Tag: Washington Redskins

Jayden Daniels, Dan Quinn remember Sean Taylor

Dan Quinn, Jayden Daniels remember Sean Taylor on the 17th anniversary of his passing.

Nov. 27, 2007, is one of the darkest days in the history of the Washington NFL franchise. That’s the day legendary former Redskins safety Sean Taylor died after being shot in his home protecting his family.

While faces and names have changed over the years, the team has always honored Taylor. Recently, the Commanders teamed up with his daughter to create the Sean Taylor Legacy Project.

Regardless of who coaches or plays for the now-Commanders, Taylor’s name is always mentioned around the anniversary of his tragic passing.

On Wednesday, it marked 17 years since Taylor’s tragic death. Washington head coach Dan Quinn remembered Taylor:

“I’m really glad that you brought that up, and I did,” Quinn said about watching Taylor play. “[I] was not aware of 17 years for that. A presence, I think, is one of the first things that you think about even from entering into, like what a defender can be and look like and  the impact that a ball player can make on a team, and the energy that they can provide. And so, that’s the first thing, kind of gives me chills just on my arms right now thinking about what presence can mean to a team and to a group. And Sean had that in abundance.”

When Taylor died, Quinn was in his first year as the New York Jets defensive line coach.

Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was also asked about his memories of Taylor.

‘I mean, I watched Sean Taylor, I used to watch his highlights, so I know, one of my close friends, Jordan Clark, his dad, obviously [Former Washington S] Ryan Clark, they played together here,” Daniels said.

“So, he had a huge impact on Jordan, but just overall in the football world, just who he was and as a human being and the impact that he made on the field, obviously his electrified playing, hits, and making plays on the ball. So, I mean, it’s awesome just to have his remembrance here and try to keep that going.”

Ryan Clark also remembered Taylor this week.

The Commanders retired Taylor’s No. 21 jersey two years ago and remembered him on social media Wednesday.

Robert Griffin III is Washington’s Legend of the Game vs. Cowboys

Robert Griffin III is Washington’s Legend of the Game for Week 12.

The Washington Commanders announced a “Legend of the Game” for every home game this season. The last time out, it was former linebacker LaVar Arrington. The No. 2 overall pick from the 2000 NFL draft had been at odds with the organization for years due to former owner Dan Snyder.

On Sunday, the Commanders host the Dallas Cowboys, and this week’s “legend” is former quarterback Robert Griffin III. Like Arrington, Griffin is also a former No. 2 overall pick (2012).

Griffin is best known for his magical rookie season, where he led the then-Redskins to an NFC East title under the leadership of Mike and Kyle Shanahan.

However, things went south quickly in 2013, and Griffin’s career in Washington was never the same. He played three more seasons in Washington before one year in Cleveland and three in Baltimore as a backup to Lamar Jackson.

Perhaps Griffin’s best game in Washington came in the 2012 Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas, where he passed for 304 yards and four touchdowns in a Redskins’ victory.

Griffin was back for Washington’s alumni game last season under new owner Josh Harris. Griffin most recently worked as an analyst for ESPN and remains a prolific social media user.

Commanders HC Dan Quinn is fired up for Washington-Dallas week

It’s Dallas week. Dan Quinn is fired up.

Dan Quinn remembers well when the Cowboys and Redskins were a big deal.

Quinn was born in 1970 and raised in New Jersey. He has said on more than one occasion that he grew up watching the NFC East.

He recalls the Giants’ Bill Parcells’s two Super Bowl teams, the Cowboys coached by Tom Landry, the Eagles by Buddy Ryan, and the Redskins by Joe Gibbs.

Regarding the Week 12 match-up this week of the Cowboys coming to Washington, Quinn wasn’t shy Wednesday with the media, saying, “For me and for the guys, man, it’s like, Washington-Dallas Week, let’s get down.”

Whether Quinn watched, in particular, the Cowboys at Redskins 1982 championship game, I don’t know. But the fact he referred to this week as “Washington-Dallas Week” reveals in itself that Quinn does have a knowledge of the rivalry and what it was 40 years ago.

The Cowboys won two Super Bowls in the 70s with QB Roger Staubach at quarterback and the “Doomsday defense.”  QB Danny White never had a Doomsday defense when he led the team to three consecutive NFC Championship games before losing all three, the last to the Redskins in 1982.

The Redskins won the NFC East three consecutive seasons (1982-84), and went to four Super Bowls under Gibbs (1981-92) winning three, along the way winning and losing some big games to the Cowboys.

Quinn was asked Wednesday what the game means for the former Cowboys and his message to them.

“I haven’t talked to them much different about that. You probably know from now, I don’t make one [game] too often bigger than another. I just think they’re all really important and we absolutely go after it as hard as we can.”

But of course, Quinn is more than aware that NFL divisional rivals are more intense regular season games.

 

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’ Dan Quinn on why the NFC East is special

Dan Quinn on why the NFC East is special to him.

“It’s probably more nostalgic for me than for them.”

