A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East and the NFL in general
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Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders to build statue in honor of Sean Taylor, removed memorial installation
The Washington Commanders have removed the Sean Taylor memorial installation at Commanders Field and plan to build a statue of the late safety, the team announced Saturday.
Washington said in a Saturday statement it decided to remove the installation after “careful consideration” because it “fell short in honoring one of our franchise’s most iconic players.”
“Together with the Taylor family, we are working on a plan,” the Commanders said. “Which includes unveiling a statue that will rightfully celebrate the legacy and impact that Sean had on our organization, fan base and community. The Washington Commanders are committed to honoring our legends in a first-class manner.”
Taylor’s daughter, Jackie, who was only 18 months old at the time of his death, also released a statement.
“I look forward to sharing plans in the future and learning more about my dad through this process,” Jackie said. “I’m forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this special fan base.”
Washington Post (paywall)
Commanders will replace controversial Sean Taylor memorial with new statue
After acknowledging the previous installation “fell short” in its attempt to honor the late safety, the team said it is working with the Taylor family on plans for a statue.
“We realize that the installation fell short in honoring one of our franchise’s most iconic players,” the team said Saturday in a statement. “Together with the Taylor family, we are working on a plan, which includes unveiling a statue, that will rightfully celebrate the legacy and impact that Sean had on our organization, fanbase and community. The Washington Commanders are committed to honoring our legends in a first-class manner.”
The new statue honoring Taylor, who was shot and killed during a home invasion in 2007, will be able to move to the team’s next stadium, according to one person with knowledge of the team’s plans.
ESPN
Washington Commanders will build statue to honor Sean Taylor
Taylor made it clear that her family was appreciative of the previous memorial installation, which was displayed inside the stadium.
“Any opportunity we get to honor my dad, we’re going to take it positively,” she said in a video conference call.
But many fans felt different, pointing out that the initial installation failed to include the proper jersey (Reebok instead of Nike) and that they didn’t apply pieces of tape all over his facemask — as Taylor did while playing. The organization soon altered the installation to include these changes, as well as using the proper style of socks and cleats.
The Commanders informed the Taylor family that the installation has been removed. Washington hosts New England in the final preseason game Sunday night.
Washington Post (paywall)
At 32, a slimmed-down Martavis Bryant is out to show he’s still got it
The former Steelers standout is six years removed from a catch that counts. Now he’s trying to catch on with the Commanders.
At 32 and nearly six years removed from his last NFL game, Bryant signed with the Washington Commanders earlier this month and was given little more than a chance — to prove he can still play and, this time, stay available.
“I have more hunger to get back and prove that I can still do this at a higher level,” Bryant said. “People talk about my age. But at the same time, I don’t have any wear and tear on my body.”
Once a promising wideout with coveted physical gifts — a 6-foot-4 frame with sprinter speed (he ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the draft combine in 2014) — and college production, Bryant compiled 76 receptions for 1,314 yards in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh.
Bryant wasn’t activated for a regular season game, and despite signing a reserve/futures contract with the Cowboys in January, he was released in May — to his surprise.
Washington flew him in days later but let him go without a contract. He was around 230 pounds, more than 20 over what he was during his prime in Pittsburgh.
To slim down, Bryant ramped up the cardio and went nearly a week sustaining on only fruit and water. Over the course of a few weeks, he shed around 22 pounds.
The Commanders brought him back in for a workout following their first preseason game and, as Bryant recounted, were shocked to see the scale read 212 pounds. He says he’s down to 209 now.
Commanders.com
Jeff Driskel finding balance between being competitor and mentor
With the Washington Commanders’ quarterback situation behind rookie starting Jayden Daniels and backup veteran Marcus Mariota in flux, Jeff Driskel is at an interesting crossroads between proving himself as a viable third option at quarterback and providing leadership to the younger guys in the room.
As one of the players who has been around different systems and teams, Driskel can relate to the adjustment period Daniels is going through as he continues to calibrate to his new teammates and coaches.
In Driskel’s eight years of league experience, he’s had the opportunity to learn from notable names such as Andy Dalton, a young Matthew Stafford and even a veteran Joe Flacco during his time on the Browns. These experiences have shown Driskel not only how to be a leader, but what a good quarterback looks like. In watching Daniels throughout the preseason and in practice, Driskel thinks the rookie has passed every test he has been presented with thus far.
Driskel’s strong play only adds to his value, allowing him to contend for a spot on the 53-man roster. Although Head Coach Dan Quinn has yet to determine personnel for Sunday’s final preseason game against the Patriots, Driskel will be ready no matter if his role is on the field or as a mentor on the sideline come gameday.
Deadspin
Patriots’ Jacoby Brissett to start, Drake Maye to play preseason finale
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start the Patriots’ preseason finale against the Washington Commanders on Sunday before being replaced by rookie Drake Maye, New England first-year head coach Jerod Mayo announced.
Mayo also noted on Friday that quarterbacks Joe Milton III and Bailey Zappe will draw into the game as well.
Podcasts & videos
2024 Rookie Class Share Their Favorite College Play | Washington Commanders
On video with @Sam4TR, digging into what we saw from Jayden Daniels, roster spot battles — some key ones to decide — the receivers, the end of training camp.. More. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/SSXqoQoJCi via @YouTube
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 24, 2024
One preseason game and 72ish hours to go, but @CraigHoffman tried to nail down the Commanders’ initial 53 yesterday: https://t.co/8v6VYLYAeW
— The Team 980 (@team980) August 24, 2024
NFC East links
NFL.com
Cowboys CB DaRon Bland to undergo foot surgery, projected to be out 6-8 weeks
Cowboys All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland is headed toward surgery and expected to be out six to eight weeks after sustaining a stress fracture in his foot, Dallas announced on Saturday.
