Tag: The Sports Junkies

Robert Griffin III again fails to deliver

Robert Griffin III’s alleged “tell-all” book about his time in Washington isn’t happening after all. Hmmmm……

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Similar to his NFL career, Robert Griffin’s tell-all book has also gone south very quickly.

Griffin who had an outstanding 2012 season and then informed coaches he would no longer run the offense that fit him perfectly, quickly learned he was not the pocket passer he fancied himself to be, never again experiencing NFL success.

Only months after boldly proclaiming on November 30 he was providing NFL and Washington fans an exclusive tell-all book, it has apparently died just as quick a death.

Griffin had promised details of the medical mismanagement he had received, the sexual harassment permeating the organization’s walls and the deep power struggle between Mike Shanahan and Daniel Snyder.

Griffin in his audio promo said, “I am so excited to announce I wrote a book, and it’s coming out August 2022, entitled, “Surviving Washington.” So, Griffin was claiming to have already written the book?

Why has Griffin deleted the promotional video from Twitter? Why is the pre-order link on Simon and Schuster’s website inactive? Voluminous, terribly written books are published annually. So, why wasn’t this book published? Do you think there was a book written?

“The Sports Junkies” Eric Bickel deserves some credit on this one. While nearly everyone announcing the book was speculating how much Robert would detail, Bickel from the start was having absolutely none of it.

Raising his voice in confidence, he had proclaimed on the Sports Junkies that this book would never occur, never see the light of day.

Even more, when many Washington commentators in 2014 (print, or airwaves) were taking the safe route, wondering when Griffin would develop into an NFL quarterback, who could succeed in the pocket, it was Bickel who boldly proclaimed on the Sports Junkies that fans were clueless and did not understand that it was already over for Robert Griffin. (Actually what Bickel declared was much bolder–and more entertaining; here is the link).

Bickel is an admitted homer; a homer who has always rooted for the team and objectivity sometimes gets lost (it does for all of us). However, he has been on to Robert Griffin longer than most. Therefore, Thursday’s Sports Junkies segment announcing the cancellation of the Robert Griffin tell-all project was in essence a victory lap for Eric Bickel.

When Ryan Fitzpatrick went down in this season’s first game, there was Robert Griffin tweeting for Washington to make the call to himself, so he could come in and rescue the 2021 team. Bickel proclaimed Thursday, “I don’t think he is a bad guy, but he is the biggest attention-whore in football… I know him so well, and I’ve never met him,” expressed Bickel.

The more things change, the more things stay the same, for Robert Griffin.

Will Dan Snyder soon be forced to sell the Washington Commanders?

It’s been a tough week for Washington owner Daniel Snyder — and it could become a lot worse.

The biggest day of the NFL year — Super Bowl Sunday — wouldn’t be complete without news on Washington owner Daniel Snyder and the ongoing controversy surrounding the investigation into the team’s toxic workplace culture.

To be fair, this is old news. Early last March, the “Sports Junkies” from 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., had received information that one of the recommendations from Beth Wilkinson was for Snyder to sell the team.

Here’s what Jason Bishop of the “Junkies” said, per Audacy.com:

On Friday morning, we reported on excerpts of a report prepared by the NFL’s independent investigator into the Washington Football Team, Beth Wilkinson. We believed, based on information provided to us by our source, that the report was final and had been delivered to the NFL League Office. The League has denied receiving a final report, however, both in a general statement and in response to specific questions from us. Based on those unequivocal denials, we now believe that our source was mistaken and that the excerpts of the report that were shared with us have not yet been sent to the NFL. We do believe in the authenticity of the documents we reviewed, and that they are from the Wilkinson investigation, but we are unable to confirm that the report was a final draft or that it had been delivered to the League Office. As soon as we are able to report anything further on this, we will let you know – both as to what occurred in our Friday report and regarding the Wilkinson investigation generally.

The statement above was from Bishop after the “Junkies” original statement just days before, where they had received information that the NFL should “force the owner to divest his ownership of the team.”

Another option, per the “Junkies” at the time, was “suspend the owner for a significant period to allow the club time to repair its infrastructure and culture.”

As we know, the organization would receive a fine — not Snyder personally — and he would step away from day-to-day operations for a time, leading his wife and co-owner, Tanya Snyder, to assume a more significant role.

But many questioned, was that really punishment?

Back to “The Junkies” report from last March. At the time, many didn’t take the information seriously, perhaps because the “Junkies” were not actual reporters. But, the popular longtime radio show hosts have broken several stories over the years.

Now, that report has received newfound attention. Here’s what Ben Standig of The Athletic tweeted Sunday.

The perpetually unhappy Mike Florio has also discussed that previous report this week, noting that if the NFL brings Wilkinson back in for their investigation into the latest claims by former team employee Tiffani Johnston, it could spell bad news for Snyder.

Washington fans have clamored for Snyder to sell the team for years, but most felt hopeless. Fans walked away, quit watching on television and stopped going to games.

While there is still a long way to go before something like this happens, the smoke seems real. Are the other 31 NFL owners prepared for what Snyder may reveal if they collectively force him out?

 

Ron Rivera reminds everyone he has the right to change his mind

Ron Rivera joined “The Junkies” for his scheduled weekly appearance. He discussed several topics and insisted his team did not quit.

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Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera appeared Tuesday for his weekly appearance on the “Sports Junkies” (106.7 The Fan). Hosting Tuesday were John-Paul Flaim and John “Cakes”Auville.

Here are the questions asked by Flaim and Auville:

“What did you get your wife for Christmas?”

“What did you see from Taylor (Heinicke) on the field, Sunday?”

“What were the coaches’ thoughts throwing at Trevon Diggs on the first play who leads the NFL in interceptions?”

“Why is Terry McLaurin is not being targeted as much as earlier in the season?”

“Will we see more of Dyami Brown the final two weeks?”

“How are Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne coexisting at this point after the sideline skirmish Sunday night?”

Rivera was quick to insist his team did not quit Sunday and that he intentionally tries not to “lose my mind” because the players feed off of him and “need to try to keep their heads and wits about them”.

Regarding the defense, “What has been happening that you haven’t been able to stop the run?”

“Why were there times players were late coming onto the field?”

“How do you go about stopping Jalen Hurts?”

“Can you explain how it is that Heinicke and Allen are both going to play?”

“What is the latest injury update on Antonio Gibson?”

For how Rivera responded to all the questions, here is the link to their conversation.