Tag: Josh Harris

Commanders hire new team president

The Commanders have a new team president.

The Washington Commanders have a new team president. The team revealed Tuesday that Mark Clouse would be Washington’s new team president, replacing Jason Wright.

Who is Clouse?

Clouse comes to the Commanders from The Campbell’s Company, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2019. As President and CEO of Campbell’s, Clouse oversaw numerous well-known brands, such as Campbell’s, Goldfish, Rao’s, Pepperidge Farm, and others.

Washington managing partner Josh Harris said the following via a team statement.

In Mark we have found a dynamic leader with a stellar track record of guiding organizations to excellence, building brands that connect deeply with consumers, and ultimately delivering best-in-class experiences and lasting memories. Mark shares our commitment to using the power of the Commanders franchise to bring people together. As a military veteran and accomplished business builder, he has a proven ability to strengthen both the organizations he leads and the communities he serves. I am confident in Mark’s dedication to building a championship-caliber organization and to support football operations in our drive for excellence on the field.

Clouse has over 30 years of leadership experience, first graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Clouse spent six-and-a-half years as a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army before rising to the rank of captain.

After completing his military service, Clouse joined Kraft Foods, where he spent 15 years in various leadership roles.

Clouse released the following statement through the team:

I am incredibly grateful to Josh Harris and the Washington Commanders ownership group for the opportunity to lead this iconic franchise into a new chapter of growth. The Commanders’ passionate fanbase, which has stood by this team for decades, deserves nothing less than our unwavering commitment to excellence. I look forward to supporting ownership, as well as Adam Peters and Dan Quinn, in doing everything in our power to build a championship-caliber organization.

Clouse will begin his new role in late January and will oversee all facets of the franchise’s business operations. General manager Adam Peters and senior vice president of football operations Brandon Sosna will handle all football-related matters.

Wright was named Washington’s team president in August 2020, one month after former owner Dan Snyder was forced to abandon the franchise’s popular but controversial former name. Wright and former coach Ron Rivera led the process for Washington’s new name, which was revealed as the Commanders in February 2022.

It was revealed in July that Wright would no longer serve as Washington’s team president but would stay on through the season as a senior adviser.

Former Washington LB Lavar Arrington happy to reunite with organization

Lavar Arrington reunites with the Washington franchise.

Lavar Arrington is back. No, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft is not back on the field, but he is back home with the organization where he played six of his seven seasons.

The Washington Commanders announced last week that Arrington would be the Week 11 “Legend of the Game.” It was a moment that Arrington himself almost wondered if it would ever happen.

Speaking to JP Finlay of NBC 4 and 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., Arrington spoke of returning home.

“I’m never at a loss for words, but this has been really awesome,” Arrington said. “Been too long. Been a lot of time and a lot of emotion, but there’s come a point and time where there’s so many things that are bigger than some of things that happened in the past. Having the opportunity to come back, the reception, just the communication leading up to coming back. Them making it real, the way that they did.”

Arrington then discusses if he

“I don’t want to say I thought about always coming back because you get to a point where you’re away for so long that it just kind of becomes almost like a dormant, dead memory to you.”

The former No. 2 overall pick then discussed how he and the team connected. Arrington appreciated how the team reached out to him and communicated with him.

Then, Arrington, once the franchise’s most popular player, discussed the fans.

“I’m excited to see the fans,” Arrington said. “It’s never been about there being any beef with the fans. One singular entity that kinda bonded us all together in this turbulent ride. It doesn’t feel like that anymore.”

Arrington then said something that should excite all fans.

“In three hours, I can feel an energy here that I’ve never felt,” Arrington said. “So, if not for anything else, just to be able to feel what I’m feeling now as a longtime retired former player of this team, I’m glad that these current players get an opportunity to feel the energy that I’m feeling right now.”

It’s good to see Washington making things right with many former players estranged from the team. Whether it’s Darrell Green, John Riggins, Champ Bailey, or Lavar Arrington, everyone has had the same message about the current ownership group. It’s a different time in Washington.

The name may have changed, but so has the play on the field. It’s good to see Arrington back in a place where he was beloved for a while until issues with former owner Daniel Snyder led to his departure. Arrington played for Washington from 2000-05 and then spent one season with the New York Giants before a motorcycle accident led to his retirement.

