News Commanders Team Notes

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 11 May 25 - Sunday is the final day of rookie minicamp; mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 10th

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

Washington Post (paywall)​

Why tougher opponents should lower Commanders’ expectations in 2025​

The Washington Commanders’ 2025 win total, 9½, is in the top half of the league and is the highest for the franchise at this point since 2001, its only season under then-coach Marty Schottenheimer. (The NFL still had a 16-game schedule in 2001, when Washington finished 8-8.)

the Commanders face a tougher schedule in 2025, especially on the road. Five of Washington’s nine 2025 away opponents — the Green Bay Packers, Eagles, Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings — reached the playoffs last season. The Atlanta Falcons, another road opponent, were in the postseason mix until a late-season collapse, while the Miami Dolphins dealt with significant injuries in 2024 but made the playoffs the previous two seasons. Washington’s strength of schedule doesn’t project to be the most difficult of 2025, but it is among the top third of the league.

Given these considerations, a nine- or 10-win season could reflect continued competitiveness in a more challenging landscape. Washington’s franchise, in fact, hasn’t finished with double-digit wins in consecutive seasons since 1991, the previous time it won a Super Bowl. According to this analysis, there is a 32 percent chance the Commanders finish with 11 or more wins in 2025 and a 28 percent chance they finish below .500.

Amid a hectic offseason, Commanders’ rookies grab the spotlight for a bit​

Rookie minicamp is underway in Ashburn. Here’s what you need to know.

Quick hits​

• First-round tackle Josh Conerly Jr. stood out with his quickness in offensive line drills.

• Tight end Zach Ertz watched practice alongside Peters, Quinn, assistant GM Lance Newmark and director of player personnel David Blackburn.

• After practice, a John Deere tractor carried four large logs to the field. Quinn likes to incorporate Navy SEAL training, with the Acumen Performance Group, to build camaraderie and leadership among the players, and log carrying is part of it. Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin was among those who cited the value of the work and how it helped the Commanders establish their culture and chemistry last offseason.

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The Athletic (paywall)​

Commanders rookie camp brings ties to Washington’s past and future together​

4. Quinn doesn’t expect Week 1 or even training camp-level work from the participants. He considers these three days “onboarding.”

“These are the standards. These are the things that are important to us. These are the ways that we go about (our work),” Quinn said. “It doesn’t just take place over one weekend. It takes place all the way up through here and into training camp. This is an excellent team to come be a part of, knowing that there are people here that are gonna help them be their very best.”

5. Lane’s 4.34 40-yard speed made the Virginia Tech receiver a coveted target for teams in the middle rounds. College highlights showed a player often receiving the ball out of the slot and near the line of scrimmage. That tracked with Lane’s usage in a few seven-on-seven drills, as did the burst upfield with the ball in his hands.

Finding ways to get Lane the ball beyond traditional route running feels like an early goal. That includes returning punts and kicks, which might be how he will contribute primarily as a rookie, along with gunner reps on special teams.

7. Then there is seventh-round running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who introduced himself as “Bill” to reporters. He looked bigger than his listed 5 feet 11, 208 pounds. At the same time, the shiftiness showed in drills as expected, without any hints of rust after eligibility issues caused him to miss the final 11 games of his career at Arizona.

8. Two UDFA signings, cornerback Fentrell Cypress and offensive lineman Tim McKay (torn labrum), did not participate. McKay’s injury, suffered at NC State’s pro day, will likely keep the three-year college starter and guard prospect sidelined into training camp, possibly leading to a physically unable to perform designation.

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Commanders.com​

Quinn wants rookies to compete, learn Commanders standard​

Every rookie class is different, and that’s the case this year when comparing this year’s group to the 2024 class. One thing Quinn hopes they have in common is their desire to be good teammates. That, among other things, was something the 2024 class excelled at, and Quinn wants that standard to stay the same in 2025.

“Not every player can become a great player, but you can become a great teammate,” Quinn said.

There’s always a handful of undrafted rookies who make the initial 53-man roster, and that journey begins this weekend. When asked about what they can do to improve their chances, Quinn circled back to one of the main pillars of Washington’s culture: competition.

“And there’s great examples from players who were in that same space, whether it was last season or seasons prior, who have walked that walk,” Quinn said. “We don’t really want them to think about that yet. We don’t really go so far to say what’s gonna happen in September. Just work these skills, learn the system and the skills that are needed for the system.”

Safety Gabe Taylor making the most of his opportunity at rookie minicamp​

Taylor’s participation in Washington’s rookie minicamp is a huge milestone for Taylor and a special kind of full-circle moment for the entire Taylor family. Gabe’s older brother Sean, a first-round pick in 2005, was an electrifying talent for the Burgundy & Gold before his career was tragically cut short by fatal injuries sustained during a 2007 home invasion.

Gabe, who was only six years old when Sean passed, has held his brother’s memory close growing up. Joining the Commanders for minicamp this weekend despite calls from other teams is part of that homage. The significance of accepting that invitation certainly wasn’t lost on him or his family.

The decision to come to Washington meant opening the door to what head coach Dan Quinn has described as a “golden opportunity” for tryout players. This weekend in Ashburn, Gabe is focused on showing Washington’s coaching staff that he can contribute to this team.

It would be easy for Taylor to get swept up in the “what ifs” of these few days. He, like other tryout players who are here, can taste the NFL dream. Taylor, however, says he is taking it “one day at a time,” which is exactly what Quinn wants the attitude around minicamp to be for these guys.

“We don’t really want them to really think about that [the initial 53-man roster or practice squad] yet. We don’t really go so far as to say, ‘What’s going to happen in September?’ Just work these skills, learn the system and the skills that are needed for the system,” Quinn said. “If we can do that excellently then the 53 and the practice squad will kind of work itself out. If you’re already looking ahead to that, I think you’re going to miss all of the development, all the things that are going to take place.”

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Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders should investigate Drake Jackson’s outlook after 49ers departure​

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the San Francisco 49ers waived Drake Jackson with a failed physical designation. The former second-round pick is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp, but general manager John Lynch opted to go in a different direction.

This will provoke a discussion in Washington’s front office. Or at least it should.

Peters was part of the draft process that resulted in San Francisco taking Jackson at No. 61 overall in 2022. His career hasn’t gone according to plan due to injuries and a longer rookie adjustment than expected, but his flashes as a pass-rusher indicate it’s too soon to be giving up on him just yet.

Jackson only recently turned 24 years old. He’s not a washed-up veteran down on his luck. With a better run of good fortune on the health front, the edge threat could improve quickly under Washington’s accomplished coaching staff.

That also included a familiar face for the player. Defensive line coach Darryl Tapp spent two seasons coaching Jackson. This would make the transition go smoothly in this scenario, but much will depend on how much the patellar tendon injury that saw him miss the entire 2024 campaign will affect him long term.

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Podcasts & videos​

NFL Schedule Nuggets: Commanders vs Chiefs on Christmas?​

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Commanders Rookie Minicamp OBSERVATIONS | Interviews with Lane, Croskey-Merritt and Gabe Taylor​

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NFC East links​

The Athletic (paywall)​

Giants minicamp takeaways: Jaxson Dart is already standing out from the crowd​

Quarterback Jaxson Dart started his New York Giants rookie minicamp news conference Friday by doing things a little differently: He asked the reporters to introduce themselves before their questions.

Dart wants to start getting to know the people who will help shape the coverage of his career, but he himself needs no introduction. He’s the quarterback the Giants traded back into the first round to get in hopes he’ll become the next face of their franchise.

And though it’s still early, that process is off to a nice start.

Dart finished his first day of rookie minicamp 8-for-10 passing during seven-on-seven drills, with the only two incompletions looking like drops by his receivers. Dart put plenty of zip on his passes, and he even navigated a couple of tight windows. Again, it’s early, but he fared well considering he was the only rookie participating in those seven-on-seven drills.

Completing passes is obviously important, but the big emphasis for Dart is on learning the Giants’ hefty playbook and using a cadence rather than clapping, as he did at Ole Miss. Dart’s former method went viral in a clip talking about it with former NFL coach Jon Gruden.

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Big Blue View​

Derek Carr announces his retirement - What does it mean for the Giants?​

the Giants signed both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston as free agents. Not only are they expected to carry the load for the Giants this year (and provide scaffolding for the development of Dart), but the Giants also denied them to the other quarterback-needy teams.

There were really only five viable free agent quarterbacks on the market this year — and possibly only four, depending on the status of Aaron Rodgers. The Giants snapping up two of them put both the Steelers and Saints in a bind.

It seems unlikely that the Giants would help out the Saints by trading one of their veterans. Not only would that possibly risk their own season, but it could also risk the development of Dart if he’s pushed onto the field too early.

