Tag: Joe Gibbs

Ron Rivera has respect for the version of Dan Snyder he’s worked for

Ron Rivera appreciates what Dan Snyder has done for him since he became head coach in 2020, personally and professionally.

It’s rare to find someone who will say good things about Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder these days. Most fans despise how Snyder has run the franchise during his 24 years as the owner. In addition, there are the multiple investigations into Snyder, ranging from presiding over a toxic workplace for two decades to alleged financial improprieties.

Snyder certainly hasn’t made it easy on anyone during his tenure as owner. In the early years, he got by with things because “he wanted to win so bad.” That worked for a while with fans.

But, when the team would feel like it hit rock bottom, Snyder could always find a way to reel Washington fans — those who remained — back in. Whether it was Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Shanahan, or the big one, Joe Gibbs, Snyder could hire good coaches. After the 2019 season, he did it again, hiring the respected Ron Rivera to run a “coach-centric” model. That meant Rivera would be in charge of the football side of the building.

Rivera has gone through a lot in his three seasons as head coach. From battling cancer to the team changing its name — twice and all of the aforementioned investigations and the questions surrounding them.

Now, the team is for sale, and the Commanders should have a new owner before they report to training camp this summer.

At the NFL owners meetings in March, Ben Standig of The Athletic caught up with Rivera to discuss his time in Washington and what’s ahead.

One of the things Standig discussed with Rivera was his relationship with Snyder.

“You gotta give Dan Snyder credit for being truthful with me, sticking to what he promised,” Rivera said. “I mean it.”

While some will criticize every Snyder move — deservedly so in many cases — he has stuck by his promises to Rivera. One could argue that it’s because of everything the owner has battled in the past three years, but that’s not what’s important to Rivera. When Rivera needed something on the football side, Snyder delivered.

Rivera also touched on a personal subject, his battle with cancer. And Snyder was there for him and his wife, Stephanie.

“I get cancer. He’s at the doctor’s office,” Rivera said. “OK, he went through cancer. And he explained to me, ‘Hey, you’re going to be fine. Just hang in there.’ You know, he called people at Johns Hopkins. He called people at (Cleveland Clinic) and got their opinion. He didn’t have to do that.”

Some may not want to hear this, but there’s a personal side that sometimes the public doesn’t know about. That’s not to defend Snyder but to see things from Rivera’s perspective.

Rivera went on to discuss his mother’s passing and how Snyder was there for him.

Finally, Rivera said the following regarding Snyder:

“Why can’t we go off of the person he is right now?”

Remember, Rivera is speaking only on his dealings with Snyder. It would be hard for those who worked for Snyder or felt wronged by Snyder to feel the same way.

Rivera discussed more with Standig, who also interviewed team president Jason Wright, which is absolutely worth checking out here.

Former Washington defensive coordinator Gregg Williams back coaching in D.C.

One of the greatest defensive coordinators in franchise history is back — in the XFL.

When you think of Joe Gibbs’ second stint in Washington from 2004-07, the name Gregg Williams frequently comes to mind.

When Gibbs chose to return to the NFL, he wanted a top-notch defensive coordinator, and Williams was among the best in the NFL. Coming off a three-year stint as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, the then-45-year-old Williams was considered one of the best defensive minds in the NFL.

Williams was popular among fans during his four seasons with Washington because his defensive units —outside of 2006 — were some of the best in recent franchise history. Williams was known for his aggressive and attacking style. Unfortunately, like the current Washington team, Williams didn’t always receive much help from the offense.

When Gibbs abruptly retired at the conclusion of an emotional 2007 season, many believed Williams was the ideal replacement. For whatever reason, owner Daniel Snyder and his handpicked stooge, Vinny Cerrato, thought otherwise and somehow came to the conclusion that Jim Zorn was the ideal Gibbs replacement.

No disrespect to Zorn, but that coaching “search” was among the most embarrassing moments of Snyder’s tenure, of which there are plenty.

Williams departed and spent the next 13 seasons going back and forth between different teams as a defensive coordinator and even a stint as the Browns interim coach in 2018. At one point, there was hope among fans that Williams would return to Washington and serve as Jay Gruden’s defensive coordinator, but it never came to fruition.

Williams last coached in the NFL in 2020 with the New York Jets. After spending two seasons out of football, Williams is back — in Washington.