Report: Players around the NFL want to be traded to Commanders

Players from around the NFL want to be traded to Washington.

Here’s a phrase you haven’t heard this century: Multiple NFL players want to be traded to the Washington Commanders.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter almost broke the Internet Saturday evening with the following headline: “Players want to be traded to Commanders at deadline.”

We don’t need to go over all the evidence to understand why Washington is a different place these days. Of course, it begins with new ownership led by managing partner Josh Harris and trickles down to general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

There’s also a roster with 50% turnover from last season, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Here’s an excerpt from Schefter’s story:

In recent weeks, there have been players who privately stated or told their agents they want to be traded to the Commanders, league sources told ESPN.

This is coming from the preeminent NFL reporter. Everything changes when you find a franchise quarterback. The Commanders have that with Daniels. His teammates love him, his coaches love him, and fans love him as his jerseys fly off the shelves. It’s been a while since Washington had a popular jersey, especially since the name change.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. ET. Will the Commanders make a move? We shall see. Another thing to consider is that if Washington does add, players are much more likely to be interested in signing an extension to remain.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz: ‘I can’t say enough good things’

Zach Ertz with high praise for the Commanders’ leadership.

Many questioned the Washington Commanders’ decision to sign veteran tight end Zach Ertz in March. What could a soon-to-be 34-year-old tight end who hadn’t played a full season since 2018 offer the rebuilding Commanders?

Like everything else they’ve done since general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over, there was a plan. Not only was Ertz familiar with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, but he was also a strong presence in the locker room, and Washington envisioned him becoming an offensive leader who could develop some of the young players while still starting.

So far, so good. Teammates have raved about Ertz’s leadership, as have coaches. On the field, he’s been a security blanket for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Through seven games, Ertz has 25 receptions for 268 yards and a touchdown.

Ertz spent the first 8.5 years of his NFL career with Washington’s NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time with the Eagles, the Commanders were owned by Daniel Snyder and had a poor reputation around the league.

Not anymore. Every time Ertz speaks of Washington’s leadership, he talks of how close the locker room is and how special this coaching staff is. On Wednesday, Ertz joined the NFL Network to talk about the Commanders’ impressive turnaround.

“Coach Quinn is one of, if not the best, leaders I’ve ever been around,” Ertz said. “Just his ability to connect with each and every person on the roster to get the most out of them. He does it in a phenomenal way by just bringing a lot of energy, demanding that standards are upheld, and making those standards extremely clear. And if guys aren’t meeting the standards, he’s very consistent with his message that it’s not good enough and we have to be better………he wants the best for every person in this organization.”

Ertz then delivered a line that seems consistent under new owner Josh Harris, Peters and Quinn.

“You don’t just show up on Sundays and expect good things to happen,” Ertz said. “The wins are earned throughout the week. They’ve brought in guys that love the process, that love to practice. These are my types of guys. I’ve had so much fun since I’ve gotten here. Everyone is just all about trying to get better each and every day. I can’t say enough good things about this place.”

Guess what? He’s telling the truth. Times have changed in Washington, and adding veterans like Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner was critical in changing the franchise’s culture.

Marcus Mariota on playing for the Commanders: ‘It’s the best place to work’

Mariota with high praise for the Commanders’ organization.

The Washington Commanders are rolling right now. On Sunday, the Commanders defeated the Carolina Panthers 40-7 in a game where rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was injured in the first quarter and did not return.

No problem, says veteran backup Marcus Mariota.

Daniels injured his rib on Washington’s first possession. While his mother tweeted later that he was fine, the Commanders wisely kept Daniels out of the game and allowed the 10-year veteran Mariota to guide the offense.

How did Mariota respond?

Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards and led the Commanders to scoring drives on all but one possession — his first.

After the game, Mariota spoke with Evan Washburn of CBS.

“First and foremost, just him,” Mariota said of Jayden Daniels and what he thought when he first entered the game. “He’s an unbelievable kid. You just about the player and person and then it’s just football.”

How was Mariota so effective?

“These guys are unbelievable,” Mariota said of his teammates. We have an awesome group of guys that just believe in each other. They made play after play, and I just did my best to give them a chance.”

Then, Mariota had the ultimate praise for the Commanders and the culture that owner Josh Harris, GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn are building.