In the short term, going from Derek Carr to Haener, Rattler, or Shough significantly changes the complexion of the Giants’ upcoming road game against the Saints. The Giants are expected to face one of the most daunting schedules in the NFL, and unleashing their upgraded defense on an inexperienced quarterback makes the game significantly more favorable than a veteran Pro Bowl quarterback.

We shouldn’t chalk this game up as a win, but the news of Carr’s retirement likely improved the Giants’ chances in New Orleans.

Giants’ rookie RB Cam Skattebo: ‘I’ve proved nothing’​

Skattebo meets media after first practice

“I mean, as you’ve seen, I cried. This is an awesome place to be,” he said. “Did I expect it to be here? No. But this is where I want to be now, and I love that I’m here. I’ve met new guys throughout the last two weeks, and it’s been awesome.

An endearing aspect of Skattebo’s personality is his humble nature. He understands that he’s at another level of football, and he has yet to prove anything. When asked about his penchant for consistently finding a chip on his shoulder, Skattebo replied with this:

“How many snaps of the NFL have you seen me play? Zero, right? I’ve proved nothing. I’ve proved what I am in college, but I’ve proved nothing at this level. So now where I’m at, I have to prove myself and if that’s for five years or if that’s for 10 years, I’m going to continue to prove myself.”

Skattebo discussed his physical nature and how he loves to run over defenders:

“Getting in the end zone. I mean it feels good when you run somebody over and then get in the end zone. I mean it feels good when you get in the end zone, but imagine running someone over and then running another person over and then getting in the end zone,” he said.I”t’s that much better (laughs). So, it just shows that when you’re physical, it shows the work you put in in the weight room and how much you do to make your game better.”

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Sports Illustrated​

Derek Carr’s Retirement Could Be a Blessing in Disguise for the Saints​

New Orleans certainly wasn’t hoping its starting quarterback would call it a career Saturday, but Carr’s decision may end up being for the best.

No offense to the combination of 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough, ’24 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler and ’23 fourth-round pick Jake Haener, but this is a roster that appears primed for the first overall pick next year. And while many will panic, say that New Orleans should have also taken Shedeur Sanders or hit the eject button on future season tickets, Carr’s retirement may end up being the best development that could have happened for the Saints.

New Orleans’s head-scratching, full-steam ahead cap situation has created a team that, since 2020, has been too talented to finish poorly enough to draft a good quarterback on a rookie deal and too old and broken to win meaningful games. As a credit to Carr, he was sort of the perfect representation of a roster full of proud veterans who, while not quite elite, were certainly good enough to annoyingly beat the Giants on a wholly meaningless December Sunday.

I’m not advocating for tanking, but when an opportunity to walk that fine line between openly trying to lose games and putting together an imperfect yet forward-looking roster presents itself, a coach like Kellen Moore should dive in full-speed ahead.

That’s why Carr’s decision to walk away after the draft, leaving the team in a kind of quarterbacking hellscape where the only aggressive and possible move at this point is trading for Kenny Pickett, will wind up being a blessing in disguise. It’s not the way anyone would have hoped (especially not Moore). It may or may not be part of a larger scheme by Carr to wind up elsewhere. But either way, it forces the Saints to be as bad as the team possibly can be for one season.

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Pro Football Focus​

Post-NFL draft breakout candidates for all 32 teams​

Washington Commanders: DT Jer’Zhan Newton​

Newton, much like most rookie defensive linemen, didn’t get a significant snap share in Year 1, but with the team releasing long-time starter Jonathan Allen this offseason, a key opportunity opens up for Newton to prove he is worthy of his early second-round draft capital this season. Newton showed flashes as a rookie, ultimately finishing the year with a 62.7 pass-rush grade (tied for 53rd) with plenty of room to grow this season with a much larger workload.

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NFL.com​

Ranking top NFL pass-catching groups: Bengals lead class; Cowboys stand out after George Pickens trade​

Rank 1 - Cincinnati Bengals​

The Bengals showed their commitment to the finest pass-catching trio in the league this offseason by opening the vault to retain the services of WR Ja’Marr Chase (four years, $161 million), WR Tee Higgins (four years, $115 million) and TE Mike Gesicki (three years, $25.5 million). Joe Burrow advocated for his playmakers to receive their blockbuster deals, and the money reflects how Cincinnati has dominated opponents on the perimeter. From Chase winning the triple crown in 2024 as the league leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns to Higgins posting 10 touchdowns as the NFL’s most feared WR2 to Gesicki snagging 65 balls as the third option on a prolific, pass-first offense, the Bengals have firepower to match any opponent in a shootout.

Rank 2 - Philadelphia Eagles​

It’s hard to find a glaring hole on the defending champions’ roster thanks to the Eagles’ superb scouting and development process. Philadelphia has utilized every acquisition method (draft, trade and free agency) to stockpile blue-chip playmakers. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith share duties as co-WR1s in an offense that utilizes a potent running game, led by Saquon Barkley, to set up opportunities through the air. WR Jahan Dotson and TE Dallas Goedert excel at working the underneath areas to punish opponents utilizing two-deep coverage and split-safety looks designed to limit throws over the top. Despite their best efforts, few defenses have been able to neutralize the Eagles’ aerial attack with Jalen Hurts tossing the ball all over the yard to a collection of sticky-fingered pass catchers with slick route-running skills and big-play potential on the perimeter.

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Discussion topics​

If this play never happened:

1-There would be no Jayden Daniels vs Caleb Williams debates
2-There would be no more Justin Fields debates
3- #RaiseHail would not have made the playoffs
4- #DaBears would have been 5-2 (Playoffs?)
5-Matt Eberflus would still be the #ChicagoBears HC pic.twitter.com/gYqPla1Pph

— Mike McDermott (@MikeMcDermottAK) May 11, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

Celebrating moms today and every day!

Happy Mother's Day pic.twitter.com/YXRDDeCdaj

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 11, 2025​

A look at the rooks pic.twitter.com/GtYgyukLI1

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 10, 2025​

DAY 2 #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/FEnY2Mjrf9

— Carter (@WSHCarter) May 11, 2025​

.@joshuaconerlyjr with a special message pic.twitter.com/Hhipr0WEmC

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 10, 2025​

First round OT Josh Conerly Jr. (72) throwing hands at the practice dummy. Speed shows. pic.twitter.com/PUyRLVLPUq

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025​

Former Giants OL Tyre Phillips is signing with the Commanders.

Phillips played in 3 games for the Giants in 2024 after spending most of the season on the practice squad.

Phillips was the starting RT who took over for Evan Neal before he tore his quad at the end of the 2023… pic.twitter.com/bqbjiAOQGn

— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) May 10, 2025​

For those wondering, this is why Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt goes by "Bill."

( via @BearDownU) pic.twitter.com/QBwCJxYJbC

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 11, 2025​

Shifty seventh-round RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt under the watch of RB coach Anthony Lynn. pic.twitter.com/Mj6IcCOJz0

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025​

"I'm a man of God first...my number one job is to bring my 100% every single day."

Hokie nation knows him well.

Welcome to Washington, Jaylin Lane. pic.twitter.com/gZROM0qmjm

— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) May 10, 2025​

WR Jaylin Lane on getting to play with Jayden Daniels. pic.twitter.com/nEwVD1KtKP

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025​

"It's all about competition." #Commanders rookie linebacker Kain Medrano says he's still getting acclimated. He tells me he loves what's brewing here in Washington and is blessed to now be a part of it. pic.twitter.com/xg1eTTQqEF

— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) May 10, 2025​

Rookie LB Kain Medrano showing the quicks pic.twitter.com/mgohez7ebj

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 10, 2025​

2nd rd CB Trey Amos going thru drills - Coach yells “getting better every rep Amos” pic.twitter.com/u3ddkbUBd8

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 10, 2025​

Yeah, but @TreyAmos21's grill tho ...

( by John McDonnell/Washington Post) pic.twitter.com/MmFRzHuudg

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 10, 2025​

Dan Quinn confirms Trey Amos' back came up during the pre-draft eval, but "it's something we were comfortable with." pic.twitter.com/qbKbI5p4Gi

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025​

Zach Ertz out here watching rookie minicamp practice with Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, David Blackburn and Lance Newmark. pic.twitter.com/gR30qd2Ycs

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 10, 2025​

Bout to be some APG Navy Seal training over here. pic.twitter.com/pHheLypnYI

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 10, 2025​

Only whispers on the Commanders schedule, but maybe you want to get your passport ready for Madrid. Kind of been in the wind for awhile.

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) May 10, 2025​

Bilingual Dan Quinn on the possibility of playing in Spain next season: pic.twitter.com/RRXqrJ6DLu

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 10, 2025​

Angel Reese and Magic Johnson have launched a new financial literacy program—Wealth Playbook—for high school seniors in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/wry9opOMld

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 10, 2025​

#Saints QB Derek Carr, dealing with a shoulder injury that requires surgery that would knock him out for the 2025 season, is retiring, per The Insiders.