Only this time, Williams is with the D.C. Defenders of the XFL, which begins play this weekend. It’s been a long road for Williams, but he’s glad to be back in Washington.

“I just smiled thinking about getting an opportunity to go back to Washington, D.C., as one of my favorite places I’ve been to,” Williams said, per Jake Russell of The Washington Post. “ It [Washington is] one of the most powerful and fun fan bases that I’ve been a part of,” Williams said.

Unfortunately, Williams is most known by some fans for Bountygate when he was with the Saints from 2009-11. That cost him a year of his coaching career. However, Williams was always popular with his players, who still speak highly of him to this day.

One of the players Williams was closest to was legendary Washington safety Sean Taylor. Williams and Taylor had a close bond in their four years together before Taylor’s tragic death in Nov. 2007.

While Williams could’ve been back in the NFL, this opportunity is ideal for him.

“This is a perfect, perfect setting here to have the entire team be that way,” Williams said. “It brings a smile to my face every single day we get a chance to compete and get better.”

Williams and the Defenders open the 2023 XFL season Sunday at home against the Seattle Sea Dragons.

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Many Super Bowl records are still held by Washington: part 2

Check out some of these record numbers from Washington’s Super Bowl history, which still stand.

Though Washington last appeared in a Super Bowl 31 years ago (SB XXVI win over Buffalo), there are still several Super Bowl records held by the Burgundy and Gold.

This is the final look at Super Bowl records held by Washington.   Part one

The only time the winning team was held scoreless in the second half and won was when Washington held Miami scoreless, while losing 14-7.

Seven times, the losing team was held scoreless in the second half, including Washington shutting out Denver in SB XXII.

SB XXII, Washington and Denver scored the most points (45) in the first half of a Super Bowl, as Washington led 35-10.

The fewest points in the second half of a Super Bowl was 7 points, and both times by Washington. In SB VII vs Miami and SB XXII vs Denver, only Washington scored in the second half.

Most points in the second quarter were 35 by Washington against Denver in SB XXII.

Most points in the 3rd quarter of a Super Bowl were 24, and it was done twice. Washington 14, Buffalo 10 in SB XXVI, and Baltimore 7, San Francisco 17 in SB XLVII.

Two Super Bowls had no made field goals. SB VII Washington and Miami and SB IX Pittsburgh and Minnesota.

Most yards rushing in a game was 280 by Washington vs Denver in SB XXII.

Highest average per rushing attempt in a game was 7.0: The Raiders vs Washington in SB XVIII 33-231, and Washington 40-280 vs Denver in SB XXII.

Most rushing attempts in a SB game are 81 in SB XVII, Washington 52, Denver 29.

Most rushing yards in a SB game is 377 in SB XXII, Washington 280, Denver 97.

Fewest passes completed in a SB game: 4. Washington held Miami to four completions in SB XVII.

Fewest times sacked in a SB game: (0)13 games a quarterback was never sacked, including Washington in SB XXVI vs Buffalo.

Fewest passes completed in a SB game (19): In SB XVII, Washington (15) and Miami (4).

Fewest yards passing in a game (156) SB VII: Miami (69), Washington (87).

Fewest first downs in a game (9) SB XVII, Miami vs Washington

Most first downs rushing in a game (21), SB XVII Washington (14), Miami (7).

Longest time before a team scored in a game: SB VII Washington 57 minutes, 53 seconds.

Most wins with a different starting quarterback (3):  Joe Gibbs won with Joe Theismann (SB XVII), Doug Williams (SB XXII), Mark Rypien (XXVI).

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Legendary former Washington GM Bobby Beathard dies at 86

Bobby Beathard is one of only a few general managers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He led Washington to two Super Bowl championships.

The most influential executive in the history of the NFL’s Washington franchise, Bobby Beathard, died at 86 on Monday.

Beathard played college football at Cal Poly before a brief stint in the NFL as a player. He was on the preseason roster of the then-Washington Redskins [1959] and San Diego Chargers [1961]. Interestingly enough, those would be the teams Beathard would spend the majority of his executive career with.

Beathard began his scouting career in 1963 with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1968, he moved to the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent the next three years before landing a promotion with the Miami Dolphins in 1972 as the director of player personnel. The Dolphins won two Super Bowls while Beathard served in his role, including the famous 1972 team that went undefeated.

