Tag: Washington Redskins

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.

‘Commanders’ brand not growing on QB Mark Rypien

Mark Rypien fully supports the new direction of the franchise, but not the name.

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.”

Watch: Bucs coach Todd Bowles calls Commanders by their old name — twice

Bowles addressed Washington but didn’t call them the Commanders.

Todd Bowles is entering his third season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach. It’s his seventh season overall as a head coach, having previously served in the same role for the New York Jets.

But before Bowles joined the coaching world in 1997, he enjoyed an eight-year NFL playing career. Bowles spent seven of those eight seasons with the then-Washington Redskins, and was a part of one Super Bowl championship team.

Speaking of Washington, that’s who Bowles’ Bucs open the 2024 season with on Sunday, as Tampa Bay hosts the Commanders. On Monday, Bowles addressed the media and had a slip of the tongue when mentioning his Week 1 opponent.

“I think if you find yourself just facing the rookie quarterback, the other 10 guys are going to kill you, so we’re facing the Redskins, we’re not facing Jayden Daniels,” Bowles said. “They got 10 other guys that we gotta worry about as well, so we don’t look at it as facing the rookie quarterback, we’re trying to beat the Redskins.”

https://twitter.com/JennaLaineESPN/status/1830773269479235645

Not once, but twice, did Bowles mention the name of the team he played for. Fans shouldn’t think too deeply here. It’s probably hard for Bowles to call a team he played with for seven seasons the Commanders.

Former Washington quarterback Colt McCoy officially retires from NFL

Colt McCoy officially retires from the NFL after 14 years. What’s next?

Colt McCoy spent six seasons with the Washington Redskins from 2014-19 during Jay Gruden’s time as head coach. On Monday, McCoy officially retired from the NFL, courtesy of the following video on the Underdog Fantasy YouTube page.

McCoy, who turns 38 in September, was the Cleveland Browns’ third-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He spent three seasons in Cleveland and one in San Francisco before his time in Washington.

With Washington, McCoy appeared in 12 games with seven starts. He’s best remembered for leading the Redskins to an upset win over his home-state Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in 2014. During most of his time in Washington, McCoy served as the primary backup and when he did have the chance to play, he played well, but injuries ruined any long-term chances of starting.

He spent the 2020 season with the New York Giants and played for the Arizona Cardinals in 2021 and 2022.

Overall, McCoy played 14 NFL seasons after a legendary career at the University of Texas. McCoy started four seasons for the Longhorns, finishing with a 45-8 record and passing for over 13,000 yards and 112 touchdowns. McCoy broke almost every passing record at Texas, most of which still stand today.

The Cardinals released McCoy ahead of the 2023 season and he quickly became analyst at Underdog Fantasy, in which he did an outstanding job of breaking down film and draft prospects.

Next up for McCoy is joining NBC Sports for its coverage of Big Ten football. His debut will be in Lincoln, Nebraska on Sept. 7 for the Nebraska-Colorado game.

Congratulations to Colt McCoy on a long and successful playing career.

Remembering former Washington running back Duane Thomas

Looking back at the life of former Washington and Dallas RB Duane Thomas.

Former Washington running back Duane Thomas died last week. Thomas was age 77.

Thomas came to Washington to play for the Redskins under quite unusual circumstances.

Dallas already possessed the talents of running back Calvin Hill, yet when the Cowboys announced their first-round pick of 1970, the name was running back Duane Thomas.

The Cowboys were right; Thomas was better and the starter. At 6-1, 220, Thomas was such a smooth runner that critics sometimes said he wasn’t running hard. Yet, when watching replays, one observes him making people miss and running by many, as he led the NFL, averaging 5.3 yards per carry his rookie season.

Though he led Dallas in rushing his first two seasons and led the Cowboys to two Super Bowls, he was unhappy. For instance, Thomas refused to talk in team meetings and to the press covering the NFL. He referred to then-Dallas head coach Tom Landry as ‘the plastic man.’

Once when a reporter referred to the Super Bowl as the ultimate NFL game, Thomas replied back defiantly, “If it’s the ultimate game, how come they’re playing it again next year?”

Thomas gained 95 yards, leading the Cowboys to their 24-3 win over the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. However, because of the way he treated the media, they took out their revenge, refusing to vote for Thomas as the Super Bowl MVP.

Landry had endured enough throughout that 1971 season and had Thomas traded in the offseason. However, he would not play for the Chargers or anyone else in the 1972 season.

In 1973 Thomas’ value was plunging, yet Redskins head coach George Allen came to rescue the Chargers. Teams loved trading with the desperate Allen, always willing to over trade draft pick(s) for another veteran.

So Allen traded a round one and round two choice to the Chargers for the troubled, moody Thomas. Then Allen proceeded to continue to run Larry Brown into the ground, cutting his career short, only having Thomas carry the ball 32 times for 95 yards in 1973.

In 1974, Thomas carried the ball 95 times for 347 yards and five rushing touchdowns. But that was it for Thomas, as the Redskins cut him during the 1975 training camp. He never played another NFL game.

Perhaps most interesting was Thomas’s arrival in Washington. He learned no one else was wearing his old number, which he had worn as a Cowboy, so he requested it, No. 33.

However, Washington had unofficially retired No. 33, and no one had worn it since Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh. The story goes that someone from the team informed Thomas that they had contacted Baugh, requesting if Thomas could wear No. 33, but Baugh refused.

Baugh, when hearing of this, strongly rejected the narrative, declaring he had not been contacted and that if Thomas wanted to wear No. 33, Baugh was fine with it. But, Thomas was given No. 47 and wore it both of his two seasons with the Redskins.

 

Jason Wright out as Commanders’ team president

The 2024 season will be Wright’s last with the Commanders and he will serve as an adviser until the team lands a replacement.

The Washington Commanders and team president Jason Wright are parting ways, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. Wright will move out of his role as team president and assume the role of senior adviser as the team begins an immediate search for a new team president. He will depart the organization by the end of the upcoming 2024 season.

Wright was hired in August 2020 as the organization had just changed its name from the “Redskins” to the “Football Team” after pressure from sponsors. He replaced Bruce Allen in the role, and he was in charge of leading the franchise’s business operations, financing, and marketing.

Washington first came under investigation for its workplace culture under former owner Dan Snyder in 2020. It wouldn’t be the first investigation into Snyder, who sold the team in July 2023 to a group led by Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris.

Two of Wright’s primary goals were to help the team find a new stadium and rebrand the organization. The team still doesn’t have a location for the new stadium, which had more to do with Snyder, not Wright, but the team’s rebranding in 2022 was met with anger from most of the remaining fan base.

There would be other issues, too, from the misspelling of the team’s legends’ names on graphics to the Sean Taylor memorial outside of FedEx Field. These types of gaffes didn’t go unnoticed, and Wright took much of the blame in the eyes of fans. Many of the hires Wright made have since left the organization.

Jhabvala notes that Wright informed the team last week of his pending exit.

Wright released the following statement:

This feels like the right moment for me to explore my next leadership opportunity. I’m extremely grateful to my Commanders colleagues, our fans and this community for all that we have accomplished these past four years, and am looking forward to the start of a very successful season for the Burgundy and Gold.

Josh Harris also released a statement thanking Wright:

Jason has made a remarkable impact on the Commanders organization since he joined four years ago. He stepped in at a time of immense challenge and has led this organization through an incredible transformation that set that stage for everything that is to come. I am extremely grateful to Jason for his partnership to me and the rest of the ownership group over the past year. His guidance has been invaluable and his leadership has helped reshape our culture.

Harris and Tad Brown, the CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, will lead the search for the next team president.