While Carr tried an injection and rehab, it wouldn’t allow him to be 100% until another procedure. Both sides move on. pic.twitter.com/sHbCq9nqVw

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 10, 2025​

Derek Carr has announced his retirement.

In late March, while ramping up his preparation for the 2025 season, Derek experienced pain in his right shoulder. It was his first time throwing a football at significant volume since recovering from both a concussion and left hand… pic.twitter.com/SrcJEzDDnU

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 10, 2025​

This was Derek Carr’s last snap of football ever pic.twitter.com/mjDwNDWGYr

— Trizzy Trace (@tracegirouard48) May 10, 2025​

Statement from Derek Carr: pic.twitter.com/31tDccwRuI

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 10, 2025​

Derek Carr made over $205,000,000 when it's said & done

a 77-92 (.455) career win %, just 1 trip to the playoffs & an immediate loss

never elite but good enough to get paid like he was

9th most cash from 2014-2024 of any player

not Kirk Cousins level but 1st ballot bag getter

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 10, 2025​

Omfg the Saints just got stuck with Tyler Shough as QB1

Shoutout Derek Carr tho
Enjoy retirement pic.twitter.com/GzGNbf0d97

— DJ MurkCity (@myrksitymma) May 10, 2025​

Where we belong.

️ https://t.co/M1hSSgGsln pic.twitter.com/17t1ItyEYA

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 10, 2025​

REDSKINS REWIND: October 8th, 1972

Redskins 14
Eagles 0 pic.twitter.com/v07pUdkUNy

— DRB 15 (@DaveBroadie) May 10, 2025​

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/11...camp-mandatory-minicamp-scheduled-for-june-10

 

[Washington Commanders]

NFL Schedule Release Rumors Tracker: Washington Commanders possibly getting international game

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

The leaks have started!

The NFL schedule leaks, rumors, and reports should have started, and we should have most of the schedule penciled in before the Washington Commanders announce theirs at 7:45 pm on Wednesday night. The NFL will officially release the entire season's schedule at 8 pm as part of their 2 hour release program, but will be officially announcing some games starting on Monday.

The first rumored Commanders game has been reported, and it's a big one. There was speculation that the Washington Commanders would be getting an international game, and they are rumored to be playing the Miami Dolphins in the NFL's first game in Madrid, Spain. The report is not verified, but comes from a twitter account that usually has good information on the schedule every year.

The NFL will release the full 2025 regular season schedule on Wednesday May 14, but select games will be revealed earlier:

The rundown:
— May 12: NBC (TODAY Show), FOX, Prime Video

— May 13: ESPN (Good Morning America), NFL Network (Good Morning Football, for International…

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 8, 2025

FanDuel O/U Season Win Total Odds(9.5)

Washington 2025 Opponents:​

Home:​

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Denver Broncos

Las Vegas Raiders

Seattle Seahawks

Away:​

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

Los Angeles Chargers

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons

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All 32 teams' strength of schedule next season @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/1O4bEFH2cl

— NFL (@NFL) May 9, 2025​

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Year loading for @JayD__5

: NFL Schedule Release — 5/14 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN2
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/dO3WsoRN8n

— NFL (@NFL) May 7, 2025

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Rumored 2025 Washington Commanders schedule:​

Week 1 -

Week 2 -

Week 3 -

Week 4 -

Week 5 -

Week 6 -

Week 7 -

Week 8 -

Week 9 -

Week 10 -

Week 11 - @ Miami Dolphins (November 16, Madrid, Spain)

Week 12 -

Week 13 -

Week 14 -

Week 15 -

Week 16 -

Week 17 -

Week 18 -

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NFL Schedule 2025 Release Info​

Release Time: 8:00 PM EST (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)

TV Schedule: ESPN2, NFL Network

Online Stream: FuboTV, ESPN+, Paramount+

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Washington Commanders Leaks/Rumors/Reports:​

The #Bengals and #Buccaneers were in serious consideration to serve as the visiting team in Madrid, but ultimately the NFL decided to send Jayden Daniels and the Commanders to the Bernabeu.

The young star makes his global debut in Spain's inaugural NFL game. https://t.co/23mLTSpw7d

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 9, 2025​

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NFL Schedule Leaks/Rumors/Reports:​

"Peacock Holiday Exclusive" Week 17 @NFL Game to Stream Live in Primetime on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025

Details:https://t.co/W9jdYT6rIb

— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) May 12, 2025

EAGLES VS. COWBOYS TO KICK OFF THE 2025 SEASON #Kickoff2025 pic.twitter.com/PEHaVYvlxB

— NFL (@NFL) May 12, 2025

The Chiefs reportedly will be the Week 1 opponent for the Chargers on Friday night in Brazil. https://t.co/HUcNbbkvhZ

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 11, 2025

The Official 2025 NFL London Games Slate

Oct. 5th (W5): #Vikings at #Browns, Tottenham
Oct. 12th (W6): #Broncos at #Jets, Tottenham
Oct. 19th (W7): #Rams at #Jaguars, Wembley

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 8, 2025​

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Buy Washington gear at the Hogs Haven Fanshop

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NFL News twitter feed

Washington Commanders twitter feed

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/9/...ommanders-possibly-getting-international-game

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 12 May 25 - OT Laremy Tunsil ranked 2nd-most impactful traded player in 2025

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders were comfortable with Trey Amos’ pre-draft medical assessments​

The player didn’t seem overly concerned about the prognosis when speaking to the media at Washington’s recent rookie minicamp. This was a sentiment echoed by head coach Dan Quinn, who felt comfortable with Amos’ medical checks to pull the trigger on Day 2.

“Each team has their own medical report and how it goes. And so, from our club, it was something that we were comfortable with.”

Dan Quinn via The Athletic

The Commanders wouldn’t have made this move if they didn’t have complete conviction in Amos’ long-term outlook. Washington’s front office is thorough and more professional than ever under Adam Peters. If the general manager was satisfied, that should be enough to alleviate any lingering worries among the fan base.

Commanders bolster offensive trenches after Tyre Phillips’ successful tryout​

According to reports, the Commanders have signed offensive tackle Tyre Phillips. The former third-round pick spent the last three seasons with the New York Giants. There’s already-developed familiarity with Washington’s offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, who also worked for the G-Men before switching NFC East allegiances last year.

Just how much it’ll move the needle is anyone’s guess. The Commanders have five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil and rookie Josh Conerly Jr. as their potential starting tandem. Andrew Wylie is still around, and Brandon Coleman can operate on the edge despite his possible switch to the interior. That makes it difficult for Phillips to make the roster, although it couldn’t be completely dismissed.

Phillips played just 53 offensive snaps for the Giants last season. Considering how woeful their offensive line was after left tackle Andrew Thomas went out through injury, the fact that he wasn’t more involved raises concern. The Commanders must have been suitably impressed by his credentials, and fans have complete faith in Peters’ strategy after a monumental turnaround from the organization.

This deal doesn’t come with any guarantees. Phillips will need to win over the coaches and immerse himself in the team’s locker room culture.

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NFL.com​

Traded players who will have biggest impact on 2025 NFL season​

Rank 2 - Laremy Tunsil - Washington Commanders · LT​

• TRADED FROM: Houston Texans
• TRADED FOR: 2025 third- and seventh-round picks, 2026 second- and fourth-round picks (with Washington receiving a 2025 fourth-round pick)

A year ago, Tunsil was on a Texans team that had been catapulted to relevance by the stunning rookie success of a former No. 2 overall pick. He has to be feeling a strong sense of déjà vu — though the Commanders must be hoping it’s not too strong, given the way Houston stumbled in C.J. Stroud’s second pro season. One thing working in Washington’s favor: The organization’s continued willingness to pour resources into giving Jayden Daniels the support he needs to work his magic. Tunsil’s new O-line is already in better shape than the unit he left in Houston, thanks to the 2024 additions of Tyler Biadasz, Nick Allegretti and Brandon Coleman, with 2025 first-rounder Josh Conerly Jr. joining the fray.

Daniels won Offensive Rookie of the Year and supercharged the Commanders to the NFC title game despite Washington allowing 50 sacks last season, tied for seventh-most in the NFL. Coleman (a third-round pick last year) gave up 10 while lined up at left tackle, according to Next Gen Stats, by far the most on the team. Tunsil was [charged] with just 2.5 sacks in Houston last season. With the five-time Pro Bowler locking down his blindside, Daniels should be able to better weather the challenges that will come with Year 2 and keep his development on the right track, which will make a huge difference in Washington this season and beyond.

