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ESPN
DC Mayor corrects misinformation over RFK Stadium land
The Washington Commanders’ return to the District of Columbia will be jeopardized if Congress doesn’t pass a spending bill to keep the government open.
But on Thursday, there was one thing DC Mayor Muriel Bowser wanted to make clear, correcting a tweet from Elon Musk: No money has been allocated for building a new stadium in the continuing resolution bill before Congress.
Musk, who has criticized the overall spending bill, had reposted on X the false information that the bill included $3 billion for a new football stadium, saying: “This should not be funded by your tax dollars.”
But the only aspect in the bill related to a potential stadium was a resolution that would transfer control of the land at the RFK site from Congress to the District of Columbia.
“It was stated that the CR contains $3 billion for a stadium,” Bowser told reporters during a press conference in the district Thursday, discussing $800 million in arena renovations for the Wizards and Capitals. “All wrong. There are no federal dollars related to the transfer of RFK, and in fact the legislation does not require or link at all to a stadium. We’re talking about how the District can invest in removing blight.”
If the bill fails, or the land transfer isn’t included in a new version, then the chances of the Commanders returning to the district diminishes greatly. And if the bill doesn’t pass, then it’s uncertain how long the Commanders would wait to see if it could be voted on at another point.
Commanders owner Josh Harris has said they’d like to have a new stadium by 2030, though that’s not a firm deadline.
“I don’t know if there’s another path this session,” Bowser said. “We’ve done all we’re supposed to do, and this is the vehicle that has been identified — and agreed to by Democrats and Republicans. Have you been to RFK? Anybody? [It is] 177 acres surrounded by asphalt and a stadium that hasn’t been used in 10 years that is a blight on the nation’s capital. Now, I agree with the president-elect on this point: We want to make our nation’s capital the most beautiful capital in the world, so we have to move and free RFK.”
Commanders.com
NFC East roundup | Commanders try to prevent Eagles from taking division crown
Still atop the division and riding a 10-game win streak, the Eagles come into Northwest Stadium with a lot of momentum. With a win Sunday, the Eagles will secure the division crown which provides further motivation heading into Landover.
Philadelphia’s clock management and boxing out of one of the top-rated defenses in the Pittsburgh Steelers was the most impressive part of its two-possession Week 15 win. The Eagles maintained possession of the ball for the final 10:29 on the clock, forcing the Steelers to use all three of their timeouts on the 21-play, 88 yard drive. Philadelphia dominated the clock in the second half with a total possession time of 24:10 compared to Pittsburgh’s 5:50.
Aside from the Lattimore vs. Brown/Smith matchup, rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell defending veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin will be one to watch. Entering Week 16, McLaurin ranks No. 7 in the League in receiving yards (969), although the last time the two were matched up, McLaurin wasn’t targeted once.
ESPN
Ranking worst mistakes for all 32 NFL teams since 2020
27. Washington Commanders
Biggest mistake: Drafting Emmanuel Forbes with the No. 16 pick (2023)
First-round picks aren’t locks to succeed. About 40% of Round 1 selections taken since the league moved to the slotted draft format in 2011 have either been cut before the end of their original deals or failed to earn a fifth-year option, which is far closer to a coin flip than some might expect. The upside of landing a potential difference-maker on a bargain deal for five years is what makes those picks valuable.
Not many first-round picks are cut midway through their second season in the league, though. Some players are released (in part or mostly) because of off-field issues, including former Titans offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson and former Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette, but most teams give their first-round picks at least two years to prove themselves before moving on. Given that first-rounders’ contracts are already guaranteed, the only reason to release a Round 1 pick would be if the organization believes he can’t play and it can’t find a viable trade market to move him.
Forbes is one of those exceptions, as the Commanders turned over their coaching staff and front office between the Ron Rivera regime in 2023 and the Adam Peters/Dan Quinn-led group in 2024. Forbes was benched as a rookie amid inconsistent play. The new regime gave him 32 snaps as a starter in the Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, but after committing a pass interference penalty in the third quarter, he was benched again and never started another game for Washington.
After 72 more defensive snaps over the next three months, the Commanders cut Forbes in early December. The Rams claimed him on waivers and picked up the remaining $5 million on his contract, which would qualify as a victory for the Commanders from their perspective. It’s difficult to blame Peters & Co. for the prior regime’s mistakes, but fans can only imagine what would have happened if Rivera had chosen differently. The next player off the board in the first round was another cornerback, Patriots star Christian Gonzalez, who should be in the Pro Bowl this season.
Upcoming opponent
Bleeding Green Nation
What does a 10 game winning streak tell us about the Eagles?
Everything. And nothing. So… something.
The Eagles are on a franchise record 10 game winning streak, and with the remaining three regular season games against teams they have already beaten, it could continue for a while. Does it even mean anything?
In a word: yes. In two words: yes, but. In more than two words: A 10+ game winning streak usually, but not always, results in a deep playoff run. And when that winning streak occurs does not matter.
There isn’t much evidence that teams that are hot late are more likely to win the Super Bowl. Playing well at the end of the season is nice, but the bigger positive that a team is capable of going on such a run at all.
In the Super Bowl era there have been 44 teams that have had a 10+ game winning streak during a season. Two are this year’s Eagles and Lions. Of the other 42 teams, 26, 62% of them, went to at least their conference championship game.
Further evidence that it doesn’t matter how you finish: 13 teams ended the season on a winning streak, but nearly half didn’t win a playoff game. Meanwhile 15 teams started hot then cooled off, half of them made the Super Bowl.
Podcasts & videos
Commanders vs Eagles Week 16 Preview | Jay Gruden
Eagles-Commanders Game Preview is live! https://t.co/YtLv1ttFhd
— Trap or Dive Podcast (@TraporDive) December 20, 2024