Latest news with #WashingtonCommanders
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders' Austin Ekeler Has Terry McLaurin Contract Message
Commanders' Austin Ekeler Has Terry McLaurin Contract Message originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Washington Commanders haven't had too many bumps in the road since Dan Quinn took over last offseason, but my word, there's some trouble brewing this offseason. Advertisement Star receiver Terry McLaurin wants a new contract, but so far, nothing substantial has taken place, and Terry hasn't been sighted at all this offseason, even at OTAs or minicamp. With the general thought that the franchise will eventually come to terms with arguably their best offensive weapon, not named Jayden Daniels, running back Austin Ekeler has given his thoughts on No. 17 and his desire to get paid on the Ross Tucker podcast. 'I wish him the best, absolutely, go get what you're worth,' Ekeler said. 'You're a huge impact to not only the team but just the league in general. You made a bunch of great plays, especially coming off of last year, what you did for us, should be compensated because it's a high-impact player and also a high-value player for the league and for the DMV area. But definitely staying out, I don't even want to be in that, I'm staying on the outside.' Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images It would be foolish for Washington, which has pushed all its chips into the middle of the table this offseason by acquiring Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, to then not have its best weapon on the field too. Advertisement To us, it doesn't make sense, and considering Terry is widely regarded as one receiver who, regardless of the circumstances, consistently puts up good numbers, the time has come to reward him. Will it get done? It should, but contract situations rarely go smoothly. And when it comes to Washington's chances in the NFC and the Super Bowl, it might just hinge on whether or not "Scary Terry" gets what "he's worth." Related: Commanders Aim To Keep Narrow Focus Amid High Expectations Related: Commanders' 2nd-Round Pick Earns Offseason Rookie Honor This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Did the Commanders have luck on their side in 2024?
Luck was a big factor in the Washington Commanders' 2024 success. Sam Fortier of The Washington Post told John Keim on Keim's podcast why he felt the Commanders were recipients of much luck last year, resulting in their 12-5 season. Advertisement Fortier began by saying he wasn't even including the one-score wins late, nor the low number of injuries suffered in 2024. He explained something regarding what is termed a "Luck Dashboard." Explaining it includes four things: dropped passes by an opponent, dropped interceptions by opponents, a reasonably easy missed kick (field goal/PAT) and when either team recovers a fumble, Fortier told Keim the Commanders were the luckiest team in 2024 since this metric was recorded, beginning in 2022. Commanders fans will recall Malik Nabers' easy drop, which allowed Washington to win the Week 2 game against the New York Giants. Had Nabers made the routine catch, the Giants would have held the ball longer, and the Commanders would have had less opportunity to even their record at 1-1. Starting the year 0-2 was certainly more than possible, and yes, Nabers makes that catch the vast majority of the time. But for some reason, he dropped the pass against the Commanders, providing them an opportunity to score, and they did, defeating the Giants. Fervent Commanders fans will also recall that in the home win over the Eagles, Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia quarterback, was injured in the first quarter, no doubt helping the Commanders' chances of winning the game (which they did). They will also recall that in the fourth quarter, Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith inexplicably dropped an easy reception, forcing the Eagles to kick a field goal. Had Smith made the easy reception, the Eagles would have maintained possession and chewed up much more of the clock on the Commanders. Advertisement Interestingly, Fortier told Keim that when he asked Commanders head coach Dan Quinn about luck, Quinn affirmed that he did indeed believe in luck. However, when Fortier asked starting center Tyler Biadasz, he responded, "I believe in five," referring to quarterback Jayden Daniels, of course. GM Adam Peters has worked hard to improve the roster, so perhaps this season the Commanders will not need as much luck as they were afforded in 2024. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: The Commanders were the beneficiary of luck last season.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Trade Could Flop As Receiver Being Phased Out
Eagles Trade Could Flop As Receiver Being Phased Out originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles have a well-earned reputation as a franchise that makes daring acquisitions ... with big payoffs. Advertisement Jahan Dotson — with a future uncertain heading into the 2025 season — has not been one of the "big payoff'' names. Philly first declined his fifth-year option in April, making him a free agent after this season. So he might not have a long-term future here. And what about the short term? The Eagles traded for Dotson from the division rival Washington Commanders a year ago, sending a third-round pick and two seventh-rounders for the former first-round selection. It seemed a steep price. But what if Dotson realized his potential here? But no. In 17 regular-season games, he managed just 19 receptions for 216 yards and no TDs. Advertisement He is capable of more; as a rookie with Washington, he caught 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns. But here? A.J. Brown (27) and DeVonta Smith (26) are the top guys. Johnny Wilson, at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, may be coming on. And the same with Ainias Smith from the Texas A&M Aggies. Terrace Marshall Jr., Avery Williams, Elijah Cooks and Danny Gray are also available to fill out the roster. Training camp will matter here. Brown and Smith do plenty, and Philly can rely on Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts in the running game and more. But a third receiver was the idea of that trade ... Advertisement And right now that trade looks like a rare flop from GM Howie Roseman. Related: ESPN Links Eagles To Possible Signing of Asante Samuel Jr. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Commanders Saved From Shame by Three Unforgettable Legends