That was Dan Quinn Tuesday, meeting with the media when asked about coaching in the NFC East.

Quinn was born in 1970 in New Jersey and grew up in Jersey, playing his high school football at Morristown High School. So, one can understand why being a head coach in the NFC East and facing the Eagles in Philadelphia in a nationally televised Thursday night game can be “nostalgic” for him.

“It’s closer to home for me, because I grew up watching the NFC East and the battles that took place. So, for me, loving football and growing up and to see these matchups, it’s really cool for me because it does hit closer to home where I grew up. Like I said, falling in love with the game and seeing it all.”

In his first season as Washington’s coach, he must remember as a kid (age 10) that the Eagles won the NFC Championship Game over Dallas before losing to the Raiders in Super Bowl XV.

From 1982-84, it was Joe Gibbs and the Redskins who won the division, went to Super Bowls XVII (beating the Dolphins) and XVIII (losing to the Raiders). When in high school playing football, it was the Giants who won Super Bowl XXI over the Broncos and again the Redskins in Super Bowl XXII, defeating the Broncos.

Now, one of the team advisors is Doug Williams, who quarterbacked Washington to that Super Bowl XXII victory. Perhaps Quinn even remembers such defensive forces that day as Dave Butz, Darryl Grant, Charles Mann, Dexter Manley and Darrell Green.

Head coaches like Dick Vermeil, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells and Tom Landry were men he watched on the sidelines growing up in New Jersey. Now, he is on the sidelines coaching in these great rivalries in the same division.

“To be part of this division, it’s really cool. So, it’s probably more nostalgic for me than for them, but I do know that it’s a really cool division, and the fan bases are awesome.”

Quinn sounded like he would rather be nowhere else in the NFL. “Taking our show on the road to go up and have another division battle, Thursday night in November? Like come on, what are we talking about?”

Darrell Green has message for Commanders’ fans

Darrell Green has a message for Washington fans.

This was a special weekend for Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green. The former Washington Redskins cornerback received a key to the city of Washington, D.C., on Saturday and had his No. 28 jersey retired by his old team Sunday.

Green, who played 20 years for the burgundy and gold, has largely stayed away from the franchise since his retirement. However, when Daniel Snyder sold the team last summer, Green was back. One of the first things new ownership did was invite Green back and treat him accordingly.

Green has shared his enthusiasm for new ownership.

On Sunday, Green spoke to Washington fans, and he had a special message for them: I’m sorry you didn’t experience the glory days, but come back because this franchise is back.

Here’s Green:

Washington last won a Super Bowl in the 1991 season. That was 33 years ago. Green was in his ninth NFL season during that run and would play 11 more before retiring after the 2002 season.

Green believes the best is yet to come for the Commanders. He’s along for the ride and wants you to be, too.

Legendary John Riggins has solution for Commanders’ secondary issues

Riggo has a solution for Washington’s secondary woes.

The Washington Commanders are 4-2 and in first place in the NFC East heading into Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

Washington’s offense is one of the best in the NFL, looking unstoppable at times. However, the same can’t be said for the defense. After faring well in the previous two weeks, the defense struggled badly at Baltimore in a Week 6 loss.

The Commanders’ failure to adequately stop the run is puzzling at times. However, Washington’s struggles to stop opposing passing games aren’t surprising. There were question marks at cornerback entering the season, and those questions remain after six games.

Second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes remains a mystery. He’s struggled and can’t even get on the field. Benjamin St-Juste shows flashes but still allows far too many big plays. Free-agent addition Noah Igbinoghene has been a pleasant surprise, while rookie Mike Sainristil looks like a future star. In today’s NFL, that’s not enough.

In the latest addition of “The John Riggins Show,” the Hall of Fame running back had a suggestion for the Commanders if their pass defense struggles on Sunday.

“One possible way out of this, and he’ll already be there, at halftime if they’re struggling mightily is throw a uniform on No. 28,” Riggins said referring to Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green. The Commanders are retiring Green’s No. 28 this weekend.

That’s not a bad idea.

Seeing Riggins discuss his former team and Green’s return to the franchise is more proof that everything surrounding the Commanders has completely changed since Josh Harris and his group purchased the team in July 2022.

Doug Williams one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Could Doug Williams land in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Who will be the next member of the Washington NFL organization to enter the hallowed halls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio?

Will it be Brian Mitchell, London Fletcher, Joe Jacoby, or someone else?

Or could it be Doug Williams?

On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame trimmed its list from 47 to 25 candidates in the contributor category for selection into the 2025 class. Williams was one of those 25 nominees.

Here’s what the HOF statement said about Williams’ candidacy:

Career with Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1978-1982) and Washington Redskins (1986-89) included historic moment as first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl (XXII) with an MVP performance; credited with creating opportunities for future Black athletes

In addition to his outstanding playing career, Williams had two successful stints as a college head coach at his alma mater (Grambling) before returning to the NFL and working in personnel. Williams returned to Washington in 2014 as a personnel executive. He’s remained with the franchise since and is currently a senior advisor to general manager Adam Peters.

