Tag: Marty Hurney

Commanders hire Lance Newmark as assistant general manager

Adam Peters has a new assistant GM and the Commanders reshuffle others, including Martin Mayhew and Marty Hurney.

As the Washington Commanders continue to put the finishing touches on new head coach Dan Quinn’s first staff, general manager Adam Peters made his first significant addition to the front office.

The Commanders announced they had hired Lance Newmark as Peters’ new assistant general manager. Newmark comes to Washington after 26 years with the Detroit Lions, serving in a number of roles, most recently as senior director of player personnel.

Newmark’s first NFL job came with the San Diego Chargers under legendary former Washington GM Bobby Beathard, where he spent two years as a staff assistant.

Here is a look at Newmark’s career progression:

  • Chargers: 1996-97: Staff assistant
  • Lions: 1998: Staff assistant
  • Lions: 1999-2004: Area scout
  • Lions: 2005-07: National scout
  • Lions: 2008-14: Assistant director of college scouting
  • Lions: 2015-16: Director of college scouting
  • Lions: 2017-21: Director of player personnel
  • Lions: 2022-23: Senior director of player personnel

Newmark played college football at San Diego Mesa College before transferring to the University of San Diego for his final season.

During his two seasons with the Chargers, Newmark was on staff with Marty Hurney. And, for 15 of his years with the Lions, Newmark worked with Martin Mayhew. On the same day that Washington announced Newmark’s hiring, both Hurney and Mayhew were reassigned, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

Mayhew, previously Washington’s GM, will now be a senior personnel executive and advisor to Peters. Hurney, previously executive vice president of football/player personnel, will also be an advisor.

Peters released the following statement on Newmark’s hiring:

“I am thrilled to welcome Lance Newmark to the Washington Commanders,” said Peters. “Lance is someone that I have known and respected in the scouting community my entire career. He is a highly respected talent evaluator and a great leader who will fit perfectly into what we’re building here in Washington. I want to thank Brad Holmes and the Lions organization for being first class in working with us on the process of bringing Lance to the DMV. Lance is a phenomenal person, and he will immediately elevate our overall personnel function here at the Commanders. It is my absolute pleasure to welcome Lance and his family to Washington.”

 

Who will remain with the Commanders in their football operations?

Adam Peters has a lot of decisions to make regarding the current front office. Who remains?

Adam Peters being hired Friday by owner Josh Harris, takes on the responsibility to structure the front office of the football operations.

The second major concern for Peters (behind his hiring a head coach) will be those in the front office personnel. Of those currently present, whom will Peters retain and whom will he not keep, only one is a certainty. Eugene Shen (Senior VP of Football Strategy), recently hired by Harris, will remain.

Thus, the future is uncertain for Jason Wright (Team President), Martin Mayhew (General Manager), Marty Hurney (Vice President of Player Personnel), and Rob Rogers (Senior Vice President of Football Administration).

Doug Williams is certainly a question mark. Williams, during the Bruce Allen administration, possessed a couple of titles, yet even Williams talked of how he was not even involved in something as major as the 2018 trade that brought quarterback Alex Smith to Washington.

Williams was given a vague title of a personnel executive, which was the first red flag. Then Williams, in 2017, was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President of Player Personnel. But again Williams often provided vague answers when before the press, which sometimes were more revealing than informative.

When Ron Rivera became the coach-centric administrator of football operations, Williams was moved out of player personnel entirely into player development. After one season, he then became a “senior advisor to Jason Wright.”

The entire player personnel department might be in question. 11 scouts and a player personnel assistant are currently employed, while the department is headed by Eric Stokes (Senior Director of Player Personnel), Chris Polian (Director of Pro Personnel) and Tim Gribble (Director of College Personnel).

Who is Commanders owner Josh Harris leaning on inside the organization?

Josh Harris has been leaning on someone already in Washington’s organization.

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris is expected to make sweeping changes to the organization that he, along with his fellow minority partners, purchased for $6.05 billion back in July.

That means head coach Ron Rivera, who has a 26-36-1 record in four seasons with Washington, is likely gone after the season. Rivera is also the head of all football operations for the Commanders, meaning Harris is likely looking for a new general manager, too.

