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Daily Slop – 27 Jun 25 – Mark Bullock looks at Jordan Magee’s contribution to Commanders run defense

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Washington Commanders v New Orleans Saints
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A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

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Can Jordan Magee help Commanders run defense improve?

Magee was someone that received plenty of praise and hype during the offseason from the Commanders coaching staff before he got hurt and missed most of the season injured. Losing their third linebacker did significantly impact their run defense because instead of being able to match up with a bigger body against bigger offensive fronts, the Commanders had to try and get by with smaller bodies.

[W]hat difference exactly would a third linebacker make instead of a nickel or big nickel package? Well, late in the season, we did get to see a glimpse of that three linebacker package that Joe Whitt Jr. talked about, when Magee played a handful of snaps against the Eagles.

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders saw a more vibrant Daron Payne over offseason program

This is the exact response Washington was hoping for. John Keim from ESPN echoed these sentiments, claiming there has been a more outgoing persona associated with Payne over the Commanders’ offseason program compared to previous years.

“[Daron] Payne has one year left on his contract and would count $28 million on the cap in 2026. However, they could save $16.8 million in cap space if they released him after the season. Payne’s contract was an issue in 2022, but he recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks and earned a four-year extension worth up to $90 million. He has a combined eight sacks the last two seasons. However, the Commanders privately and publicly have lauded his offseason. Multiple people in the organization singled him out during OTA work, also saying he appears more relaxed and a little more outgoing.”

John Keim

Allen was a big personality — a true alpha in every sense of the term. Payne and everyone else took a back seat to his domineering approach. He’s now on the Minnesota Vikings, which leaves a gaping hole that must be filled.

Commanders.com

RFK Rewind: Washington dominates Atlanta in ‘Seat Cushion Game’

In honor of Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders Josh Harris announcing a deal to bring the team home and activate 180 acres of opportunity at the RFK campus, Commanders.com is looking back at some of the team’s greatest moments at its former stadium. Today, we’re highlighting one of the most memorable games in franchise history, when Washington’s fans celebrated their team taking down the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional round of the 1991 playoffs by hurling their seat cushions onto the field.

The remnants of the game are still stashed away by Carol Smith, a lifelong Washington fan who remembers fondly the rain-soaked day she saw her team win in dominating fashion and collected some extra free giveaways, too.

Over three decades ago, the game known only as the “Seat Cushion Game” took place inside a soggy RFK Stadium between Washington and the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.

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What is on the line for your QB this season?

Cowboys
Prescott will have to measure up to in 2025. He turns 32 in July. In the past five seasons, he has missed time with ankle, thumb, calf and hamstring injuries.

The Cowboys have selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the past two drafts. This year, they added wide receiver George Pickens in a trade. Top receiver CeeDee Lamb is in his prime, and they hope to see big improvement out of their run game to help Prescott. He is entering his 10th year as the Cowboys starter. If he doesn’t make a deep playoff run soon, when will it happen?

Eagles
Jalen Hurts wants to be like Mike. A spokesman for the Jordan brand, Hurts spent time with Michael Jordan this offseason. Hurts suggested he sought Jordan’s advice on what it takes to repeat as champions. “As competitive as he is, it would be unwise of me not to seek knowledge from him and lean on someone like that. And so that’s something I value a lot,” Hurts said. “The biggest thing is taking it a day at a time. We have these goals and you have these big dreams of what we want to accomplish, but ultimately it’s a journey.”

What is the biggest concern for your team?

Giants
The Giants were 31st in scoring last season (16.1 points per game) and brought back 10 of 11 starters on offense. It’s hard to imagine that an aging Wilson is the answer for all their struggles the past few years, but the Giants believe that better quarterback play will make everybody — from the offensive line to the receivers to the running game — more successful. “It’ll trickle down from there,” wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said this spring.

The hope is that: Robinson gets to show he’s more than just an average receiver; fellow receiver Malik Nabers takes his game to the next level; and tight end Theo Johnson becomes a high-end player — all because of better quarterback play.

Who wins the NFC East in 2025?

John Keim
[T]he Commanders, who lost to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, must answer questions on defense — though they have the right quarterback in Jayden Daniels — while the Cowboys have a first-time head coach and their own questions. The Giants will be good defensively, but quarterback remains a major issue. So until further notice, it’s the Eagles.

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Bengals, county reach tentative $470 million deal to renovate Paycor Stadium and extend lease

The Cincinnati Bengals and local officials have reached a tentative deal to make $470 million in renovations to Paycor Stadium and keep the team there for at least the next 11 years.

The preliminary agreement announced Thursday still needs final approval from the team and Hamilton County commissioners.

Both sides had until June 30 to agree to a new lease or approve the first of five two-year extensions but they’ve agreed to extend the deadline. The Bengals’ original lease expires at the end of next June.

The $470 million plan to renovate the stadium is far less than the $830 million the Bengals originally proposed.

The county will contribute $350 million toward the renovations, and the Bengals will pay $120 million.

Details on what the improvements will include were not announced by the county Thursday. Both sides said they will work together to seek additional funding from the state.

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