“It’s brotherhood. We talk about it all the time. Honestly, it’s the best place to work. I enjoy going in with these guys. It’s a lot of fun, and when you have a brotherhood like this, you’ll find ways to win.”

The Washington Commanders: The best place to work? That’s good news for those NFLPA grades that will come out later this year. Remember what Harris said? “I’m not an F-minus guy.” No, he isn’t, and neither are the Commanders anymore.

WATCH: Darrell Green emotional as he receives key to Washington, D.C.

Saturday was a special day for Darrell Green.

It’s been a big week for legendary former Washington cornerback Darrell Green. In April, Green learned that the Commanders planned to officially retire his No. 28 jersey sometime during the 2024 season.

It was later revealed that Green’s special day would occur during Washington’s Week 7 game vs. the Carolina Panthers from Northwest Stadium.

So, one day before Green’s jersey was officially retired, he received another prestigious honor. Green received a key to Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Washington mayor Muriel Bowser presented Green with a key to the nation’s capital.

Commanders co-owner Mitchell Rales, who grew up a fan of the Redskins, was there for the festivities.

Here’s Green expressing his gratitude, courtesy of Sam Fortier from The Washington Post:

Finally, here is Green receiving a custom painting of himself from his playing day:

Sunday will be another emotional day for Green, who spent 20 seasons in the burgundy and gold and went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, the first year he was eligible.

Josh Harris deserves credit for Commanders win over Cardinals

Josh Harris deserves plenty of praise for Sunday’s win.

How often do you hear that the owner deserves a lot of credit for an NFL win?

Usually its the quarterback that gets the most credit or the most blame. Then comes a skilled position player such as a wide receiver or running back. But in the case of this Commanders win, how much have you considered new owner Josh Harris?

Yes, you read me correctly, I typed ‘Josh Harris.’

Think about it: The Commanders were 1-1 preparing for the Bengals game in Cincinnati. Imagine the conversation as Dan Quinn suggested to Harris that he thought the team should not return to Ashburn but travel to Arizona and spend Tuesday through Saturday nights to best prepare for this game.

Have you considered how much this must have cost Harris? The 53-man roster, plus the 17-man practice squad. But that is not all that Harris spent money on. Think of all the coaching staff, the trainers, the equipment personnel, and the hotel bill for all of those people.

Then consider each person who would have been paying for their own meals back home in Ashburn, eating from their own refrigerators. But Harris chose to feed them all this week, and he did it in preparation for only the fourth game of the season? And how much do NFL linemen eat in a week to maintain their mass, which is needed for their best performance?

Dan Quinn is to be thanked for having the foresight to see why this could be a good thing. The team spending all week together was an opportunity to bond further and unite at the possibility of not falling back to 2-2 but rising to 3-1.

How much better is 3-1 over 2-2?

It is tremendously better. It’s two games better, which means instead of a three-way tie with the Eagles and Cowboys at 2-2, your Washington Commanders are sitting alone atop the NFC East at 3-1.

Josh Harris is to be thanked by the fan base and, more importantly, by all those he fed and housed all week in Arizona.

Thank you, Josh Harris.

Commanders owner Josh Harris, Joe Buck get handshake right this time

Joe Buck and Josh Harris get their handshake right the second time around.

When Josh Harris was making the rounds as the new managing partner for the Washington Commanders last summer, he stopped by the ESPN broadcast booth for the preseason game between his Commanders and the Baltimore Ravens.

Harris, nor anyone else knew he’d create a viral moment with legendary play-by-play commentator Joe Buck.

As Buck spoke and his hands moved, Harris looked down and thought that Buck was going for a handshake. It was innocent yet awkward. As this happened, Buck’s longtime broadcast partner, Troy Aikman, noticed the exchange and chuckled.

Here is the viral handshake if you missed it initially.

https://twitter.com/SPLAIN_IT/status/1693793159677902930

Harris looked like he knew mid-handshake that it wasn’t supposed to be a handshake.

Fast forward to Monday night. The Commanders were in Cincinnati for a Monday Night Football game against the Bengals. As is customary for Monday Night Football, Buck and Aikman were on the call.

Before the game, Harris and Buck caught up and got the handshake down right this time.

https://twitter.com/Commanders/status/1838367171589607555

Harris continues to right wrongs throughout Washington.