Rank 7 - Deebo Samuel - Washington Commanders · WR​

• TRADED FROM: San Francisco 49ers
• TRADED FOR: 2025 fifth-round pick

I was initially going to rank Samuel higher, maybe even with Tunsil, swayed by the name brand and some basic dot-connecting about how his defense-wrecking potential will pair with Jayden Daniels’ playmaking ability. But there are other, peskier dots to factor into the equation, like Samuel’s career-low 8.7 yards per touch in 2024, and the amount of time that has elapsed (and the eight games he’s missed) since his only Pro Bowl season in 2021. So he sits here, just below the players who seem certain to make a big impact, to account for either of these two plausible potential outcomes:

1) Kliff Kingsbury extracts the maximum value from his versatility, plugging him in next to Terry McLaurin to make the Commanders offense into a weekly juggernaut.

2) The 29-year-old settles into a minor supporting role, chipping in the occasional clutch catch or big gain.

There’s also the secret, third (and, perhaps, most likely) outcome, in which Samuel is neither a star nor a bust, providing minimal opportunities for takeage — but that wouldn’t change his positioning here.

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NFL Trade Rumors​

One UDFA To Watch For Every Team​

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Washington Post (paywall)​

Gabe Taylor came to Washington for a higher purpose: To honor his brother​

Gabe Taylor is attempting to make the same team and play the same position as big brother Sean Taylor, more than 17 years after his tragic death.

After his job interview, Gabe Taylor knelt down on the grass above the Washington Commanders’ practice field. While most every other player who participated in the rookie minicamp practice trudged up the hill and into the locker room, Taylor was the only one to end the session with such an intimate moment. But, of course, only Taylor, an undrafted dreamer out of Rice University, has deep roots here.

Those other guys didn’t walk into the Commanders’ facility Saturday and see their family’s name on the wall. Taylor did. His first steps into his professional career came in the shadow of a legend: his big brother. So as important as the minicamp must be for any player trying to impress a coaching staff enough to make the practice squad — or even, long shot, the 53-man roster — this invitation carried even more significance for Taylor. He’s attempting to make the same team and play the same position as big brother Sean Taylor, more than 17 years after his tragic death.

“Had to take a moment and take a deep breath when I just looked at the helmet,” Taylor said. “I’ve been watching the Redskins — the Commanders — all my life. … Hopefully I get to put it on again and continue forward with them.”

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Podcasts & videos​

Caught up with Terry McLaurin at his foundation's latest initiative. Asked about his contract extension. When, TBD, but he's optimistic. "We're working on it."

Also, rookie camp takeaways: 7th-round RB Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt is one to watch. https://t.co/PoUDgL1FML

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 12, 2025​

Lake Lewis: Commanders 2025 Rookie Minicamp Recap and Interviews​

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New pod - rookie camp insight (if that exists) and DQ speaking Spanish. Me and @Mitch_Tischler. Enjoy https://t.co/rn6jEQn08E

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 12, 2025​

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Photos​

Jumping in pic.twitter.com/BghpolXCzk

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 11, 2025​

Pics From #Commanders Rookie MiniCamp (5-10-25) Part 1 #nfl #raisehail #bowietv #explore #explorepage pic.twitter.com/2bhlzrX6r8

— Bowie TV Sports (@BowieTVSports) May 11, 2025​

Pics From #Commanders Rookie MiniCamp (5-10-25) Part 2 #nfl #raisehail #bowietv #explore #explorepage pic.twitter.com/brNVeGJOt4

— Bowie TV Sports (@BowieTVSports) May 11, 2025​

Pics From #Commanders Rookie MiniCamp (5-10-25) Part 3 #nfl #raisehail #bowietv #explore #explorepage pic.twitter.com/67dwRUdWI1

— Bowie TV Sports (@BowieTVSports) May 11, 2025​

Pics From #Commanders Rookie MiniCamp (5-10-25) Part 4 #nfl #raisehail #bowietv #explore #explorepage pic.twitter.com/2444xuIoEG

— Bowie TV Sports (@BowieTVSports) May 11, 2025​

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Pro Football Talk​

Through Friday, 58 percent of all 2025 draft picks had signed​

One trend to watch will be round two. The first two picks — Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Texans receiver Jayden Higgins — secured fully-guaranteed four-year deals. They’re the first second-rounders to get every penny of their rookie deals guaranteed. The question becomes how far into the second round the trend will continue.

Last year, each of the first eleven second-round picks received a partial guarantee in year four. The first twelve received full guarantees through year three.

Beyond the question of the amount of full guarantees that will hover over the first third or so of round two, there’s no reason for delay. Rookie contracts have few sticking points. The biggest issues, if any, are signing bonus payout, language for voiding guarantees, and guarantee offsets.

Michael Strahan will interview Bill Belichick on Friday’s Good Morning America​

Via Andrew Buchholtz of AwfulAnnouncing.com, ABC has announced that Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan will interview Belichick on Friday morning. Strahan, if you didn’t know, is one of the hosts of the ABC morning show.

The biggest question now becomes what the questions will be. Interview subjects sometimes try to place limits on what can be asked. Some outlets will comply. Others will say, “It’s up to us to ask the questions. It’s up to you to have answers ready.”

Strahan’s credibility will be on the line in this one. If it’s all softballs and setups for Belichick to say whatever he wants to say, it will appear as if Strahan gave in order to get the “get.” If Strahan comes after Belichick the way Strahan used to go after Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, it will be obvious that no deal was done.

It’s hard to imagine Belichick agreeing to a no-holds-barred interview, given the contents of his prickly email regarding the publicity efforts for his book. Still, Strahan will need to come at Belichick with at least one question that makes him harumph or sigh or roll his eyes.

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Discussion topics​

Many misconceptions on Jayden & his family. Somewhere between confused and toxic. A young grounded dude focused on his craft w a strong mom behind him. That’s a bad thing? Doesn’t add up. This is worth your time
pic.twitter.com/51xQ801QGz

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 12, 2025​

"You know what Jayden really wants to do? Play football. And who does he trust the most? His mama!"@BMITCHLIVE30 has a message for those hating on Jayden Daniels' mom being so involved in her son's life... pic.twitter.com/hx4VGL8nfs

— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) May 12, 2025​

Mahomes deals with the same stuff. Young accomplished men with really good public images and people look so hard for something to hate they go after family members

— DC Sicko (@DcSicko) May 12, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

NFL Schedule Release Week is upon us. Here’s a look at what to expect this week, culminating with the full schedule release 8p ET on Wednesday. #breadcrumbs pic.twitter.com/hqvUSNqEhI

— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) May 11, 2025​

In a corresponding move, we have released T Anim Dankwah and S Trey Rucker

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 11, 2025

Washington Commanders OL Tyre Phillips (@Tyrethefuture) is wearing number 62. Last assigned to Anim Dankwah. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/2tOKwiJgWt

— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) May 11, 2025​

.@Tyrethefuture: Angry Runs winner pic.twitter.com/ul2NlvZonO

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 11, 2025​

Love this.. pic.twitter.com/a4DISgyxwh

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) May 11, 2025​

Holy Sh*t: Former Steelers WR George Pickens went OFF on his former team after they traded him to the Cowboys:

"They the cheapest organization. Ain't no stacking year after year they gone let them n**** go too soon it's time."

pic.twitter.com/9jp4e21i69

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 11, 2025​

After only working at receiver during rookie minicamp, Travis Hunter will see reps on both side of the ball during the #Jaguars' upcoming OTAs:https://t.co/YplP1vMlMh

— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) May 11, 2025​

Giants rookie LB Abdul Carter already has the coldest sack celebration in the NFL

(h/t @Anthony_Rivardo) pic.twitter.com/A5SGCTrWH9

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 12, 2025​

Lmfaoo they talked all that shit about Jayden fucking and he took the league by storm #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/dUOPe2wPBg

— PAIN (@Xommanders) May 11, 2025​

Back in 2019, true freshman Jayden Daniels outdueled Justin Herbert as Arizona State upset No. 6 Oregon.

In 2025 they meet for the first time in the NFL

: NFL Schedule Release — 5/14 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN2
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/yPyKwts0SD

— NFL (@NFL) May 10, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/12...nked-2nd-most-impactful-traded-player-in-2025

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 13 May 25 - Commanders play in Spain vs Dolphins and Wk 16 at home vs Philly - more schedule news on the way

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

Washington Post (paywall)​

Commanders to face Dolphins in Madrid, NFL’s first game in Spain​

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Washington Commanders are going international. The NFL announced on Tuesday that the Miami Dolphins will host the Commanders on Nov. 16 at Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid.

It will be the NFL’s first regular season game in Spain and one of seven international games this year.

Washington’s trip to Spain will be the franchise’s first overseas since October 2016, when it tied the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-27, at Wembley Stadium. That remains the only international series game to end in a tie. Washington also played in Toronto in 2011 as part of the Bills’ series at Rogers Centre. It was shut out by the Bills, 23-0.