The next step is for the Hall’s Contributor Blue-Ribbon Committee to trim the list to nine names, which will happen in two weeks. Ultimately, the process will end with one of these 25 names going into the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Alfred Morris ‘hated’ signing with Cowboys, wants to officially retire with Washington

Alfred Morris would love to sign a one-day contract to retire with Washington.

Alfred Morris had the greatest season for a running back in the Washington NFL franchise’s over 90+ years. In 2012, the rookie sixth-round pick rushed for 1,613 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per rush and scored 13 touchdowns.

As you know, the then-Redskins ripped off seven consecutive wins to capture the NFC East and head into the playoffs. Morris was terrific, but was overshadowed by Washington’s first-round pick that year, quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Those 1,613 rushing yards are the fourth-most in NFL history for a rookie. Morris trails only Eric Dickerson, George Rogers and Ezekiel Elliott. That wasn’t Morris’ only productive season, as he would rush for over 1,000 yards the next two seasons for the Redskins. In his final Washington season in 2015, Morris rushed for 751 yards as the team was built around a prolific passing game, led by Kirk Cousins, Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.

After departing Washington, Morris would spend the next two seasons in Dallas, backing up Elliott. It was a move he never wanted to make.

“It’s funny because it was like one team I didn’t want to play for,” Morris told Bryan Colbert Jr. on the “Next Man Up” podcast. “But it’s how it happened. There are still unanswered questions on like what happened on me exiting out of Washington, which was hard because I gave so much. For four years, I gave it up, not only on the field but off the field as well. I did every community service event. I was immersed into the community.”

Morris then explains that while then-Washington GM Bruce Allen did offer him a contract, it was a lowball offer where Morris correctly believed he deserved more. After turning it down, Morris hoped it was a part of the negotiation process and Washington would come back with another offer, but it never happened.

Morris felt he would land in Denver, which he would’ve been happy with because it was in the AFC, but it didn’t work out. He said he was mad about signing with the Cowboys, as “it was the last team I wanted to play for.”

Colbert then asked Morris, who also played for the 49ers, Cardinals and Giants, if he still considers Washington his home team.

“Oh, without a doubt,” Morris said. “That’s where I started at, and I would love the end….someday….sometime…you know, maybe do like some of the other guys do, do a one-day contract, but we’ll work on that down the road.”

Morris would say he’s “Washington through and through.”

The Commanders have done an outstanding job bringing back some of the team’s former greats under this new ownership group. Could Morris be the next former Washington legend to return to the fold?

20 former NFL players with Washington ties among nominees for Pro Football Hall of Fame

Brian Mitchell and London Fletcher lead the list of Washington nominees for 2025 HOF class.

Is this finally the year a Washington legend makes it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

On Wednesday, the NFL released the list of 167 modern-era nominees for induction into the Hall of Fame class of 2025, and several former Washington legends made the cut.

Here’s the full list.

  • QB Rich Gannon
  • QB Donovan McNabb
  • RB Shaun Alexander
  • RB Stephen Davis
  • RB Clinton Portis
  • RB Terry Allen
  • RB/PR/KR Eric Metcalf
  • FB Larry Centers
  • WR Irving Fryar
  • TE Vernon Davis
  • OL Mark Schlereth
  • OL Dave Szott
  • LB Jessie Armstead
  • LB London Fletcher
  • LB Ken Norton Jr.
  • CB DeAngelo Hall
  • CB Troy Vincent
  • K David Akers
  • P Matt Turk
  • ST/RB/KR/PR: Brian Mitchell

All but Norton played in Washington at some point. Norton is now the linebackers coach for head coach Dan Quinn. Fletcher, Mitchell, Hall, Stephen Davis, Allen and Portis are best known for their outstanding careers in Washington.

If you’re wondering where Joe Jacoby or Larry Brown are, they remain senior candidates for the class. Six prominent former Washington players, including Doug Williams, Earnest Byner, Wilber Marshall, Joe Theismann, Jacoby, and Brown, are senior candidates. Jacoby appears to have the best chance of being inducted.

Of the modern-era nominees, Fletcher and Mitchell appear to have the best chances of being inducted. Regardless of who you talk to, Fletcher, Mitchell and Jacoby belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NFL.com outlines the selection process for the modern-era nominees:

Twenty Finalists will be presented to the full 50-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting to choose the Class of 2025. Those candidates will consist of 15 Modern-Era Players Finalists, three Seniors Finalists, a Coach Finalist and a Contributor Finalist.

The Selection Committee will meet next year (on a date still to be determined) in advance of Super Bowl LVIX. While there is no set number for any class of Enshrinees, the selection process bylaws provide that between four and eight new members will be selected.

Finalists must receive at least 80% support from the Selection Committee to join the Class of 2025. The Modern-Era Player Finalists will be trimmed during the annual selection meeting from 15 to 10, then to seven. Committee members then will vote for five of the seven Finalists.

The 2025 class will be announced in February.