Sure, Martin Mayhew is Washington’s current GM, but he works for Rivera. Rivera hired Mayhew and has been the organization’s top football decision-maker since 2020.

Marty Hurney is another one of Rivera’s front-office hires. Rivera hired Hurney as Washington’s executive vice president of football for player personnel in 2021. Hurney, a former beat reporter who covered the then-Redskins in the 1980s, joined Washington’s PR department before following legendary GM Bobby Beathard to the Chargers. Hurney spent years working for Beathard before the Carolina Panthers hired him in 1998. In 2002, Hurney was promoted to general manager.

Hurney would have two stints as Carolina’s GM and is responsible for hiring Rivera as head coach there in 2011.

And, according to Kevin Sheehan of Team 980 in Washington, D.C, Harris has been leaning on Hurney in recent months.

“What I’ve learned is that Marty Hurney, who was a long-time executive in Carolina with Ron Rivera and a long and now has been with Rivera here for the last 2 ½ years, has become a trusted voice in the organization for Josh Harris,” Sheehan said Monday, per Lou DiPietro of Audacy. “And David Tepper, who Josh Harris knows and is the current owner of the Panthers, was apparently high on Hurney as well.”

Relax, Washington fans.

“Remember, Hurney has been in this league a long time and knows the key players, and while I’m not saying he’ll be the hire, as Josh Harris is looking for an opinion he trusts, he may be a voice of who to bring in for an interview and what names fill what buckets,” Sheehan continued.

What does this mean? Well, it could be as simple as Harris trusting Hurney, who has worked in the NFL for over 30 years in a variety of roles. It doesn’t mean Harris will promote Hurney. As Sheehan noted, Carolina owner David Tepper leaned on Hurney when he purchased the Panthers. Harris could be having Hurney evaluate Washington’s roster. He could also be questioning him about up-and-coming executives and coaches from around the NFL.

Rivera, Mayhew and Hurney know the deal. When a new owner took over, their job security was on the clock.

The Commanders have four games remaining on the 2023 schedule, and then the real work begins for Harris.

Breer: Commanders exec Marty Hurney ‘has advocated’ for Anthony Richardson

Would the Commanders consider Anthony Richardson if he falls?

The 2023 NFL draft is finally here. The first round kicks off Thursday night, and at least four quarterbacks are expected to go in the first round. As many as five could go in the first round, depending on what happens with Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.

Alabama’s Bryce Young is the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, but things get a bit cloudy after Young.

C.J. Stroud of Ohio State should go in the top four. However, some reports cite Will Levis of Kentucky heading to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 4. Then there is Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Projections are all over the map for Richardson, a raw but super-talented dual-threat passer with only 13 college starts.

Some mock drafts had Richardson going No. 1 overall, but it was rare to see him falling out of the top 10. Richardson went No. 23 to the Minnesota Vikings in Peter King’s mock draft.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated published his final mock draft Wednesday, and he had Richardson falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 19 overall.

But that wasn’t the news from Breer’s mock draft. For the Washington Commanders at No. 16, Breer selects Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Buried in his prediction for Washington’s pick is the following blurb regarding Richardson.

And I did get a little late information that Washington exec Marty Hurney has advocated for Richardson.

Marty Hurney is Washington’s executive vice president of football/player personnel and is a trusted resource for head coach Ron Rivera. Remember, Hurney hired Rivera when he was the Carolina Panthers general manager. Even more interesting, Hurney and Rivera drafted Cam Newton at No. 1 overall back in 2011.

Could Hurney be pushing for Richardson because he sees Cam Newton in the young passer? Newton was a game-changing pick for the Panthers, winning the MVP award and making Carolina a contender during his time in Charlotte.

Washington believes in Sam Howell and intends to give him every chance to start in 2023. However, if Richardson is on the board at No. 16, how seriously would the Commanders consider taking him?

Thursday night should be interesting.

Will the Commanders join NFL clubs who were making moves Friday?

Friday was a busy day around the NFL. The Commanders were quiet, but that could change soon.

