Tag: Wes Moore

Commanders 2023 training camp roundup: Notes and highlights from Day 13

A roundup of highlights, observations and notes from Day 13 of Commanders training camp.

The Washington Commanders completed Day 13 of training camp Wednesday, and next up is a trip to Cleveland to face the Browns in the preseason opener.

After a wild Friday that saw multiple scuffles, things have calmed down a bit since head coach Ron Rivera gave the Commanders Saturday off.

Washington has practiced four consecutive days in preparation for the opener, and there has been encouraging progress on offense, according to offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

What happened on Wednesday?

Here are the top highlights/videos from some of those in attendance from Day 13 of training camp in Ashburn.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore visits Commanders training camp

He makes it clear that Maryland wants to keep the Commanders.

When the Washington Commanders began training camp last month, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin visited. Youngkin mingled with fans and spoke to the media. His message was clear: Virginia was the best place to live, work, raise a family and build a new NFL stadium for the Commanders.

On Wednesday, it was Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s turn to visit Ashburn for training camp. Moore talked to fans, took pictures and also spoke to the media.

His message: The Commanders should remain in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

“This is a perfect marriage,” Moore said. “The Commanders are an incredibly important and vital part of not just our economy but part of our culture. And so we know this is going to be a championship team going forward; it’s exciting about the new vision that new ownership has in coming on board. And I think it really does correlate and correspond well to how we’re thinking about things in the state of Maryland. So, we are excited for them to be able to build and grow and win in the state of Maryland.”

Before the sale was completed, minority owner Magic Johnson met with Moore sometime in the spring, although it was unclear what was discussed. Moore noted how he’s spoken to the new ownership group.

“Yes, so we’ve already been having sensitive conversations with the new ownership group,” Moore said. “And I think there is a shared vision that isn’t just about creating a winner on the field, but it’s about how we are creating winners off the field. How we are thinking about driving entrepreneurial activity, creating new businesses, making sure there’s transportation assets that can easily experience for people to be able to go to the games and get back from the games. So we’ve already been having sensitive conversations, and I’m excited about where they are, where they’re going and that we have an excited shared future together.”

Moore stated that Maryland was unified in its belief that the “Commanders belong in Prince George’s County.”

Moore again stated: “We want the Commanders in Prince George’s County.”

Is there a timeline? Moore said Maryland is moving now.

Youngkin made his pitch. Moore made his pitch. Will leaders from Washington, D.C., be next to show up for training camp and make their pitch?

Moore made his visit wearing the No. 99 jersey of defensive end Chase Young — a native of P.G. County. You have to credit Moore; he visited Ravens camp this week in Owings Mills in a Lamar Jackson jersey.

WATCH: Washington D.C. councilman continues to make his case for the Commanders

He believes the Commanders should return to Washington, D.C.

As everyone awaits the NFL’s timeline for owners to vote on the sale of the Washington Commanders, different jurisdictions continue to jockey to be the franchise’s future home.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has made his case. He went on local airwaves last week, explaining why the Commanders should remain in Prince George’s County [Maryland].

Washington D.C. councilman Kenyan McDuffie has also been outspoken about the Commanders’ future stadium. McDuffie believes the Commanders belong in the District, specifically at the RFK Stadium site.

Last month, McDuffie wrote an Op-Ed in The Washington Post, writing it was time to “bring the team home.”

After Moore’s time on local sports radio last week, McDuffie took to his Twitter account this week, on location at the RFK Stadium, to make his own pitch for the Commanders’ return to D.C.

McDuffie’s pitch is one the Commanders want in a new stadium. They want it to be more than a stadium, something that offers housing, shopping, etc. And that’s McDuffie’s pitch, as he thinks the NFL franchise’s return would be outstanding for the citizens of Washington, D.C.

Now, we are waiting for someone from Virginia to make their case to be the new home for the Commanders.

All three are enticing options for the Commanders. Maryland is probably the least appealing as it would keep the team at FedEx Field, even though things would be vastly different. However, returning to Washington, D.C., is atop the wish list of most.

Virginia, you’re up next.

Report: Magic Johnson recently met with Maryland Governor before Commanders’ sale was finalized

Could the Commanders remain in Maryland past 2027?

Shortly after the news broke Friday afternoon that Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder had agreed to sell the franchise to Josh Harris, one of Harris’ partners, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson sent out the following tweet.

As it turns out, before Harris’ deal with Snyder was finalized, Magic was already at work, per A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports. Perez has been front and center throughout Washington’s sale process and reported late Sunday night that while it was unclear what the two discussed, Johnson met with Maryland Governor Wes Moore met only days before Harris reached an agreement with Snyder.

This comes as Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland are all ready to potentially make their individual cases to build the next Commanders’ stadium.

Shortly after the Commanders released a statement Friday from Dan and Tanya Snyder confirming they had agreed to sell the franchise to Harris and his group, Moore’s press secretary, Carter Elliott, responded with the following tweet.

We know Washington, D.C. wants the franchise back in the District, but that’s complicated. Maryland wants the team to remain, but FedEx Field is an issue. The Commanders’ lease expires in 2027 but could be renewed.

Before things went south for Snyder last year, Virginia was ready to do help build a stadium in The Commonwealth.

Snyder had no options remaining, which was a big issue with fellow NFL owners. With a new ownership group that has deep local ties, everything is back on the table.

And for Josh Harris, it’s good to have Magic Johnson on your side.

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