Tag: WP Reporter Sam Fortier

Suddenly might RFK resurface as possible site for Commanders’ stadium?

With a potential sale coming soon, does that mean good news for a stadium in Washington, D.C.?

When Daniel Snyder completes the sale this year of the Washington Commanders, what happens then regarding the need for a new Commanders stadium?

Snyder, you will recall, tried repeatedly in the state of Virginia but simply could generate no support from elected officials in the DMV.

You will also recall the state of Maryland had offered a $400 million package for the current stadium, FedEx Field, to be updated while stridently prohibiting the building of a new stadium.

Snyder then surprised the DMV by searching for how he might best sell off the Commanders. Apparently, Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, reacted by conversing with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on December 2.

According to Sam Fortier of the Washington Post,

Roger Goodell told D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) that the league supported her efforts to obtain the RFK Stadium site from the federal government because he wanted D.C. to have a seat at the table in the Commanders’ efforts to build a new stadium, according to two people with direct knowledge of the call.

A major obstacle up front would be the spending of millions of dollars for the infrastructure, which would most definitely be required for the work needed at the RFK current site.

Would city officials, once Daniel Snyder is removed from the equation, concede and permit that a new Commanders Stadium would be a good value for the current site?

In previous months, when Snyder was aggressively searching for ways to get a new stadium approved for construction in the DMV,  Mayor Bowser had publicly been adamant about expressing her desire to use the RFK site and surrounding acres for “affordable housing.”

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Former Washington RB Brian Mitchell: ‘Sometimes Coach (Rivera) just talks too much’

Mitchell was discussing Rivera and his messaging on quarterback Sam Howell.

Brian Mitchell still speaks as he played… directly and aggressively.

JP Finlay and Mitchell were in a conversation with Washington Post Commanders reporter Sam Fortier Wednesday on 106.7 The Fan when Finlay lobbed that Rivera had thus far, since the season finale, spoke of the team moving forward with Sam Howell as the quarterback. Finlay noted the distinction Rivera had made Wednesday between Howell not being the starter but he is QB1.

Fortier was even bolder, saying that Rivera was “hedging, and it was double speak”. “It is trying to have it both ways,” said Fortier. He expressed he thinks Coach Ron is not yet committed to going with Howell, citing “it has been inconsistent messaging” by Rivera.

Fortier also proclaimed that Rivera needs to win this year, and “will do whatever is necessary to maximize the number of wins this year.”

Mitchell suggested the possibility that one Rivera statement saying Howell was the starter was pre-Eric Bieniemy being hired as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator, and the latest statement is after having dialogue with Bieniemy regarding Howell as the QB1 this upcoming season.

Mitchell then stated, “It is March 1. Why do we have to say who the starter is today?” “I made the comment last year, and I am going to make it again. Sometimes, Coach just talks too much. If he says less, then he doesn’t have all of these questions coming at him.”

Mitchell has been direct with his opinion of what Rivera should do or say previously. In June of 2022, Mitchell called for Rivera to hold Jack Del Rio accountable for his statements questioning the media’s treatment of the events of January 6 in contrast to the many burnings and destruction of properties in what were called peaceful protests summer of 2020.

Mitchell also made a passionate declaration for what he felt was a “trash” performance in the Commanders’ Week 17 loss to the Browns at FedEx Field.