Campbell’s play, saying they told him where to throw it and then blamed Campbell. When pressed which coach, Portis quickly responded, “Of course, I am not talking about Gibbs. I love Coach Gibbs, I love Coach Shanahan.”

Again, on Campbell, “Jason didn’t have that fair chance to go out and be a ball player,” added Portis. However, many fans might recall Campbell often did successfully move the Redskins up and down the field, only to then struggle often inside the red zone.

Following his four seasons with the Redskins, Campbell continued to have his struggles, never catching on nor finding success in any of his other NFL stops with the Raiders, Bears, Browns, and Bengals.

Not to be overlooked is Portis rushed for an amazing 1,508 and 1,591 in his first two seasons in the NFL in Denver, rushing for 29 touchdowns and leading the NFL by averaging 5.5 yards a rushing attempt. Portis was a stud, no doubt.

Josh Harris’ wife, Marjorie, a very pleasant guest on local radio

Marjorie Harris spoke on the importance of community for the Commanders.

“We are going to be in the community. It’s what we do, it’s what we like to do,” explained Marjorie Harris.

Wife of Commanders majority owner, Josh, Marjorie is the chair of the Washington Commanders Foundation. Marjorie appeared on the Grant and Danny Show Wednesday on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C.

Marjorie, along with the 2024 rookie class, Washington Legends, and Commanders employees, were hosting a Day of Service in three area locations.

Interestingly enough, Grant Paulsen began by asking whether she preferred “Marjorie or Mrs. Harris.” Think Daniel Snyder insisting on being addressed as Mr. Snyder. However, in this case, Marjorie replied that she preferred Marjorie and that “Mrs. Harris is my husband’s mom.”

Marjorie committed Wednesday to being a very active community service day. She was talking with Grant and Danny from an elementary school, and she displayed a sense of humor, informing Grant and Danny that she could assure them she was not purchasing any beers for the elementary students.

Rather than simply raking in their millions and keeping it to themselves, Marjorie explained to Grant and Danny that Wednesday was their first day of giving back to the community.

“This is part of buying a sports team. To us, this is a community asset, and we believe in sharing with the community.”

Marjorie enjoyed the fact that several team members had joined in the efforts across town on Wednesday. “I think this is a part of the culture of the organization that we’re building…We want everyone that is a part of it to feel the same way that we’re here to build a championship team, and at the same time, give back to the community and make sure that as we succeed on the field, the city succeeds as well.”

There was a lot of fun during the on air exchange as Marjorie displayed a sense of being able to relate well personally with Grant and Danny, and they were enjoying her not taking herself too seriously as well. She even commented humorously regarding the handshake last year on national television between her husband, Josh, and Joe Buck.

It was a good start for Marjorie in the community, and hopefully, many will begin to take part in her efforts to lead the Commanders in Community Service events.

Josh Harris calls into local radio show, buys every fan at Commanders party a beer

What an amazing moment.

Josh Harris wasted no time getting into the good graces of Washington fans Thursday. Shortly after NFL owners approved Harris as Washington’s new owner, Harris had a surprise for several Commanders fans and a local radio show.

“Grant and Danny” of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., were broadcasting live from the Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, just minutes away from the Commanders headquarters. While on the air, the radio hosts received a surprise call — from the new owner.

“This is pretty amazing,” says host Grant Paulsen. “We’ve got a caller on the line that I want to get to right now……..Josh Harris just called in; the new owner of the Washington Commanders is supposedly on the line.”

Harris’ opening remarks:

“Let’s go,” Harris said. “I’m just leaving the league meeting, and I knew there was a bunch of Washington fans there, and I just wanted to say hello.”

Paulsen then asked Harris how it felt being the owner of a team he loved as a kid.

“I’m super pumped,” Harris answered. “It’s a great day, it’s a great day for Washington football, and I’m ready to get to work. I’m heading your way. I want to get back to Washington, my hometown, and celebrate with you guys. Let’s get started by me buying everyone in the brewery and The Bullpen a beer. Can I do that?”

Paulsen then told Harris there were a lot of people in attendance, and Harris had the perfect answer.

“I’m going to have to dip into my savings, but I want everyone to have a beer. Let’s do it.” Harris said.

What a day.

Eagles writer gives 10 reasons why the Commanders will be a dumpster fire this season

Reason No. 10 is an interesting observation.

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Grant and Danny from 106.7 The Fan discussed the series being written by Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice.

Kempski is writing about how each of the NFC East teams could be a dumpster fire in 2023. Here is the story by Kempski supplying his ten reasons.

Here is the audio of the Grant and Danny segment if you would like to hear their response to Kempski’s 10 reasons the Commanders will have a horrible season.

Finally, if you would rather simply read the very basic skeleton, without the commentary attempting to explain and support the reasoning behind the ten reasons the Commanders will have a horrible dumpster fire season, I will simply now supply Kempski’s ten reasons alone.

The head coach is a lame duck
They never have a good quarterback
Chase Young is nearing bust status
The offensive line has three concerning spots among the starting five
They always have a lot of injuries
The Commanders are facing regression on 3rd down defense
They’ll probably have two starting rookie corners
The tight ends
Why the hell did Eric Bieniemy choose to become this team’s offensive coordinator?
Dan Snyder is gone, but the new guy isn’t good

Personally, I think it will not do you any harm to go ahead and read/listen to the links I provided above. Though someone is a divisional rival, yes, they may say biased foolish things. Yet, they may also say something that you would not think of on your own because of our own bias for our home team.

Kempski does, in my view, overstate reality in a few instances. I also flat-out disagree with him on a couple of his reasons. Yet, I think you will find he also made perfect sense of some valid concerns Washington fans should contemplate.