It was in 1978 that Beathard landed with Washington as the general manager. He built rosters that went to three Super Bowls, winning two, and was responsible for drafting multiple future Hall of Famers, such as Darrell Green, Art Monk and Russ Grimm. He is also the GM who hired Joe Gibbs as Washington’s head coach in 1981.

Beathard was Washington’s general manager for 10 years before resigning in 1989. After taking a year off, Beathard accepted the role as general of the San Diego Chargers in 1990 for 10 seasons.

Beathard built a Chargers roster that went to the first Super Bowl in their franchise history in 1994. He retired in 2000.

After retirement, Beathard earned spots in Washington’s Ring of Fame, the Chargers Hall of Fame and the Cal Poly Hall of Fame. In 2018, he received the ultimate honor as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Fittingly, it was Gibbs who was there to introduce Beathard.

Beathard’s son Jeff is a national scout with the Washington Commanders, and his grandson C.J. just finished his sixth NFL season in 2022 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

We’ll have more on the life and legacy of Bobby Beathard.

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Which Washington offensive coordinators do you recall?

Looking back at some of Washington’s previous offensive coordinators. It’s a pretty good list.

As a little kid following the team as closely as I could, I recall hearing for the first time of an offensive coordinator. George Allen was a defensive-minded head coach for Washington, but I was learning they had this coach in charge of the offense (to some degree), and he was Ted Marchibroda (1971-74).

I learned in just a few years that Marchibroda really knew offense when as head coach of the Colts, his teams were exciting on offense, winning the AFC East. I began hearing how Allen had actually been too conservative, handcuffing Marchibroda.

Charlie Waller (1975-77) was the next Washington offensive coordinator. I naturally thought he must be great. Until a couple of years later and I heard Joe Theismann praising then-offensive coordinator Joe Walton (1978-80) for being his most organized ever, coordinating the quarterback pass drops with the timing of the offense.

I was a teenager (didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did) but have always remembered this Theismann comment because it struck me, causing me to wonder what Waller had been doing with the offense the previous seasons.

When Joe Gibbs was the head coach, Joe Bugel (1981-89) was listed as the offensive coordinator, but it was Coach Joe always calling the plays. Steve Spurrier didn’t have an OC, either. That time it didn’t work out so well.

When Coach Joe came out of retirement, he determined he needed not one but both Al Saunders (2006-07) and Don Breaux (2004-07) as his offensive coordinators.

Sherman Smith (2008-09), Kyle Shanahan (2010-13), Sean McVay (2014-16), Matt Cavanaugh (2017-18), and Kevin O’Connell (2019) all brought their own backgrounds and philosophies to the role.

Frankly, I don’t know what type of OC Scott Turner (2020-22) was. I heard all of the complaining about the play-calling this season. But I do know this. When I watched the All-22 viewpoint, I often saw guys schemed open and Washington quarterbacks not getting the ball to them.

Yes, it is important whom they hire, but in 2023 they are going to NEED better offensive line play and better quarterback play.

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LaVar Arrington on Dan Snyder: ‘I told y’all’

LaVar Arrington looks back on his situation with Dan Snyder and says, “I told y’all.”

Not long after Daniel Snyder bought the Washington NFL franchise in 1999, he found a new favorite player in the 2000 NFL draft. Linebacker LaVar Arrington, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, was expected to be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and the next Washington legend.

Snyder quickly attached himself to Arrington. The two appeared to be quite chummy in those early years.

Then everything fell apart. First, there was the arrival of legendary Washington coach Joe Gibbs in Jan. 2004. Gibbs was returning to coach the team he led to three Super Bowls. Suddenly, Snyder had a new buddy, as he looked upon Gibbs with reverence.

Arrington never said it, but it was clear he wasn’t happy being replaced by Gibbs as the face of Washington’s franchise.

Next, there was the contract squabble. Snyder and Washington had signed Arrington to an eight-year, $68 million extension in 2003. However, Arrington and his representative, Carl Poston, alleged that Washington removed $6.5 million of bonuses from Arrington’s contract. In short, Poston was suspended for two years for his mishandling of Arrington’s contract, yet Arrington stood by him.

Arrington departed Washington after the 2005 season, finishing his career in D.C. with 79 games played, 401 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three interceptions and one touchdown. After going to the Pro Bowl in each season from 2001-03, his final three seasons were disappointing.

In fairness to Arrington, he should’ve been on the field more during those final seasons. Why wasn’t he? Well, you can probably assume it had something to do with his squabble with Snyder.

