Tag: JP Finlay

Chris Simms ‘a little shocked’ Commanders gave Dan Quinn a second chance so quickly

Former NFL quarterback criticizes Dan Quinn hire.

Chris Simms is not a big fan of the Commanders hiring Dan Quinn as head coach.

The Pro Football Talk host and former Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback provided J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington a couple of minutes to discuss the Commanders’ two major offseason moves.

Simms told Finlay: “I am a big fan of Adam Peters, obviously. I mean, he learned a little football in New England, goes to San Francisco, a part of some great regimes there. Not only did he have some of those things in place, but he got to see Kyle (Shanahan) and John Lynch do it at a team that’s kind of been at the pinnacle of football here, or at least close to it the last four or five years.”

“I’d be lying to you if I tell you I’m super-excited about the Dan Quinn hire. The first thing is I am not a big fan of hiring people within the division. ‘Oh, we’re going to hire a guy that just worked with one of our archrivals.’

“That, to me, is an ‘advantage Cowboys’ in that department. You know, Dan has done a really good job on the defensive side of the ball with the Dallas Cowboys. But you know, all in all, I am a little shocked that he has gotten a second chance this quickly.”

“I mean, barely above .500 with the Falcons. I thought the best thing they did with that football team was having Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator. It kind of fell apart after that, right?”

“He’s a defensive coach, they had a 28-3 lead. Shanahan gets blamed for some reason. Dan Quinn, who coached the defense, was supposed to stop that.”

“From the things I know and the people out there it feels certainly that Ben Johnson was choice one. It feels like Mike Macdonald was choice number two, and then it got to Dan Quinn, right?”

“But listen, I know this isn’t personal; it’s a tough thing about my job. I’m trying to be honest and give you that. Yeah, it doesn’t mean it won’t work. It  doesn’t mean maybe I am wrong about what I am sayin’, right?”

“Dan Quinn has shown me he evolved a little bit defensively from Atlanta to Dallas. Now maybe he will show me he has evolved a little bit as a head coach.”

 

Would the Commanders trade for their next head coach?

Would Josh Harris make a trade for his next head coach? If so, one NFL insider believes there are only two worth trading for.

There is no question Commanders head coach Ron Rivera will not be back in 2024.

Rivera visibly was beginning to be irritable and concerned following the second New York Giants game. The reality was setting in on Rivera; it really was not going to work out for him in Washington.

After the Dallas game, Rivera fired two defensive coaches, including his defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio.

Now the talk and speculation have turned to who will be the next Commanders head coach in Washington.

JP Finlay of 106.7 The Fan heard the name, the legendary Bill Belichick, Finlay did some investigation. He asked around with some of his contacts in the NFL.

Finlay says he was told Bill Belichick is not coming to Washington in 2024. The rumor mill was simply fake news.

In addition, Finlay has tweeted (posted on X, formerly Twitter) that it was expressed to him that Belichick was not worth trading to Washington. It wasn’t that Belichick can’t still coach; what Finlay was actually told by one NFL “dude” is that he felt there were only two NFL coaches worth trading for.

Former Washington assistant coach and offensive coordinator Sean McVay is one name expressed to Finlay. It is hard to believe that McVay is still only age 37.

McVay coached the Washington tight ends from 2010-13 before he was promoted to be Jay Gruden’s offensive coordinator for three seasons (2014-2016) before being hired by the Rams in the 2017 offseason.

The only other name communicated to Finlay worth trading for is current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin (age 51) first coached in the NFL as part of Tony Dungy’s Tampa Bay staff in 2001. He then coached for Jon Gruden in Tampa (2002-05), and Brad Childress in Minnesota (2006).

Tomlin became and NFL head coach in 2007 at age 35 for the Pittsburgh Steelers and has remained there since.

Rick Doc Walker: Commanders are ‘so underwhelming’

Doc Walker talked the current state of the Commanders — on the field.

A guest on the BMitch and Finlay Show on 106.7 The Fan, Monday, former Redskins tight end Rick “Doc” Walker was on fire with how he feels about this current Commanders’ team.