Bland experienced foot discomfort on Wednesday, and subsequent imaging revealed the fracture, the Cowboys said in a statement.
Regardless of replacement, Friday’s news is nightmarish for Dallas, which lacks the depth needed to simply replace a player of Bland’s caliber. We’ll see if a corresponding move awaits, or if the Cowboys will continue to stand pat after an unusually quiet offseason.
Bleeding Green Nation
Jahan Dotson admits Eagles trade was a shock, but said he’s “very excited”
The new Eagles’ WR also said he’s never been on a team with as much talent as they have in Philly.
On his reaction to the trade
“It was a shock.”
Dotson understands that it’s just business, but noted all he’s known in the NFL thus far is the Washington Commanders, so this is all new to him.
“It all happened so fast, you don’t kind of get to react to it, but I would say being out here today, and being on the field and kind of taking the field and taking it all in a little bit, I’m very excited.
He went on to say that he got goosebumps leaving the field after the Eagles third preseason game, and as someone who grew up 1.5 hours away from Philly, he understands the passion and how much fans care about the team.
The WR spoke to Washington head coach Dan Quinn and GM Adam Peters, who said that think very highly of Dotson, making the trade was just something that happened — as it does around the league all the time.
“I’m not going to take it personal, until I see Washington, but it’s exciting.”
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles vs. Vikings preseason: The good, the bad, and the ugly
The Bad
Nickel corner Cooper DeJean had an inauspicious start with an illegal contact penalty in his first action as an NFL player. DeJean was so eager to hit that he threw a right shoulder into Vikings’ receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. as he was passing him. DeSean was a good way down the field when he applied the hit. He was almost beat on Jaren Hall’s throw to Lucky Jackson to the end zone on a first-and-10 at the Eagles’ 29, but fortunately Jackson was out of bounds. DeJean stuck his head in on a few running plays, and made one solo tackle in the first half, if you want to define that as “good” against the Vikings’ second- and third teamers. DeJean did come up to make a stop at the goal line on the Vikings’ first series of the second half, and a tackle for a two-yard loss on the final play of the third quarter. DeJean needs to bang off some rust. As a second-round pick, maybe we expected more.
The Ugly
Tight End Armani Rogers getting beat badly by the Vikings’ linebacker Andre Carter II on the Eagles’ first play of the second half. It resulted in a strip sack against Tanner McKee.
Big Blue View
Giants injury news: OC John Michael Schmitz, RT Evan Neal, and four others suffer injuries
Injury strikes early for the Giants
Starting center John Michael Schmitz was ruled out of the game with an ankle injury late in the first quarter. Schmitz suffered the injury on a failed attempt to convert a 4th and 1.
Schmitz got attention from the training staff after the play and while the injury doesn’t appear serious, he was quickly ruled out of the game.
The Giants are also reporting that right tackle Evan Neal is questionable with an ankle injury. Neal got the start in his first action since his 2023 season was ended by an ankle injury.
CB Darnay Holmes suffered a neck injury in the fourth quarter and was quickly ruled out of the game. He was kneeling on the field while being attended to by the training staff and was able to leave the field under his own power.
OL Jalen Mayfield was carted off the field in the fourth quarter, and was seen with his right cleat off. The team quickly ruled him out with a lower leg injury.
CB Mario Goodrich has suffered an injury as well and has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Goodrich suffered his injury with five minutes left in the second quarter and was seen limping off the field.
UDFA linebacker Ovie Oghoufo suffered a leg injury while defending a punt in the second quarter.
Pro Football Talk
Jerry Jones has no regrets about trading fourth-round pick for Trey Lance
It was 364 days ago that the 49ers traded the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft to the Cowboys. Trey Lance, who didn’t take a snap for Dallas in 2023, played 209 snaps this preseason.
That included all 93 in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Chargers when he threw for 323 yards and a touchdown and ran for 90 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown, but also threw five interceptions, including a pick-six.
The Cowboys don’t really have a choice with Lance scheduled to count $5.310 million against the salary cap this season and with all the money guaranteed. They will be one of only a handful of teams to burn a spot on the 53-player roster with a third quarterback, and one who isn’t likely to return next season after his contract expires.
NFL league links
Articles
NFL.com
Taylor Heinicke hopes to remain with Falcons but knows his future is uncertain
The Falcons will have Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix as their top two quarterbacks. Will they keep a third?
Taylor Heinicke is hoping.
“I would love to be a part of the Falcons,” Heinicke said after the Falcons’ final preseason game Friday, via Terrin Waack of the team website. “I think this is probably the best roster I’ve been a part of when you look at it from top to bottom. I think [head coach Raheem Morris] is building something special here, and I would love to be a part of it.”
Discussion topics
One fans idea for a new RFK stadium and it’s pretty good. https://t.co/BFopbVZAkZ
— Rick Snider’s Washington (@Snide_Remarks) August 23, 2024
“Rome ended the interview after a minute and proceeded to rip Williams, his reps, and the Jets for the next four minutes for what he called ‘bad, bad form”
Was Jim Rome right or wrong in how he handled this?https://t.co/xJ2teUcYKi
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 24, 2024