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.”