Wow! Friday was moving day in the NFL!

Teams were busy this week, and today made moves restructuring contracts to open up additional cap space in 2023.

Just when we thought the deals were concluded Friday, came the breaking news that the Panthers had traded their first-round choices in 2023 and 2024, second-round choices in 2023 and 2025 and receiver DJ Moore to the Bears for the top overall choice in Apri’s draft. Why did the Panthers give up all of that to move up only eight spots in a draft where there is clearly not a sure first pick overall?

Before considering the Commanders’ moves, look at the moves across the league, Friday. The Vikings releasing WR Adam Thielen after a decade in purple, will save $6.417 million on the cap.

The Bucs restructured the contracts of Vita Vea, Carlton Davis, Ryan Jensen and Chris Godwin to create $44 million in 2023 cap space.

The Eagles re-signed Brandon Graham to a one-year deal.

The Dolphins made a big decision, picking up  Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth year option.

The Broncos released guard Graham Glasgow freeing up $11M in cap space.

The Texans signed veteran wide receiver Robert Woods.

The Cardinals released Edge/LB Markus Golden, though he did accomplish 11 quarterback sacks a year ago.

Then there is the Commanders, as they …

No, there is no need to be harsh and call them names as some will. It could be that their moves are coming in the next day or so. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt before we enter into panic mode.

In the next few days be on the lookout as the Commanders may release a few players or restructure contracts on such players as tight end Logan Thomas (cap number $8,675,000), left tackle Charles Leno ($12,500,000), center Chase Roullier ($12,420,000), left guard Andrew Norwell ($5,080,000), offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas ($4,350,000 and running back J.D. McKissic ($3,230,000).

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Eric Bieniemy welcomed to the Commanders

Eric Bieniemy speaks with Julie Donaldson after his introductory press conference.

Julie Donaldson welcomed Eric Bieniemy to the Washington Commanders.

Here are some of Bieniemy’s thoughts. Here is the entire interview.

“I’ve known Coach Rivera for a number of years. He’s a great man, a man of integrity. He’s an outstanding leader of men and I’m grateful to have this opportunity to work with him.”

“A lot of people don’t know this, Marty Hurney was on the staff as the Director of Player Personnel when I was drafted by the San Diego Chargers. So, our relationship goes back to 1991.”

“So, it feels good being in an environment with people that you know but also good people who are professional men that understand what it takes to build a winner.”

“What makes me the right guy is the leadership that I am going to bring, holding guys to the highest standard, getting them to understand the importance of being accountable…understanding what consistent and disciplined behavior is, and you have to be willing to work at it every single day.”

“If you get a cohesive unit that believes in each other and plays for each other those guys will go out and be great because the talent is here.”

“It’s been an amazing ride; I’ve been there (Kansas City) for ten years. Throughout those ten years, we’ve had a great deal of success. My last five years there, I was offensive coordinator, and we went to five AFC Championship games, three Super Bowls and won two.”

“Like I said in my press conference, Comfort can become the enemy of progress and sometimes you just want to do something new, and its about embracing the challenge. I’ve never run from a challenge.”

“First of all you see a guy (Sam Howell) who can make a number of throws. But you always want to create competition to bring out the very best in every player. You want to create a competitive environment so that no one is taking anything for granted.”

“When it is all said and done, we want our guys being at their best, when their best is needed.”

“We are going to play complimentary football. We want our guys to not fall into the idea that we have to do ‘this’. No, we have to do whatever it takes to win.”

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Commanders executives Martin Mayhew, Marty Hurney paying close attention to one position at the Senior Bowl

This is good news for Washington.

It’s no secret that the Washington Commanders need help on the offensive line. It’s not just one position, either.

After Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Scherff departed last offseason, Washington signed veteran Trai Turner to replace him. At left guard, Washington released Ereck Flowers and replaced him with Andrew Norwell.

Both players had their moments in 2022, but it was clear that Washington downgraded at both guard spots. The old adage is often true when you say, “you get what you pay for.”

While 2022 seventh-round pick Chris Paul could start at left guard in 2023, it’s not guaranteed. Paul will be in the mix, but he’ll have competition.