The Commanders’ return to the international lineup is another nod to their remarkable turnaround under owner Josh Harris. 21 months after Harris and his partners purchased the team for $6.05 billion, the Commanders are on a steady climb back to prominence. Following their NFC championship game appearance with the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, Jayden Daniels, the Commanders recently announced a $3.7 billion deal with D.C. for a new stadium project on the site of the decrepit RFK Stadium. Harris also joined President Donald Trump in the Oval Office to announce the 2027 NFL draft would be held in the District.

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Pro Football Focus​

Most improved NFL offensive lines this offseason​

Washington Commanders​

After an incredible rookie season from Jayden Daniels, the Commanders are hoping they’ve locked down their offensive tackle spots for years to come following the trade acquisition of Laremy Tunsil and the selection of Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the 2025 NFL Draft’s first round.

Even though the Texans’ offensive line struggled last year, Tunsil still managed to earn an 89.1 PFF pass-blocking grade, marking his fifth season with a PFF pass-blocking grade of 84.9 or better. While Tunsil did struggle with penalties in 2024, he should bring some much-needed stability to the Commanders’ offensive line for at least the next two seasons.

Washington is betting that Josh Conerly Jr. can hold up at tackle in the NFL, but he may project better as a guard. Either way, the Commanders are getting a good athlete who earned a 78.1 PFF grade on true pass sets last season. Washington also made a couple of low-cost signings along the offensive line to add some depth as the team looks to make another deep postseason run.

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Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)​

How the Commanders can manufacture a pass rush​

Breaking down how the Commanders can get after quarterbacks while lacking a top defensive end

I think we’ll see head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. dial up a lot more blitzes to help manufacture a pass rush.

If we look back at last season, we can see examples of this, but they failed to sustain it due to the coverage issues. In the opening game of last season, the Commanders generated a ton of pressure against the Bucs, but the coverage failed to hold up behind it consistently. We saw Quinn and Whitt come out with quite an aggressive game plan, blitzing regularly to generate consistent pressure. When the coverage held up, it worked well.

This is what blitzes can do. Even if the majority of rushers don’t win their matchups, adding more rushers stresses the protection and increases the chances that at least someone will win a matchup, which can be all that is needed to create pressure and disrupt the quarterback. However, that strategy is risky as it can only work if the coverage can hold up on the back end. On that particular play, the coverage did hold up well. But that was a rare occurrence in that game.

This time, the Commanders look to rush five, blitzing Mike Sainristil off the slot. They have a couple issues with this blitz. The first is that Sainristil was playing his first game and so he understandably was a bit too eager to get into his blitz. The Bucs used a fake exit motion to bait any blitz looks from the defense to show, and Sainristil took the bait. The Bucs were then able to adjust their protection and slide the line to the right in order to get the right tackle working outside to pick up Sainristil off the slot.

But while that negated the blitz on that occasion, it’s also important to look at the coverage. The idea of this blitz is that Sainristil blitzes off the slot and safety Quan Martin rotates down to replace him. However, as Martin rotates down, he and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste have a miscommunication error. Both end up trying to cover the receiver running up the seam, leaving the outside receiver wide open in the flat. So even if Sainristil’s blitz hadn’t been so easily picked up by the line slide, he was unlikely to have gotten to the quarterback before that throw would have come out anyway.

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Sports Illustrated​

Commanders rookie wide receiver could compete for starter snaps​

Virginia Tech wide receiver Jaylin Lane may not have been the strongest prospect in this year’s class, but the Commanders could have a gem in the No. 128 overall pick.

ESPN insider Field Yates named Lane as a player to watch ahead of the season for the Commanders.

“While Lane will have a chance to earn receiver snaps for Washington, what most excites me about his early impact is in the kicking game,” Yates wrote.

“Lane is arguably the best punt returner in the draft class. Back in 2021, he averaged 15.5 yards per return, second best in FBS. He’s shifty and instinctive, and he can flat-out fly. Olamide Zaccheaus handled the highest number of punt returns for the Commanders in 2024 but signed with the Bears this offseason. Lane should help pile up hidden yards.”

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The Hog Sty Network​

Summary of stadium development term sheet​

To the extent that the Team Development includes residential housing, such development must include affordable housing. The term “affordable housing” means single-family and multifamily housing that is priced at lower levels in accordance with percentages of something called “Area Median Income”. This is a common, stated goal of the federal government, through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), and every major city in the country. It’s likely that the Harris Group will be eligible for affordable housing construction grants for at least some portion of the housing component, either directly from HUD or indirectly from HUD through the District. There will almost certainly be both commercial and residential developments in that portion of the property.

The District will be obligated to design and complete a sufficient amount of the horizontal infrastructure for the Stadium to permit the Stadium and Parkng to be developed and used by December 31, 2029.

The District’s financing will consist of a maximum of $500M, to be paid between 2026 and 2029. Of this $500M, only $175M can be done through issuance of public bonds, meaning that the remaining $325M will need to be funded through other means. What, exactly this “other means” entails is a bit of a mystery. The City could theoretically enter into standard construction loans, but the plan is unclear in the term sheet. I will try to do some more research into this issue. The money will be distributed by the District to the Harris Group, which will be responsible for all construction.

The parties have agreed that the Harris Group will be able to sell Personal Seat Licenses (each, a “PSL”), so get ready, season ticket holders. PSLs typically range from a couple of thousand dollars per seat to much, much higher. Sometimes, teams don’t impose PSLs on every single seat in the stadium. We’ll just have to wait for the team’s plan to see how expensive it gets.

The Harris Group will be contractually prohibited from relocating the team during the term of the lease.

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Commanders Wire​

NFL could have very good reason for Commanders vs. Eagles in Week 16​

Commanders fans, beware. The NFL will schedule the Commanders for more prime-time games this season. This will mean late nights for fans and media, who will have to turn around and work the next morning as well.

[O]f more significance is the fact that December 20 is a Saturday, not Sunday. Don’t overlook this at all. Even more, I believe it to be the most significant factor in this game being scheduled as it is by the NFL.

Why?

Well, we can be altogether certain that the NFL will want to schedule good games on Christmas day, as the NFL has already pre-determined that there will be three games played on Christmas this 2025 season.

Thirdly, scheduling the Commanders and Eagles on Saturday provides the NFL with one more day. They can (and probably will) schedule one or both teams again to play on Christmas Day, the 25th, which this year falls on a Thursday. I can hear the league office justifying scheduling either or both teams on Christmas: “Well, we gave them an extra day, having them play on Saturday the 20th,” they will tell us.

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Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels reaches summit of CBS Sports’ post-draft rankings​

Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports bestowed the highest honor for Daniels in his post-draft quarterback power rankings, placing the Heisman Trophy winner ahead of Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen at No. 1. The analyst didn’t completely dismiss a sophomore slump, but he was far more confident about the LSU graduate taking his game to new heights thanks to his flawless demeanor.

“Recency bias? Sure. But you’d be hard-pressed to find an NFL team that wouldn’t hurry to claim him as its quarterback of the present and future, contenders included. He was simply unflappable for much of his dynamic debut, which ended on the doorstep of the Super Bowl. A second-year dip is possible, but who says [Jayden] Daniels won’t keep climbing with some added veteran help in D.C.?”

Cody Benjamin

While this is something of a stretch right now, Daniels will have the top dog title in his sights. He’s highly driven, enormously ambitious, and takes nothing for granted. It’ll be more difficult next season with a bigger target on his back, but the player’s exceptional performance levels within some pressurized settings in Year 1 represent the best possible foundation from which to build.

Daniels knows what he achieved last season means nothing now. He’s all about looking forward to the future and the next challenge. That centers on evolving as a leader, relying more on his pocket passing, and helping the Commanders prove their 2024 accomplishments weren’t just a flash in the pan.

Peters believes the Commanders have a superstar on their hands. Fans think it too, and the locker room is fully on board. Daniels has the world at his feet. Another leap forward could see him become the face of the entire league when it’s all said and done.

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Podcasts & videos​

On video with ⁦@NickiJhabvala⁩ talking Commanders’ rookies after a first look at them. DE talk and RBs. More. ⁦@ESPNRichmond⁩ https://t.co/SSHQJ3SdyL

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 13, 2025​

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Episode 1,070 - Commanders conduct 2025 Rookie Minicamp. Discussion of Gabe Taylor, Trey Amos' back & how he'll be used, Dan Quinn's perhaps telling comments on not drafting an edge defender, the schedule & more.

I also talk Caps-Carolina, Nats & Orioles.https://t.co/FyXcjaQ49S

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) May 12, 2025​

Episode 1,071 - Jayden Daniels' mom isn't RGIII's dad. Two very different situations. I discuss that & more off her comments on The Pivot. Let Mama JD5 cook!

