Commanders possible stadium site and F-16 fighter jets are involved?

Politics getting in the way of Commanders’ potential new stadium.

Sam Fortier of The Washington Post broke in his Tuesday story that Maryland is asking for the city of Washington to give Maryland one of its Air National Guard Squadrons.

If the city met their request, Maryland would not oppose the upcoming vote of a bill that the city needs to pass regarding federally owned land.

Are F-16 fighter Jets being negotiated to prevent an NFL team from leaving Maryland and returning to the District of Columbia?

Is this a prime example of what is wrong with American elected officials today?

The District of Columbia wants a bill to pass, making it more possible for the Commanders to return to the city.

If passed, the plans could go forward, the site could be redeveloped and a new stadium could be built on the very hallowed grounds of RFK Stadium where the Redskins won five NFC championships and three Super Bowls.

Enter the state of Maryland, saying this would be an unfair advantage for the District in regaining the team from Maryland. The Commanders presently play in Landover at Northwest Stadium.

Are there some powerful politicians in Maryland considering lowering protections designed to prevent attacks on our nation’s capital? And all for the sake of attempting to keep an NFL team in your state?

Would city officials actually consider the Commanders worth losing some of their protection?

How in the world did we get to where elected officials today would propose such in negotiations?

Fortier reports that Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer (NY), is involved in the deal. Also reported by Fortier was that Schumer had already met with Commanders owner Josh Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Whenever I am surprised by the actions of those we elect to be wise leaders for us, I am reminded of wise words of wisdom from Thomas Sowell.

“No one will really understand politics until they understand that politicians are not trying to solve our problems. They are trying to solve their own problems—of which getting elected and re-elected are number one and number two. Whatever is number three is far behind.”  Thomas Sowell

Two unbelievable Commanders’ streaks ended Sunday

These are depressing numbers that the Commanders ended on Sunday.

The Washington Commanders improved to 8-5 on the season after Sunday’s 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans. Washington’s eight wins through 13 weeks is the most since the 1996 season.

However, Sunday’s win also ended two other streaks for the Commanders.

According to the Commanders’ PR team, Sunday’s win over Tennessee was Washington’s first December victory since defeating the Las Vegas Raiders in December 2021. If that stat isn’t depressing enough, Sunday’s victory was the team’s first December win at home since 2017.

Jonathan Allen and Tress Way are the only players on Washington’s current roster who were with the franchise in 2017. Allen was a rookie in 2017.

The current team has been busy ending streaks this season. Under new head coach Dan Quinn and GM Adam Peters, the Commanders have changed almost everything. The early returns are good, as Washington sits in a prime position to earn one of the NFC’s three Wild Card berths.

Jay Gruden was in his fourth season as head coach in 2017, while Ron Rivera was in his second season in 2021. There have been a lot of football games played at Northwest Stadium since the home team last won a December game there.

Good teams usually play their best football in November and December. It’s not surprising that Commanders haven’t been good for years. They’re never competitive in December, and there for a few years, always seemingly welcoming a new regime destined to repeat the same futility.

Times have changed.

Commanders announce Inaugural Raise Awareness for Mental Health pregame panel

Commanders are inviting the fan base that will be attending Sunday’s game to what they are announcing as the Inaugural Raise Awareness for Mental Health pregame panel.

The Commanders seek to reach out to their fan base on Sunday, before the Week 13 game against the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium.

Therefore, the Commanders are inviting the fan base that will be attending Sunday’s game to what they are announcing as an Inaugural Raise Awareness for Mental Health pregame panel that is open to those purchasing a ticket to the game.

Here is a link to provide you with information helping you to gain access to the free panel discussion regarding mental health.

With the game’s kickoff scheduled for 1 pm, gates for the game will open at 11 a.m., and the panel starts promptly at 11:30 a.m. The panel discussion, open to fans with a game ticket, will be conducted in the Branson Lounge & Gallery, located on the Club Level between sections 306-308.

A moderated panel of six will discuss mental health awareness, and they will also provide a time when those in attendance will be provided an opportunity to present their question to the panel.