The Commanders understand they need to improve on the offensive line next season and expect to add some talent in the trenches either via free agency or the 2023 NFL draft. Or both.

At practice for this week’s Reese’s Senior Bowl, Washington has its entire coach staff in attendance, outside of head coach Ron Rivera, as well as general manager Martin Mayhew, executive vice president of football/player personnel Marty Hurney and senior director of player personnel Eric Stokes.

Washington’s assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton is coaching the National team’s offensive line, which features talented linemen like Dawand Jones, McClendon Curtis and Jaelyn Duncan, among others.

Wharton is getting an up-close look at this year’s offensive line class, but he isn’t the only one.

Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post spotted Hurney in the offensive line drills on Wednesday.

Jhabvala told JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington and 106.7 The Fan that Hurney appeared “fixated” on the offensive linemen, which is good news for Washington fans.

Hurney wasn’t the only one.

On Thursday, while Wharton was working with the offensive linemen, Mayhew was up close taking a look at the group.

The Commanders have a solid history of picking good players from the Senior Bowl. Last year, Washington drafted Phidarian Mathis, Brian Robinson Jr., Sam Howell, Cole Turner and Paul from the Senior Bowl.

It’s been a good week for several offensive line prospects in Mobile. Perhaps the Commanders can land at least two of these players in April’s draft.

 

If Commanders make the playoffs, what happens at QB in 2023?

If Heinicke leads the Commanders to the playoffs, what happens in 2023?

Logan Paulsen and Craig Hoffman were asked Friday on their Take Command podcast, what occurs with the Commanders’ quarterback position next season if the Commanders make the playoffs this season?

Hoffman: If Heinicke wins a playoff game, I think you have to bring him back with a chance to compete for the starting job. That’s one of those things, is the locker room going to let you go another way?”

“It would take some major boldness from Rivera and the Marty’s [Mayhew and Hurney] to move on from a guy who wins a playoff game, if we get to that point.”

“I think it makes the Wentz part of this very easy though. I think you move on from him. You don’t want to spend $26 million on him next year. I don’t know that I would want to do that anyway. I think if we are talking a guy who wins a playoff game, that is going to be hard to move on from.”

Paulsen: “I don’t think there is any doubt Taylor is going to be back here with some type of extension. The question is, is he your long-term answer? I think both of us would say, probably not.”

“I do think there is some merit to finding guys in the second and third rounds with upside talent. Taylor has all the intangible things you want. But if you were to get a guy and insulate him in this offense. Grow him up in the offense much like the Steelers did with Ben Roethlisberger or Baltimore did with Joe Flacco even Russell Wilson in Seattle.”

“I think Heinicke should be back; he deserves to be back. I think there is no question about that. I don’t think he is the starter for this team.”

“If the ultimate goal is to get to a Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl, which I think it is for you and I and a lot of fans and the coaches here, then something definitely needs to change. You need to be able to deploy and embrace a passing attack a little bit more to be successful.”

For the second half of the answering the question, click the link above,

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Commanders waiver claims: The one time they struck gold

Washington has struck gold with waivers before. Could it happen again with either of the new cornerbacks?

What benefit will the Commanders receive from claiming two cornerbacks off of waivers last week?

Yes, the reality is both Rachad Wildgoose and Tariq Castro-Fields were not valued as the top 53 players on their respective teams. Consequently, Wildgoose was let go by the Jets and Castro-Fields by the 49ers.

Did you notice head coach Ron Rivera looked to GM Martin Mayhew while admitting, “I think he’s (Wildgoose) a second-year player from the Jets,” and Mayhew confirmed that was correct.

It illustrates the league has too many players out there for a head coach to know everyone available. This is why you hire scouts and rely on Mayhew and Marty Hurney. One man cannot do it all, nor should he attempt to.

Mayhew himself was a good corner in the NFL with Washington (1989-92) and Tampa Bay (1993-96). You don’t last in the NFL eight seasons (starting the vast majority of your games) unless you know much about the position and are a great athlete.