After one season with the Giants, Arrington was released. He was injured in a motorcycle accident in 2007 and later retired.

Arrington eventually worked in the media and never hid his feelings for Snyder. He’s remained consistent over the years with his disdain for the Washington owner.

This week, Darren Haynes of WUSA 9 in Washington, D.C., caught up with the former Washington linebacker.

“It has to happen; it should happen,” Arrington said of Snyder potentially selling the Washington Commanders. “Why wouldn’t it happen? Why is he even trying to hold onto it? Nobody wants you. Nobody wants you. Just go. It’s a chaotic environment; it’s a turbulent environment; it’s a high-turnover environment. People aren’t treated correctly. People don’t feel like it’s right. How are you going to have success?”

Arrington then explained this is all Snyder’s creation.

“That’s what little guy created,” Arrington said. “I don’t run around saying ‘I’m a Washington football player.’ I don’t leverage it; I don’t live in it because I don’t like him. I don’t like him; I don’t associate with him, and I don’t associate with what he associates with.”

Arrington has waited years to deliver this parting statement.

“Not everybody that goes through what I went through gets the opportunity at some point to be like, “I told ya, I told ya. Everybody doesn’t get that opportunity. But. I’ll be doggone if I didn’t have one of the biggest, like humble flexes to say, ‘I told y’all. I told y’all.”

Arrington is right. He did tell everyone. And much of what he has said about Snyder over the years has proven to be true. As far as his downfall with Washington, Arrington’s representatives were a major problem for him. Just read this piece on Carl and Kevin Poston. That doesn’t mean what he said about Snyder wasn’t true. There was plenty of blame to go around on both sides, with Arrington caught in the middle.

It’s a shame Arrington’s career with Washington didn’t go as expected. He was clearly one of the most popular players in the 2000s, and perhaps if Snyder sells the team, he’ll proudly root for the Commanders.

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Commanders owner Daniel Snyder: A resident of England?

An interesting Dan Snyder revelation.

In more news that could mean the end of Daniel Snyder’s tenure as owner of the Washington Commanders comes this finding by Mark Maske, Nicki Jhabvala and Liz Clarke of The Washington Post.

Per Maske, Jhabvala and Clarke, in a recent filing, Snyder was asked for which country or state in which he is “usually a resident,” and Snyder’s response was an interesting one: England.

Here’s a bit more from the Post story:

The certificate of incorporation of a private limited company for Snyder UK Investments Limited was filed Nov. 21 with the registrar of companies for England and Wales. Snyder and his wife, Tanya, the co-CEO of the Commanders, are listed as company directors. For both, the country or state of which they are “usually” a resident is listed as England.

Here’s the interesting part. Nov. 21 is just 19 days after the initial report revealing that the Snyder family was exploring potential transactions for the Commanders.

Could it be a coincidence? Sure. Does it mean anything regarding a sale of the team? Possibly not. However, it is curious.

Snyder is a longtime resident of the DMV, having grown up in Maryland’s Montgomery County and graduated high school in Rockville. He has made his primary residence in Potomac, Md., since 2001 and bought a home in Virginia in 2021. He owns other properties in Virginia and Colorado.

The report also states that sources confirmed to The Washington Post that the Snyders have long owned property in England. The Commanders declined to comment.

The first round of bids recently came in for the Commanders, which were quite high. Still, it doesn’t necessarily mean Snyder will sell the team — or part of the team.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is said to have an interest in buying the Commanders with music mogul Jay-Z as an investor.

The Commanders are 7-8-1 and were eliminated from the playoffs after Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns. Legendary former head coach Joe Gibbs was in attendance for Sunday’s game as the franchise honored “The Hogs.” Interestingly, Gibbs was not seen with Snyder, which is a departure from any time Gibbs returns to Washington for a game. Of course, that doesn’t mean Snyder didn’t see Gibbs, but they weren’t spotted sitting together in the press box.

Washington hosts the Dallas Cowboys in the season finale next Sunday.

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Commanders introduce ‘Major Tuddy’ as the new mascot

Yet, the Commanders are whipped on the field with Joe Gibbs in attendance.

At halftime of the Washington Commanders’ Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns, the team introduced their new mascot.

Welcome aboard, Major Tuddy.

Washington’s unveiling of the new mascot came on the same day that the Commanders honored the legendary “Hogs” with several former players in attendance. In addition, the most important figure in team history, former head coach Joe Gibbs was in town as an honorary captain and watched the game from the press box.