The American Psychiatric Association Foundation, located in Washington, D.C., will lead the event hosted by the Commanders.

On its website, the APAF declares that its mission is to promote the mental health and well-being of individuals and communities. Its vision is to see a mentally healthy nation where people live, learn, work, worship, and play.

The six-person panel will include: Kelly Mahoney (AFSP National Area Chapter), Marcus Smith (former Philadelphia Eagle, Seattle Seahawk, Washington Redskin), Rawle Andrews Jr (Executive Director APA Foundation), Eric Kussin (Founder, #SAMEHERE), Dr Darron Garner, Ph,D (Clinical, Social) and Brook Choulet, M.D. (Concierge Sports & Performance).

Smith was a first-round draft choice of the Eagles in the 2014 NFL draft. But after three seasons, the Eagles released him. He then played for the Seahawks, but through the pressures and expectations placed on him, had begun to dislike and eventually hate football. He even fell deep enough emotionally that he seriously contemplated suicide and actually attempted it.

He credits former Seattle head coach Pete Carroll for allowing Smith to get the help he needed to regain his mental health. He finished his career playing briefly for the Redskins, resides in Maryland, and is an advocate for mental health.

Here is a link where Smith tells his story of fame, expectations, depression, attempted suicide, and recovery.

In addition to Smith, Commanders Wire had the opportunity to speak to one other member of the panel, Dr. Brook Choulet.

“With this panel discussion, we want to encourage those attending by bringing more awareness to the issue of mental health,” said Choulet. “Our desire is to help communities be normalizing conversation concerning mental health. It is my hope to encourage communities to invest in their own mental health and those of their families and friends.”

Choulet is the founder and CEO of the Choulet Performance Psychiatry, President of the Maricopa County Medical Society Foundation and President of the American Board of Sports Performance Psychiatry, of which she is one of seven founding members.

Choulet also worked for two seasons as a consulting team psychiatrist for the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA).

Senate Committee vote could one day see Commanders in DC

Great news for the Commanders in their quest to build their next stadium in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to give the District of Columbia the freedom to build a new stadium at the old RFK Stadium site.

The D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act passed the Senate committee with a 17-2 vote. Only Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) voted against it.

The hopes are that the new stadium built on the old RFK site would then become the future home of the Washington Commanders, bringing the franchise back to the location where five Washington Redskins Super Bowl teams played their home games beginning in the 1961 season through the 1996 season.

This was a bipartisan effort, and the vote now means the Congress, which adjourns on December 20, must proceed with the next legal step.

There is opposition, and it is not a matter of Republicans and Democrats opposing each other. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) publicly declared himself against the legislation, referring to the proposal as “not in the best interest of the American taxpayer.”

Previously, the state of Maryland, which now houses the Commanders at the newly named Northwest Stadium in Landover, had approved the state investing $400 million into the Northwest Stadium area.

The Commanders are obligated to play at the current Landover stadium through the 2027 season. Moore, understandably, doesn’t want the Commanders to go back to the District. He wants to keep them in Maryland by building a new stadium near the current stadium.

Meanwhile, DC mayor Muriel Bowser has publicly expressed for some time that she envisions the old RFK site as one rebuilt for the Commanders’ new home, with restaurants and housing also included in the project.

“Today’s vote marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to unlock the potential of the RFK Campus,” Bowser said in a statement after Tuesday’s vote.

Bowser continued, “We look forward to a full vote on the Senate floor so we can get it signed into law before year’s end.”

The Redskins, in the 1961 season, began playing in what was then called “District of Columbia Stadium.” The name was shortened understandably to “D.C. Stadium”.

Senator Robert F Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, and the stadium was renamed in 1969 to “Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium,” which naturally soon became known simply as “RFK.”

 

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.

Commanders introduce the Darrell Green suite at Northwest Stadium

Darrell Green has a huge weekend ahead and deserves every second of it.

Darrell Green has had some pretty big weekends, but this may be one of the most emotional.

Green has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won three NFC Championship games, played in three Super Bowls, winning two Super Bowls (XXII, XXVI) all with the Washington Redskins.

