The Baltimore Ravens, also in their second day of mandatory minicamp, made Washington Commanders news Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Ravens announced they have an agreement not with a station in Southern Maryland, close to Washington, but in the Nation’s capital itself.
Ravens announce that they’ve signed a 4-yr radio broadcast rights agreement with Washington DC-based ESPN 630 AM. They’ll broadcast preseason and regular season Ravens games, along with first two rounds of playoffs if applicable.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) June 15, 2022
The four-year deal is for the 2022-25 NFL seasons. Not only are the Ravens still broadcasting their games in the Baltimore listening area, but they came right into the Commanders’ house, and proverbially, knocked the front door down and stole some goods right out of the living room!
Does this mean there will be some sort of contractual agreement that long-time Washington sports historian Andy Pollin will be required to include Ravens’ segments into his Monday-Friday morning show?
Even more, the Washington Commanders’ play-by-play announcer Bram Weinstein has a show from 3-6 pm on weekdays? Will he be forced to include Ravens’ segments, asking for callers that are Ravens fans?
At some point, the Ravens’ administration was hearing/reading of the mess that is the current Commanders’ press releases for several years, the rejections by the District and Virginia to build a new stadium. So the Ravens, seeing weakness and vulnerability have chosen to be proactive in DC itself.
Bluntly, the Ravens have swooped in on Dan Snyder’s territory and seized some resources and assets right out from under his nose. When the Baltimore Colts departed for Indianapolis in 1984, the Redskins had just played in their second consecutive Super Bowl. No question, the Redskins being hot, gained many Maryland fans feeling deserted by Colts ownership.
Washington fans losing their historic team name, being given their third name in four seasons, the never-ending depressing Daniel Snyder news, not a single playoff win since the 2005 season, and the team not having a winning season since 2016, feel enough is enough.
Ron Rivera needs to win this year. If he doesn’t the Ravens have dove into the District, and are looking to be gaining more of a foothold in an already shaky younger generation of a fan base.
Make no mistake, they are not the loyal, fervent, passionate, devout fans their parents were. Home games at Fed Ex Field increasingly reveal this to be the undeniable reality upon us and the franchise itself. Following the team since 1969, sometimes it is simply inconceivable, unimaginable. Yet, it is the truth.