I also talk about a brutal night for D.C. with what happened with the Caps, Wizards & Nats. Pain.https://t.co/gPWQR24fnq

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) May 13, 2025​

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Lots of topics. Stadium ins and outs (and DC City Council votes) with @EricFlackTV. 2025 Commanders schedule updates. Trey Hendrickson's latest salvo. Wizards bad lottery luck/NBA has a draft slotting problem.

Subscribe and give a listen. You rule.https://t.co/RBejK27nnJ

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 13, 2025​

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Greg Olsen’s Rookie TE Class Breakdown!​

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Photos​

Now on defense:@TreyAmos21 x @Kain_05 pic.twitter.com/2r7n99oh5z

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 12, 2025​

Newest members of the offense pic.twitter.com/Zm3hu3IpwD

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 12, 2025​

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NFC East links​

Pro Football Talk​

Stephen Jones: Cowboys don’t see George Pickens as a No. 2 receiver​

During an inverview with Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio, Jones said that the Cowboys think of Pickens “as more than a two” and he elaborated on that point to Albert Breer of SI.com.

“He’s just a dynamic receiver,” Jones said. “Everybody says we’re looking for a two. I mean, George can be a one. He’s got that type of talent. He’s got unbelievable ball-tracking ability. He’s got plenty of juice and he’s a fiery competitor. And we love that, he plays with an edge, and we think he’d be a good fit for our team.”

Pickens said that he’s not looking for a contract extension right now and playing like a No. 1 wideout would only make his eventual deal in Dallas or elsewhere a bigger one.

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Front Office Sports​

NFL Taps Cowboys-Eagles Rivalry to Launch 2025 Season​

The NFL is looking to start the 2025 season with a bang, and a primetime matchup between the defending champion Eagles and the Cowboys is the first part of that strategy.

NBC Sports announced its coverage plans Monday morning for the league’s Sept. 4 kickoff game from Lincoln Financial Field featuring a Cowboys-Eagles clash. As has been the league’s custom for more than two decades, the defending Super Bowl champion opens the NFL’s season with a primetime showcase at home, and the game in Philadelphia will feature a matchup involving one of the league’s top rivalries.

Speculation on which of the Eagles’ eight 2025 home opponents would be in the kickoff game, among both fans and the league’s media partners, began immediately after the team’s overwhelming victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Though the Eagles’ 2025 home schedule features other major opponents and 2024 playoff teams such as the Broncos, Commanders, Lions, and Rams, the selection of the Cowboys to start the season leans in to decades of history between Philadelphia and Dallas. Though recently supplanted by the Chiefs as the league’s top viewership draw, the Cowboys still are a major attraction nationally.

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Bleeding Green Nation​

NFL Schedule 2025: Eagles to play Commanders in Week 16 Saturday game​

If the Eagles and Commanders have similar success as they did in 2024, this late-December matchup could have playoff implications for both teams. Since the Bears-Packers game will be the later matchup, the Eagles game should be mid-afternoon.

This is the second NFC East game for the Eagles now on the books, having learned earlier on Monday that Philly is set to host the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field for the NFL’s Week 1 season opener on Thursday, September 4. Dak Prescott and company will be on hand to watch the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX banner raised and celebrated to start the 2025 season.

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Big Blue View​

New York Giants facing toughest schedule in NFL​

The Giants look better on paper, but proving it on the field won’t be easy

The combined 2024 win percentage of the Giants’ opponents is a league-high .574. That is not always the best measure of schedule strength as teams change from year to year, but it is an indication that showing major improvement record-wise from last year’s disappointing 3-14 won’t be an easy lift.

The Giants face the added complication of having only eight home games this season due to the unbalanced nature of a 17-game season. Of those eight home games, the Giants will face six teams at MetLife Stadium who made the playoffs last season (Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers). The other two home games are against the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, playoff teams two years ago who are both expected to contend for returns to the postseason this time around.

It might be some comfort to Giants fans that their NFC East foes also face difficult schedules. The Eagles (.561 opponent win percentage) have the fourth-toughest schedule, the Cowboys (.557 win percentage) the fifth-toughest, and the Commanders (.550 win percentage) the seventh-toughest.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Pro Football Talk​

Aaron Rodgers may have chosen the lesser of two distractions​

Yes, it’s a distraction to have Rodgers linked to the Steelers without signing a contract. If, however, he had signed but stayed away from the first two phases of the offseason program Rodgers, it would have led to more questions and scrutiny.

Rodgers has always been opposed to the first two phases of the offseason program. By not agreeing to terms until the third phase looms, he avoids the offseason program until the offseason program becomes, from Rodgers’s perspective, highly relevant.

It’s a simple solution. Rodgers informally tells the Steelers he’ll be signing, eventually. He gets the playbook and other information he’ll need to prepare for OTAs, and he shows up for the six days of 2025 OTAs and (unless he’ll be going to Egypt, again) the mandatory minicamp that caps the offseason program.

However it plays out, we’re getting closer and closer to an answer as to Rodgers’s status. And all signs point to Rodgers becoming a Steeler.

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ESPN​

Titans working to make No. 1 pick Cam Ward comfortable​

Titans coach Brian Callahan has already started marrying some of the passing concepts Ward executed at Miami to their offense to make the quarterback comfortable early in the process. Callahan said he and the offensive staff have watched a lot of tape to get a firm grasp of what worked for Ward at Miami.

The Titans hope to replicate the early success of recent rookie quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and C.J. Stroud. Tennessee is looking to follow the paths that the Houston Texans took with Stroud as a rookie in 2023 and the Washington Commanders did with Daniels last season. Both resulted in being named Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading their teams to the playoffs.

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Front Office Sports​

NFL’s World Takeover: League Unveils 7 Matchups Across 5 Countries in 2025​

The league’s burgeoning international business strategy is taking further shape as game plans are finalized for this fall.

The league has created a seven-game global slate that will include five different countries across two continents. Leading the schedule is the Sept. 5 Brazil game in São Paulo, a Chiefs-Chargers matchup that Front Office Sports first detailed last week and brings in Kansas City, the league’s most-watched team.

That game, set for a separate announcement Wednesday, will be shown on YouTube for free as the league eyes a new streaming record. The presence of the Chiefs, the league’s top viewership draw, helped to solidify the deal between the Google-owned outlet and the NFL. The game also takes advantage of a loophole in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, aimed in part at protecting high school and college football, to allow for a rare Friday NFL game.

In each of these instances, the AFC team is the home team as the international games are pulled from the ninth home game in their schedule. Each team in that conference has an “extra” home game in the 17-game slate, and that scenario will revert to NFC teams in 2026.

The seven international games in 2025 are also a foundation of the league’s quickly expanding global strategy. The contests in Ireland and Spain are the NFL’s first there during the regular season.

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Discussion topics​

Derek Carr announced his retirement over the weekend after 11 seasons, ending speculation about his playing future — should the #Saints call Aaron Rodgers?#NFL #NFLScheduleRelease pic.twitter.com/n4CPlde6gp

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 12, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

Divisional showdown in December

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 12, 2025​

2025 International NFL Games

BRAZIL Wk1: Chargers v Chiefs

IRELAND Wk4: Steelers v Vikings

LONDON Wk5: Browns v Vikings

LONDON Wk6: Jets v Broncos

LONDON Wk7: Jaguars v Rams

GERMANY Wk10: Colts v Falcons

SPAIN Wk11: Dolphins v Commanders

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 13, 2025​

"Tell us about yourself" @SeatGeek | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/izso30FfwD

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 12, 2025​

Reunited ‍@Kain_05 x @UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/UHWZFavo3J

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 12, 2025​

In 2024, @joshuaconerlyjr allowed just one sack and five pressures

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 12, 2025​

Jayden Daniels ---> Ole Miss WR Cayden Lee

(via Evan Farrell) pic.twitter.com/hSit2mFQRd

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 12, 2025​

Giants Signing WR Lil'Jordan Humphreyhttps://t.co/7jtXJldzXn

— NFLTradeRumors.co (@nfltrade_rumors) May 12, 2025​

Countdown to kickoff: the NFL’s regular season will open Thursday, Sept. 4, when the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/S7x2Ag76Ae

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 12, 2025​

Trey Hendrickson statement today to ESPN: “No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft. The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are… pic.twitter.com/2MKBL60ATg

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 12, 2025​

“Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey’s contracts I thought were really weird last year. Not because they haven't been great players in their career, but because they had multiple years left on their deals and they're declining players.”

@GreggRosenthall on the Dolphins: pic.twitter.com/s4Zb5A8MFa

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 12, 2025​

“NFL players do not voluntarily give up $30 million. Nobody does. Which means that the Saints…”

“I'm not 100% convinced that Derek Carr never plays football again…”@RossTuckerNFL gives his thoughts on the Derek Carr retirement news:@LabattUSA #ad MSG 21 pic.twitter.com/t28Sy1w0aF

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 12, 2025​

“I think they’re going to win the Super Bowl.”