Several of “The Hogs” were not in attendance for the game, such as John Riggins, Joe Jacoby, Rick “Doc” Walker and others, due to their ongoing dispute with the team over the trademarking of “The Hogs.”

Unfortunately for fans, the Browns whipped Washington in the second half, potentially eliminating the Commanders from playoff contention.

 

The Hogs at odds with Commanders, Snyder ahead of Sunday’s tribute to the group

The team is honoring Joe Gibbs and “The Hogs” Sunday.

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As if the 2022 Washington Commanders’ season couldn’t become any more bizarre, now you have several team legends at odds with the team and owner, Daniel Snyder.

“The Hogs,” one of the most iconic groups in Washington’s franchise’s history, formed O-Line Entertainment LLC earlier this year and filed a trademark for the term “Hogs.” On Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, the Commanders are set to The Hogs with Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs present.

An excerpt of the letter from an attorney representing “The Hogs,” courtesy of JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington:

Daniel Snyder and the Washington Commanders are trying to profit off the original HOGS legacy by taking that trademark and associated goodwill and brand equity of the original HOGS. The Commanders are using the original HOGS brand for commercial purposes with NO compensation to the men who’s blood & sweat equity built the original HOGS 40 years ago.

Former Washington offensive linemen Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Fred Dean, tight end Doc Walker and legendary running back John Riggins are named as potential plaintiffs against the Commanders in the letter.

Washington has planned to honor The Hogs for months, and Gibbs will serve as an honorary captain. At halftime, the Commanders will unveil their new team mascot. It will be a dog or a hog.

Riggins has long been outspoken against Snyder and has been more vocal surrounding the team’s new name. Walker does a Commanders’ pregame show for Team 980 and remains a vocal supporter of the team on the field.

Legendary former offensive line coach Joe Bugel nicknamed his offensive line “The Hogs” in 1982, and it stuck with the group through the franchise’s glory years. Riggins was an honorary member of the group.

The team offered the following statement:

 

Remembering this week 40 years ago in Washington NFL history

We continue our look back at the 1982 season when Joe Gibbs, Joe Theisman, John Riggins, The Hogs and Dexter Manley ruled Washington.

40 years ago, the 1982 Washington Redskins became the first team in franchise history to win a Super Bowl.

This very week, 40 years ago, NFL fans were so excited to see their teams get back in action.

The 1982 season had begun with the first two weeks of the season having a dark cloud of suspicion over them. Each day of those two weeks, analysts and the press wondered aloud and through the print media whether the NFL would actually see a strike take place during the season.

The prior season, Joe Gibbs’ first in Washington had started horribly, as Gibbs brought in his Air Coryell offense for Joe Theismann to orchestrate. However, Washington lost their first five games, and Gibbs would later say he actually kept thinking if he would be fired before he ever won his first game as an NFL head coach.

But the 1981 team rebounded as Gibbs determined to go more with his personnel, shape more of a ball-control offense using running backs John Riggins and Joe Washington. The team won eight of their last eleven games, finishing 8-8.

Having drafted such players in 1981 as Mark May, Russ Grimm, Dexter Manley, Darryl Grant and Clint Didier and signed Joe Jacoby as an undrafted free agent, the 1982 season was one of promise and hope.

The season had opened Sept. 12 with Washington the underdog traveling to Philadelphia who had been to the Super Bowl in 1980 and the playoffs in 1979 and 1981. Trailing 27-14 entering the final quarter, the Redskins roared back, winning 37-34 in overtime.

Week 2 saw Washington again a road team, this time at Tampa Bay. Joe Gibbs was returning to Tampa for the first time as a head coach. Gibbs had earlier been on the Bucs staff under John McKay.

In a game that saw heavy amounts of rain, Washington slid their way to a 21-13 victory in Tampa. Washington was 2-0, a strike was officially announced the next night and the nation lost the NFL for the next 57 days. NFL games in weeks three through ten were lost.

November 21, Washington would be back in action, but because of the scheduled game being in New York against the Giants, Redskins fans were still unable to see their favorite team play at home in RFK. Washington would not play a game at RFK in the 1982 season until November 28, their second game of the season against the Eagles.

40 years ago this week, Washington was 2-0, coming off of an NFL Strike, about to begin for a second time a season when the franchise would go on to win its first Super Bowl (XVII).