Do the Commanders have the NFL’s worst uniforms?

The Commanders have the NFL’s worst uniforms according to uniform power rankings.

The Washington NFL franchise rebranded in 2022 for the second time in two years. The former Redskins were renamed the “Football Team” in 2020. In February 2022, Washington became the “Commanders.”

The entire rebranding process was a disaster. While the former regime hailed it as a success, most fans liked the “Football Team” moniker better. Other fans were more diplomatic, saying they just wanted a winning team and a new owner. Fans got a new owner over a year later, but still no winning team.

Other fans cared less about the name and more about the team colors and uniforms. The team colors remained burgundy and gold, but the uniforms changed.

A large portion of the fan base is still unhappy with the uniforms. Fans are split on the three Washington jerseys: the white and black are not as popular, but most like the burgundy jerseys.

What do those outside of Washington’s fan base think of the uniforms? Not too much.

In the annual “Uniform Wardrobe Power Rankings” from Bets Dressed, the Commanders rank dead last.

To put it plainly, Commanders are still the worst. But as a sign of the league’s ever-improving aesthetic, even Washington got better this offseason with the addition of gold pants. Unfortunately, like the other pants, they’re the practice kind. Burgundy uniform is the best of the bunch but still underwhelming. And the white primary and black alternate are worst in class respectively.

Something to Fix: Pant stripes on the gold pants and the burgundy uniform becomes serviceable. But the other outfits keep the idea of starting over top of mind. Team Red Wolves forever.

Dream Super Bowl: Bills (White-White-Blue) at Commanders (Burgundy-Burgundy-Yellow).

The gold pants were a smart addition by Washington as the team tries to reconnect with its prosperous past. We must note that power rankings are completely subjective; like any power rankings, yet they even see issues with the white and black jerseys.

Stripes would help some. Most fans believe the correct solution for the uniforms would be to return to the old ones. Even when they were the Football Team, the jerseys were the same as when they were the Redskins.

New owner Josh Harris can’t change everything in one offseason. Washington made significant changes this offseason, revamping the front office and coaching staff and improving the stadium and the team’s Ashburn headquarters. Don’t be surprised if, at some point in the near future, the Commanders receive a uniform refresh.

Commanders have a new stadium name

The former FedEx Field is now Northwest Stadium.

The Washington Commanders have a new name again — this time for their stadium.

On Tuesday, the Commanders announced a partnership with Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) announced a multi-year, exclusive naming-rights agreement that will change the name of Commanders Field to Northwest Stadium.

Washington’s home stadium opened in 1997 as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, but in 1999, it was renamed FedEx Field after Daniel Snyder bought the franchise from the Cooke family. Snyder reached a 27-year deal with FedEx that paid the team an average of $7.6 million annually. FedEx terminated the agreement earlier this year with two years remaining.

The new agreement runs through the 2031 season.

The Commanders remain in pursuit of a new stadium, with three jurisdictions (Maryland, Washington, D.C, & Virginia) all in contention. The old RFK Stadium site in D.C. is a top priority, but several hurdles still exist.

Washington managing partner Josh Harris released the following statement:

Northwest Federal Credit Union has been an integral part of this community for generations and we could not be prouder to partner with an organization as committed to the DMV as we are. As we continue to work toward our goal of building the Commanders into an elite franchise that consistently competes for championships, we are excited to welcome our team and fans to Northwest Stadium and look forward to creating incredible memories together on the field and in the communities we serve.

Northwest Federal Credit Union President & CEO Jeff Bentley also released a statement.

Northwest is thrilled to continue building on the great work we have achieved alongside the Commanders. With a combined history of nearly 170 years in the D.C. metro area, this expanded partnership was an amazing alignment of our values to enrich the local community. It is an honor to be able to welcome everyone to ‘Northwest Stadium’ and introduce the inspiring initiatives that this collaboration represents. Together, we look forward to ensuring that Northwest Stadium is an impactful place where we rally together over our common love of football, giving back to the community, and creating memorable experiences that last a lifetime.

The Commanders open the 2024 regular season on Sept. 8 at Tampa Bay. Washington’s first home game at Northwest Stadium will be on Sept. 15 against the New York Giants.