This week, the Commanders invited Green to come see the new Darrell Green suite at Northwest Stadium. The suite features memorabilia from Green’s 20-year career with the Redskins, as well as a wall documenting his NFL career achievements.

Green was a seven-time Pro Bowler, voted to the 1990s Decade Team, voted the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Inducted into the HOF Class of 2008, and won the NFL Fastest Man competition four times. His 295 games are the most played by an NFL defensive player, and he holds the record for an interception in 19 consecutive NFL seasons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rgAR1Z3CQ

But having been out of the sports headlines for decades, this upcoming weekend could be very emotional for Green. Green was caught by surprise this summer when the Commanders had him read on camera the announcement that they would retire his No.28.

Sunday in Landover, at Northwest Stadium, the Commanders will give Green the honor of joining Sammy Baugh (33), Sonny Jurgensen (9), Bobby Mitchell (49), and Sean Taylor (21) as those in Redskins history to have their jerseys officially retired. No one has worn No.28 since Green played his last Redskins game in 2002, so this day has been expected for two decades.

“For 20 years, Darrell Green gave everything he had to this organization and fan base. Even after retiring from the burgundy and gold, he remained committed to giving back to this community, which to this day holds him in the highest regard,” said Josh Harris, of the Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. “No one on our team will ever again wear No. 28. Thank you, Darrell, for embodying what it means to be a Washington football player, both on and off the field.”

Green, now 64, will also be presented with a key to the city by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser on Saturday, October 19, at 10 AM in Franklin Park. So, this weekend’s events could be moving and touching for Green.

Why not?

It will bring back so many good memories for so many of us old enough that we, too, might become a little sentimental, remembering Green running down Tony Dorsett and Eric Dickerson, returning a punt for a touchdown in Chicago to help the Redskins beat the Bears in the 1987 playoffs on their way to winning Super Bowl XXII.

Yes, we too might become a bit sentimental, thank you for the memories, Darrell Green.

Commanders’ Dan Quinn thanks the fans for their energy and support

It ain’t coach speak: Dan Quinn thankful for the fans who gave the Commanders a true home-field advantage.

Dan Quinn has talked about growing up and knowing the NFC East games, as well as what RFK Stadium and fan support were like in those days.

Monday, he began his press conference by expressing that the first thing he wanted to address was the fan support for the Commanders in Sunday’s 34-13 win over the Cleveland Browns.

“I thought, first thing I wanted to hit before we get going is wanted to start by saying to the fans, I see it and I feel it, and we don’t take that feeling at all lightly.”

Suddenly, Quinn shifted to alerting all the DMV fan base that he was serious and was not simply regurgitating some coach’s speech to manipulate the fans or anyone else.

“I know it can sound like coach speak a bit to thank the fans for showing up, but in this instance, this ain’t coach speak. So, it’s the true speak. We enjoyed it and we had like a hell of a time with you, so thank you guys for bringing the energy you brought. We were absolutely dripping in it, and it was really cool to be a part of.”

As Washington fans grew increasingly frustrated with previous owner Daniel Snyder and with the team’s continued production of losing seasons, the number of home fans decreased at home games.

Visiting teams’ fans continued to snatch up the tickets, becoming the majority in the stands at the former FedEx Field in Landover. This was discouraging and frustrating for the players.

Quinn talked about how he enjoyed the environment on Sunday.

“You know, I had the best seat in the house, man. I had a 360-degree view of all of it, and it was really cool to see, and I didn’t want to miss it either. To feel the energy, that part of the third down, some false starts that went along with that and some offsides. That was absolutely caused from the crowd noise. So, when we talk about a home-field advantage, that’s what we’re talking about and the energy they bring to the team. It was really cool man. So, for me, having that front row seat and 360-degree view of it, I wasn’t going to miss it. And I could hear them, I could feel them, I could see it, the whole thing.”

Joe Gibbs used to take time out from time to time to thank the fan base, calling them the best fans in the NFL. Those days are long gone and won’t easily be reproduced.

However, Sunday marked a new beginning, and perhaps because this team has marked a new beginning this year. There is excitement and energy both on the field and now in the stands as well.

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.