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Regardless of how things ended in January, Washington Commanders fans have to be thrilled with the events of the past year-plus. Josh Harris has been a revelation as he and Mark Clouse have ushered in an era that will hopefully erase the pain caused by Dan Snyder. Adam Peters is the new GM. Dan Quinn enters year two as head coach hoping to build upon the success seen during his first run. Their quarterback is Jayden Daniels, a Pro Bowler during his first NFL season who earned Offensive Player of the Year honors at season's end. Champ Bailey #24, Washington Commanders news Champ Bailey #24, Washington Commanders news Photo by/Newsweek/Getty Images Make no mistake. Washington isn't patting itself on the back following a deep postseason run. They don't feel as though they overachieved. In fact, it's the opposite. Seeing their season end one game short of the NFL's biggest game left them feeling relatively unsatisfied. So, they added to their roster, signing Deebo Samuel, Deatrich Wise, and Javon Kinlaw among others. They traded for Laremy Tunsil. They drafted Josh Conerly and Troy Amos. Suddenly, the roster is stacked. Did we mention that it didn't always be this way? Must read: PFF's Commanders Evaluation Is Music to Jayden Daniels' Ears Three Commanders save the franchise from total omission from an elite roster of legends When it's all said and done and NFL stars call it a career, they want to know they've made an impact, that they'll be remembered. It's all about legacy, setting their families up for success, and earning the respect of the guys they played with. Washington, for the most of the past quarter century, has endured name changes and relative obscurity as evidenced by their near-omission on an intriguing all-star team of NFL legends. ESPN's Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder recently dropped their NFL All Quarter Century team, a talented grouping of 53 players and coaches. It even has a practice squad. When smoke cleared and dust settled, three familiar faces were on the list. Two never played under the Commanders team name, but you get the idea. We all still have a soft place for all of them. Trent Williams (2010-19) Unfortunately, Trent Williams' career will be remembered for an ugly standoff with the front office, but for ten seasons, he was one of the best O-lineman this franchise has seen in a while. He earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2015 and seven of his 11 Pro Bowl nods playing in the burgundy and gold. Champ Bailey (1999-2003) It feels like this can be stated now. If Washington had a time machine, they'd probably go back and rethink the trade that landed Clinton Portis in exchange for Champ Bailey and a second-round pick. Oh well, you live and you learn. Portis earned a Second-Team All Pro nod and Pro Bowl mention during the 2018 NFL season, but during his seven-year run in the DMV, Champ earned three First-Team All-Pro mentions with the Denver Broncos. Bailey also earned two of his four Second-Team All-Pro mentions and eight of his 12 Pro Bowl mentions in the Mile-High City. Not only that, he's a Pro Football Hall of Famer whose career in Denver outlasted Portis's time with Washington by three seasons. Yep! It's safe to state that Denver certainly won this trade. Bobby Wagner (2024-present) Bobby Wagner is the lone Commanders star still active whose name appears on ESPN's quarter century all-star squad. He'll probably be best remembered as a Seattle Seahawks legend, but his time with Washington has been very fruitful. Wagner earned a Pro Bowl nod, his tenth, and his fifth Second-Team All-Pro nod. Better yet, he's been a fantastic influence on the young stars on both sides of the ball. Must read: Former Rival Says Commanders' New Roster Addition Should Concern the NFL Wagner has been a revelation and has been, without question, an important cog in this turnaround. Worth mentioning: Fear not if you have suffered for a while. Washington's future looks better and brighter now. Jayden Daniels is the real deal. Who knows? Years from now, in 2050, maybe he'll find his way onto an all-star team of the next 25 NFL seasons. For more Washington Commanders and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
NFL Wirter Cites 'Overreaction' to Terry McLaurin's Holdout
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Coming off a season that ended in an NFC Championship game appearance, the Washington Commanders have a lot to be excited about heading into 2025. However, they have one major off-field situation they need to address before the regular season gets underway. When OTA's and minicamp get underway, one of the biggest storylines across the NFL is contract holdouts. It's a rather common practice among players and something the Commanders find themselves dealing with. Heading into the final year of his contract, Terry McLaurin has been away from the team as he continues to negotiate with the front office. McLaurin has been a staple for the Commanders for years now, proving to be one of the most consistent wide receivers in the league. He quickly built a strong connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels, catching a career-high 13 touchdowns last season. Now, McLaurin wants to make sure he's properly compensated to match his peers at his position. Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders runs the ball to score a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia,... Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Commanders runs the ball to score a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles beat the Commanders 55-23. More LaurenRead more: NFL Insider Provides Latest Developments on Commanders Star's Holdout Following minicamp, John Breech of CBS Sports broke down a series of major storylines across the NFL. Among the topics he dove into was McLaurin's standoff with the Commanders. When posed with the question if the star wideout will miss time due to his holdout, he labeled it an overreaction. "Terry McLaurin is holding out over a contract dispute, as he's entering the final year of his deal," Breech wrote. "The Commanders don't seem too concerned about it, but the market has certainly changed since McLaurin's last extension. Is McLaurin worth $30 million a year after coming off a career-high 13 touchdowns? The Commanders would be foolish to let this holdout drag on. Good chance this holdout ends sooner rather than later." Read more: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Named Top Standout Among his Peers As Breech mentioned, the Commanders cannot let this situation drag into the regular season. The franchise drastically altered its trajectory last year and needs to capitalize on its newfound momentum. Last thing they need is off-field drama hanging over their heads as they attempt to remain a threat to contend in the NFC. Seeing that the Commanders have been in this kind of situation before with McLaurin, the expectation should be that the two sides will work things out. Given the success he had alongside Daniels, they are in no position to not keep him around for the foreseeable future. With wide receivers around the league receiving top dollar, price will be the key factor in this holdout coming to a close. Only time will tell if and when the Commanders will put an end to this back-and-forth with McLaurin. For more Washington Commanders and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