-@heykayadams on the 2025 Vikings

pic.twitter.com/U67LbcUgOy

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 12, 2025​

Trey Amos at 50/1 https://t.co/SrIu6aCOVt

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 12, 2025​

The NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year from 50 years ago — 1975

Redskins dual-threat running back Mike Thomas

The fifth round selection out of UNLV led all NFL rookies with 919 rushing yards and 1,402 yards from scrimmage.#HTTR #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Dltn102542

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) May 11, 2025​

Caps lose, face elimination now.

Wizards fell to the 6th pick.

Nats were gifted 9th inning rally and still got walked off by Braves.

Other than that how was the DC Sports night, Mrs. Lincoln?

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 13, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/13...spain-vs-dolphins-and-wk-16-at-home-vs-philly

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 14 May 25 - Dan Quinn goes one-on-one for 18 minutes with Rich Eisen; Trey Hedrickson drama escalates

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

Commanders links​

all in a day's work pic.twitter.com/3W9xpU2zov

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 13, 2025​

Time to bring our own #OnLocation meaning to ¡Hala Madrid!

Play your part in @NFL history and experience the first-ever game played in Spain like the VIP you are

For details on how you can be the first to official ticket packages https://t.co/bPqNzVaybF pic.twitter.com/YG76vJ6JoN

— On Location (@onlocationexp) May 13, 2025​

Articles​

Riggo’s Rag​

Excitement and frustration collide in early Commanders schedule news​

Multiple 2025 matchups for Washington have already been released, while a few others can be logically deduced.

Washington will be competing in the first-ever Spanish international game on November 16 against the Miami Dolphins, giving the team a prime opportunity to be part of NFL history.

The best part, though? The contest takes the place of what was already set to be a road game for the Commanders.

Washington was set to play more away games (nine) than home games (eight) in 2025, but now it will be an even eight of each with this one coming at a neutral site. It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

With the NFL set to release its full 2025 schedule on Wednesday, many of the league’s marquee prime-time matchups have already been announced in advance. For the Washington Commanders, it has been a mixed bag.

Many Washington fans were disappointed when the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles would be opening their season against the Dallas Cowboys, a slot the Commanders should have earned instead. Since then, two dates have been finalized, while two more can be considered likely.

Of those two confirmed dates, there are both positives and negatives to take away for the Commanders. Let’s take a look.

The good: Commanders lose a true road game in Madrid​

Washington will be competing in the first-ever Spanish international game on November 16 against the Miami Dolphins, giving the team a prime opportunity to be part of NFL history.

The best part, though? The contest takes the place of what was already set to be a road game for the Commanders.

Washington was set to play more away games (nine) than home games (eight) in 2025, but now it will be an even eight of each with this one coming at a neutral site. It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

The bad: Week 16 slate means likely Commanders’ holiday travel​

The other Commanders game that was revealed ahead of time comes in Week 16, when they’ll host the Eagles on the Saturday before Christmas. It’s the same slot on the calendar that Philadelphia traveled to Northwest Stadium last season — a game that resulted in a statement 36-33 Washington triumph against the soon-to-be champions.

However, it also means it’s highly likely the Commanders will be playing on Christmas Day, and likely on the road at that.

Last season, the four teams that played on the Saturday before Christmas all played again at the most festive time of year, having been given an extra day of rest before the holiday. This season, the other two teams playing on Saturday are the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, both of which appear on Washington’s schedule in 2025.

The Commanders will play the Bears at home and the Packers on the road this season. Since the Week 16 rivalry clash is a home fixture, it can be considered a safe bet that they’ll be in Green Bay on Christmas. This is highly inconvenient for travel purposes, as well as for players and other team members who would almost certainly prefer to be spending time with their families.

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CBS Sports​

Post-draft 2025 NFL QB Power Rankings: Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, Eagles’ Jalen Hurts lead the way​

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CBS Sports​

NFL sophomore slumps: Will Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, Broncos’ Bo Nix avoid regression in Year 2?​

Which players are likely to slip, or stay the course?

Daniels followed Stroud as Offensive Rookie of the Year, but he was even more dynamic, elevating Washington from hopeful rebuild to NFC heavyweight with effortless touch, mobility and crunch-time poise. It’s very possible the Commanders’ dependence on aging and/or injury-prone veterans (i.e. Deebo Samuel, Zach Ertz, Laremy Tunsil) could force Daniels to do too much. All in all, though, his setup looks deeper than it did in 2024, and it’s impossible to ignore the mettle he pairs with his physical gifts. Remember that he wasn’t necessarily a high-volume thrower until later in his magical rookie campaign.

Sophomore slump prediction: Should avoid

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Commanders Wire​

Trey Hendrickson upset with Bengals: What does this mean for the Commanders?​

Hendrickson’s situation was back in the news Monday when he released the following statement to Adam Schefter of ESPN:

“No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,” the statement read. “The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.”

So, what does this mean? Well, Hendrickson is clearly not happy with the Bengals. That doesn’t mean he’s going anywhere. He still has one year remaining on his deal, and Cincinnati is notoriously difficult to deal with.

Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have said all the right things about the current group of edge rushers. If the Commanders were to add someone from the outside, it would likely be a veteran free agent. The most impactful player they could still add would be Hendrickson.

Is that realistic? Remember, the Commanders are already down two draft choices for next season, including a second-rounder due to the Laremy Tunsil trade.

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Commanders.com​

Everything you need to know about Commanders’ 2025 schedule​

The NFL announced during Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft that the schedule will be released on May 14 at 8 p.m. ET.

Thanks to the Commanders finishing second in the NFC East, they will play teams with the same standing in the NFC West, NFC South and AFC East. That list includes the Seattle Seahawks, who will travel to Northwest Stadium, the Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons. Washington will play the Falcons for the fifth consecutive season, and all the previous matchups have been close. Although the Commanders won each game, they were decided by a touchdown or less.

The Washington Commanders have been selected to play the Miami Dolphins at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, in Week 16 as part of the NFL’s 2025 International Games. It will be the first-ever regular season NFL game played in the country. Kickoff time is set for 9:30am ET on Sun., Nov. 16 with the game being televised on NFL Network.

Fully refundable, time-stamped Priority Access deposits for travel packages for the NFL Madrid Game are available through On Location HERE!

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Washington Post (paywall)​

The last NFL draft in Washington was overshadowed by historic rout​

The 1941 NFL draft was held at the Willard Hotel on Dec. 10, 1940, two days after Chicago shut out Washington in the NFL championship game at Griffith Stadium. The Bears had three first-round picks, prompting a new rule.

The last time Washington hosted the NFL’s premier offseason event was Dec. 10, 1940, at the Willard Hotel. The audience was limited to any hotel guests who happened to wander by the room where owners and coaches from the league’s 10 teams were meeting, as they took turns over 22 rounds selecting college seniors to bolster their rosters for the 1941 season.

Two days earlier, George Halas’s Chicago Bears had embarrassed Washington by a record-setting margin in the NFL championship game at D.C.’s Griffith Stadium. That stunning rout, not the draft, was the talk of the town.

The day before the 1941 draft, the league’s owners and coaches gathered at the Willard Hotel with NFL President Carl Storck to discuss other matters and to select an all-star squad to face the champion Bears in an exhibition. Washington owner George Preston Marshall and Coach Ray Flaherty held a farewell luncheon for the team in the same building that morning.

“They were an unspeaking, downcast lot,” The Post wrote of the Washington players in attendance. “They couldn’t explain why, after winning the National Pro League’s Eastern Division race, they went so completely in pieces in a game for the world’s championship with a team they previously had defeated.”

Halas, the Bears’ owner and coach, arrived at the Willard Hotel with the ninth overall pick and two additional first-round selections, which he had acquired in trades with cellar-dwelling Philadelphia and Pittsburgh the previous year. This was news to the rest of the league.

“To complicate an already confused situation, the Chicago Bears yesterday claimed they were entitled to the first choices of the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh clubs because of preseason player deals,” The Post reported. “Owner Bert Bell of the Eagles said no, but the report persisted.”

Philadelphia was slated to pick first. Pittsburgh, which finished tied with the Chicago Cardinals for the second-worst regular season record in 1940, was awarded the third pick after losing a coin flip. Both selections now belonged to the Bears.

It was too late for the other owners to prevent the recently crowned champions from reaping the benefits of Halas’s shrewd moves in the D.C. draft, but they passed a new rule, which has since been removed, prohibiting a last-place team from trading its first- or second-round draft pick before he has played at least one year with the team. The league also announced that the team that won the championship would pick last in future years. (Washington had the 10th and final pick of the first round in the 1941 draft after finishing with the best regular season record in 1940.)