Mayhew spoke highly of Washington’s new corners. After all, would anyone else in the organization know as much about what it takes to play corner as Mayhew?

Most of the time you claim a player off waivers, and he reminds you why he was on waivers. But then there are times the guy was maturing and blossomed when provided another opportunity.

Such was the case when Washington drafted an offensive tackle in the 11th round (272 overall). It didn’t work out, he went to Kansas City, but they waived him a month later.

The next season the Cowboys claimed him, but he didn’t impress enough there either and was waived during the preseason. The very next day Washington claimed him off waivers, hoping it would work for him the second time around. 28 days later, they again waived him.

Thinking he could play, they tried again a third season. He broke through, making the roster, even starting 7 games. His fourth season he started every game, playing well enough he started at right tackle for 12 consecutive seasons.

When he retired he had played in 156 games (all for Washington) starting 146. He had become good enough to be the starting right tackle for 6 Redskins playoff teams, 2 Super Bowl teams and 1 Super Bowl championship team.

He deservedly became an original member of “The Hogs,” and the Washington football organization does not regret having claimed George Starke off of waivers.

 

Eric Stokes enjoying learning with the Commanders

Washington’s senior director of player personnel Eric Stokes spoke to the media Wednesday, and he’s been a fan of Armani Rogers for a while.

Eric Stokes, senior director of player personnel for the Washington Commanders, spoke with the media Wednesday.

“I’ve been assistant director. I’ve been college director. I’ve been assistant GM. Obviously working day to day with Coach [Rivera], I get a better sense of our overall coaching staff. You just kind of get a better sense of how everything kind of comes together and operates.”

Stokes was asked what he got from the Front Office Accelerator program.

“I’m really excited about where the direction of that program’s headed. It really gave us some really good insight in terms of having some of the one-on-one communication and dialogue with the owners around the league.”

Stokes spoke highly of others in the Commanders organization with whom he has had the privilege of working.

“Tim Gribble’s done an outstanding job as our director of college scouting. Always excited to work with him. I really kind of joke to both Marty [Hurney] and Martin [Mayhew] that he’s really kind of one of the glue guys of our group. I’ve been with five different organizations, nine GMs, seven different head coaches.”

When asked about rookie tight end Armani Rogers who is converting from a college quarterback, Stokes said, “You’re gonna laugh, but this is almost a three-year process because both Marty [Hurney] and I actually saw him initially at UNLV when he was a quarterback. But you could see that he, necessarily, wasn’t gonna be a quarterback. It was too far away to see what he could actually evolve into. To predict that he would end up being a tight end, I can’t tell you that I would’ve saw that because really you have to give that to Armani. I mean, what he did is quite frankly remarkable. I can’t say that I’ve really ever seen anything move at this type of pace and that’s why I’m so excited about where he’s going.”

“I mean, that’s the beauty of the situation every day I have an opportunity to sit back and learn from two guys (Mayhew and Hurney) that have been there and have done it. I just appreciate both those men so much. They’re so humble. They’re so transparent.”

He talked of how he has been learning the last 24 hours with cuts, signings, and practice squad matters.

“Look, there’s a lot of moving parts to what’s taking place. There’s a lot of unknowns or a lot of things that we may not have answers to right away. Chris [Polian] our director of pro personnel’s done a great job of leading our pro personnel department and really getting everything prepared in terms of all the different possibilities.”

When asked what Stokes is responsible to do during the week, he responded, “When I get back on Monday after the games, it’s all about evaluating from within and just kind of seeing where we are seeing injuries, just kind of checking to see if there’s anything that we need to do in terms of transaction, bringing guys in for workouts. I’m working collaboratively with Chris [Polian] just kind of getting an idea of an emergency list.”

Stokes was drafted out of Nebraska by the Seattle Seahawks in the 5th round (142) in the 1997 NFL Draft. He relayed how he received a call from his agent informing him Seattle had included Stokes on the expansion draft list. Consequently, he was drafted by the Browns. Stokes said he loved Seattle, and his girlfriend at the time said to him, ‘Well, we’re gonna have to get married here if you’re gonna send me off to Cleveland’.”