Tag: Mando

The Commanders introduce a new team dog for 2023

For the second straight year, the Commanders will have a new team dog that will train as a service dog for a deserving veteran.

The Washington Commanders have a new team dog. Last year it was Mando; now, the Commanders welcome Goldie.

Goldie is a four-month-old English Yellow Lab born in North Carolina that recently moved to Virginia, where she will undergo skills training. At the completion of her training, Goldie will return to K9s for Warriors, where she will act as a service dog for a deserving veteran.

The Commanders released a video showing head coach Ron Rivera placing a call to Goldie. It was creative. Rivera is a known dog lover and a massive supporter of the United States military. Rivera won the 2022 NFL Salute to Service Award, which honors someone from the NFL family [coach, player, executive, etc.] for their efforts to support and honor the military community.

Here’s more about K9s for Warriors from its official website:

K9s For Warriors serves our veterans as honorably as they served their country. Our lifelong program is provided to Warriors at no cost and is designed to deliver maximum benefit with minimum administrative costs. We are proud that generous supporters trust us to do the right thing with their contributions, and we have received widespread recognition for our stewardship. Impacting the lives of veterans will always be our greatest reward. Their continued participation in the program is the only validation we need.

Goldie will remain with the Commanders until she is between 10-14 months old and returned to K9s for Warriors to finish her training before being placed with a veteran.

Taylor Heinicke: ‘Wentz has been helping me out a lot’

Taylor Heinicke was a guest on The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

Taylor Heinicke and Washington team dog, “Mando,” were guests Thursday on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd.

Heinicke expressed he was told in high school he was too small to go to a big-time program so chose Old Dominion, and following his college career, he went undrafted. But here he is today the primary starter for Washington for the last two seasons, and he says it has been fun.

Heinicke again talked of growing up watching the passion, the energy of Brett Favre. “Every time I step onto that football field I feel like it might be my last play, in my last game. So I go out there and just have fun and leave it all out there.”

When speaking of teammate Terry McLaurin, Heinicke said, “He’s your pro’s pro. He carries himself in a very professional way.” Elaborating further, Heinicke said McLaurin is a leader not a diva, like too many receivers.

Herd talked of Ron Rivera being a defensive coach and perhaps not letting Heinicke try to make plays. Heinicke responded, “I’m just happy to be here. I’m not going to pressure Coach Rivera to do my thing.”

When Rivera named Heinicke the starter moving forward, Taylor felt he should have a conversation with Carson Wentz. “We sat down in the locker room and talked for about ten minutes. We have a great relationship. It’s been a great room. He has been helping me out a lot in any way he can. He sees a lot of things I don’t see.”

Mando is a military-service dog, and the players really enjoy seeing Mando at the facility. “He is a joy to be around. He has a bright future ahead of him,” said Heinicke.

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