Walker recalled what it was like 40 years ago playing for the fanbase, “It is the most overwhelming feeling I’ve had in my life of how much it mattered to the people in our community. There was no racism. Everybody treated you like you were family. You spill your guts; you play hurt, you do whatever it takes to get to the prize.”

Regarding the current Commanders team,
“To see these guys who are so underwhelming, fail so often, and be paid so much. I am pulling for them. But all of our kids have never seen them do anything!”

“We went 0-5 (1981). That was when you were borderline suicidal. These guys have done that repeatedly. Embarrassment was we didn’t want to show our face around this town when we didn’t win. You are that committed because you didn’t want to let people down.”

“Now it is professional. The guys can pull up in their Rolls Royce. Nothing ever made me throw up in my mouth (like) every day when guys were driving up to the park in their Rolls with nothing to show for it.”

Walker talked of how what has become news over the years for the franchise is signing free agents and drafting first-round picks.

“It’s all fake; it’s built on sand. They don’t understand; it’s like a girl is all made-up, looks good, got all the style but has horrible breadth.”

J.P. Finlay asked Walker what he made of Chase Young who “when he steps off of the bus is all-world.” Walker didn’t hesitate, interrupting Finlay, “I don’t make nothing of it, save your breath.” Brian Mitchell burst out in laughter.

When Finlay attempted to explain the Commanders have a decision on Young’s fifth-year option, Walker didn’t miss a beat. “Option? You were in last place in the division. I’m not into that (option). What place are you in? Last. So everyone/anybody is expendable.”

“I don’t believe this team is dependent on anybody because you have not been able to win with any of them. That’s me. I am not the norm, I don’t want to be the norm.”

“You got a team in last place. I wish I was the one doing the negotiations. (Mitchell again laughed). You in last place and you think you have leverage on me? You in last place in the division. You got your _ _ _ kicked twice by the Giants?”

“This team has talent, they beat the best (Eagles), but again they don’t get it. Everyone is all worried about the individuals, first-rounders, Pro Bowlers. You got all that, but you are in last place.”

“So, until they take the mindset of ‘we are not going to be kicked around and mocked until we win the hill’… that is what I get into.”

“I like Chase. He is going to be in great shape. He is going to look great. I start judging him at kickoff.”

Former Washington RB Brian Mitchell: ‘Sometimes Coach (Rivera) just talks too much’

Mitchell was discussing Rivera and his messaging on quarterback Sam Howell.

Brian Mitchell still speaks as he played… directly and aggressively.

JP Finlay and Mitchell were in a conversation with Washington Post Commanders reporter Sam Fortier Wednesday on 106.7 The Fan when Finlay lobbed that Rivera had thus far, since the season finale, spoke of the team moving forward with Sam Howell as the quarterback. Finlay noted the distinction Rivera had made Wednesday between Howell not being the starter but he is QB1.

Fortier was even bolder, saying that Rivera was “hedging, and it was double speak”. “It is trying to have it both ways,” said Fortier. He expressed he thinks Coach Ron is not yet committed to going with Howell, citing “it has been inconsistent messaging” by Rivera.

Fortier also proclaimed that Rivera needs to win this year, and “will do whatever is necessary to maximize the number of wins this year.”

Mitchell suggested the possibility that one Rivera statement saying Howell was the starter was pre-Eric Bieniemy being hired as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator, and the latest statement is after having dialogue with Bieniemy regarding Howell as the QB1 this upcoming season.

Mitchell then stated, “It is March 1. Why do we have to say who the starter is today?” “I made the comment last year, and I am going to make it again. Sometimes, Coach just talks too much. If he says less, then he doesn’t have all of these questions coming at him.”

Mitchell has been direct with his opinion of what Rivera should do or say previously. In June of 2022, Mitchell called for Rivera to hold Jack Del Rio accountable for his statements questioning the media’s treatment of the events of January 6 in contrast to the many burnings and destruction of properties in what were called peaceful protests summer of 2020.

Mitchell also made a passionate declaration for what he felt was a “trash” performance in the Commanders’ Week 17 loss to the Browns at FedEx Field.