By the end of it, 204 players had been selected. Only the five teams that finished in the bottom half of the standings drafted in rounds two and four, and the Bears forfeited their final four picks because league rules limited each team to 20 selections.

The most well-known of...Washington’s pick [was] Forest Evashevski, who blocked for Harmon at Michigan and later co-starred in his movie debut.

Rather than sign with Washington, Evashevski pursued a career in coaching. After leading Iowa to a No. 2 national ranking and the Rose Bowl title after the 1958 season, he interviewed to be the Packers’ coach and general manager. Evashevski was offered the job, only to turn it down, before the Packers hired Vince Lombardi.

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Podcasts & videos​

Commanders HC Dan Quinn Talks Jayden Daniels, ’25 Season Goals & More w/ Rich Eisen | Full Interview​

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Jaylin Lane’s College Coach Raves About Commanders Draftee​

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Here's the full interview after #Bengals practice today between Trey Hendrickson and local reporters.

He wanted to clear the air and get some things off his chest. He did just that.

(Much more to come)https://t.co/1qUPGyyhSb

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) May 13, 2025​

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Photos​

Hey now, Jay now pic.twitter.com/4sJzuVuBgx

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 13, 2025​

Two things that cannot be separated: Javon and his sunglasses pic.twitter.com/wq6l0T2mwy

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 13, 2025​

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NFC East links​

Blogging the Boys​

5 biggest questions for Cowboys over remaining offseason​

How will things shake out at running back?

It could be an entirely new cast at RB this year after Dallas signed veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, then drafted Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. It will certainly look very different from 2024, and now the questions are who will actually make the team and how the touches will be split between them.

The rookies would seem to have the clearest paths to the roster. Your one sure bet is Blue, who is the frontrunner to be the primary back. Some have suggested he’s the most talented RB to come to Dallas since Ezekiel Elliott, but his size will limit him from being a workhorse and all-purpose back. Blue likely knocks Deuce Vaughn off the roster as the speed and receiving threat. Then Mafah, the one true power RB, is the logical choice to make up where Blue lacks. But he’ll have to deal with Hunter Luepke, who offers a lot of versatility as a blocker and special teamer.

That said, the veterans won’t go away quietly. Williams is still just 25 and, now further removed from a major 2022 knee injury, could have his best chance to shine. Sanders feels like an afterthought now, especially since the draft, but does bring the most experience to the mix. That matters more at other positions than RB, though.

Who’s the new backup quarterback?

Dallas gave up one of their fifth-round picks this year for Joe Milton III, making him their new developmental QB after one year in New England. But he won’t just be handed the immediate backup job as veteran Will Grier is also here to compete. There’s a chance at least one more passer will be added for Oxnard, at least as a camp arm, but we can expect Grier and Milton to get the bulk of the work as the Cowboys sort out QB2.

Dallas has generally preferred experienced veterans in the backup role. It used to be guys with ample starting experience like Brad Johnson, Jon Kitna, and Kyle Orton behind Tony Romo, and in 2020, Dallas let Cooper Rush go briefly so they could supposedly upgrade the spot with Andy Dalton. Rush eventually returned and became that veteran presence, so that would seem to give Grier an edge.

But while he’s been in the league since 2019, a third-round pick by Carolina, Grier hasn’t seen much action. He started two games for the Panthers as a rookie and hasn’t taken a single regular-season snap since. That doesn’t mean his experience from multiple camps and preseason isn’t valuable, but it does narrow the gap between him and a second-year prospect like Milton.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

ESPN​

Why Travis Hunter is ready to be the NFL’s next star​

“He elevates not only this football team, not only this city, but the sport itself, right?” Gladstone said. “Along the way you can count however many drafts you want to, there are players who have the capacity to alter a game. There are players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of a team. There are very few players who have the capacity to alter the trajectory of the sport itself. Travis, while he still has a lot to learn, in our eyes, has the potential to do just that.”

That’s really nothing new for Hunter, who has been billed as a generational talent since he starred on both sides of the ball at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, then at Jackson State University, and finally Colorado — defying traditional positional expectations as a full-time receiver and cornerback along the way.

Hunter’s 2024 season at Colorado was one of the most impressive in NCAA history. He was the first player to earn two first-team All-America honors in the same season (all-purpose and cornerback), and he was a second-team All-American at receiver. He also was the first player in the history of the Walter Camp Football Foundation — the nation’s oldest All-America team — to be named first-team All-America on offense and defense.

Those who coached him along his journey have called him a prodigy and football savant while noting his humility. Now Hunter has the challenge of becoming the face of a long-struggling franchise while trying to establish himself as the NFL’s first full-time two-way player in more than 50 years.

No one has been a full-time player on both sides of the ball since Chuck Bednarik, who did it as a center and linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949 to 1962.

To excel at both positions in 2025 would make Hunter one of the league’s biggest stars, and those around him believe he can not only handle that kind of stage but thrive — because he has been doing it all along.

Hunter has embraced the challenge.

“My job is to come out and be Travis Hunter,” he said. “Come out and play how they envision me to play and exceed all the expectations.”

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Discussion topics​

Mike Greenberg: "[Adam Silver] recognizes, as does every sports fan, that tanking is a scourge. Tanking is a disgrace. Tanking runs contrary to literally everything sports is designed to be. Incentivizing losing is the worst mistake any sport can possibly make... People saying,… pic.twitter.com/d5I4VLChV3

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 13, 2025​

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It's been a solid offseason for the Commanders...but getting after the opposing quarterback is still an area of concern for me! pic.twitter.com/Nu2rhSOIVk

— Jay Gruden (@Coach_JayGruden) May 13, 2025​

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The Athletic (paywall)

Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson drama is as avoidable as it is out of control: Dehner Jr.​

It appeared the Bengals learned their lesson when it came to allowing distractions to usher toxicity in the front door. They got deals done with Chase and Higgins. Even Mike Gesicki stuck around. The club checked every box Burrow laid out in his rounds of interviews, directing contract traffic in February.

All but one.

That one, and the inability to handle it effectively, continues to blow up in their face. In the last case, it blew up on their practice field.

Looking like he was somewhere between his job as a school resource officer and afternoon tee time, Hendrickson chatted with new defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, Bengals public relations and security staffers, along with a few teammates. In a world of jerseys, cleats and workout shorts, he stuck out like his 17.5 sacks on last year’s defense.

This was a mess.

An undeniably avoidable mess. On both sides.

The Bengals granted Hendrickson permission to seek a trade a week before free agency. They could have used the $16 million in free agency to supplement the pass rush, used the extra draft pick to add another young rusher and allowed the collection of top picks to start over. There would be no drama. There would be no OTA media days. There would be a franchise that paid its best players and found a solution to make the balance sheet work in a way that made sense for them.

Or, if they didn’t believe in that method, pay Hendrickson what he wanted and make it work for a club with $68 million available in 2026 cap space (ninth overall).

Either way, be definitive and proactive — for once.

Instead, the same old passive problems that caused this mess in the first place showed up again. So they were left dealing with an outburst after coach Zac Taylor let Hendrickson know about the potential fines outlined in the CBA associated with missing minicamp.

[Hendrickson] is grasping to recapture them with his voice and feel like he’s found any leverage.

The problem is he has none. There aren’t many levers players can pull in today’s NFL. Not in his situation. Inevitably, he has to decide if he’s willing to back up his words, stated explicitly on Tuesday, that he refuses to play on his current contract or be willing to take the best offer the Bengals have on the table.

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All aTwitter​

Thirty-two NFL teams will travel 625,947 miles this season. Here is the breakdown, via @billsperos: pic.twitter.com/WJ2sU5hrVG

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2025​

Damn I hate long flights lol but Spain is lit

— Jeremy Reaves (@JR1ERA) May 13, 2025​

The NFL is going to Madrid for the first time, so I had to ask my friend @arturgalocha for some travel recs: pic.twitter.com/j8kIH6uL3x

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) May 13, 2025​

Our house for week

️: https://t.co/w01ohbSvow pic.twitter.com/zXVRLLHEsK

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 13, 2025​

wait 'til @joshuaconerlyjr's shoutout at the end @Microsoft | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/L4Zk098uK3

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 13, 2025​

.@PSchrags believes the Commanders "closed the gap" with the Eagles in the NFC

"I thought [Jayden Daniels] had the best rookie season we've ever seen from a QB in the NFL ... and they got better this offseason." pic.twitter.com/lwvPB8QYDZ

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 13, 2025​

Good conversation with Commanders rookie LB Kain Medrano - he's ready to prove Ken Norton right https://t.co/stRbhQlnLR

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 14, 2025​

#Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson said he received a text from HC Zac Taylor 30 days before mandatory minicamp warning he’d be fined if he didn’t show up — something that frustrated him, especially given the poor communication from the team throughout the offseason.

Hendrickson also… pic.twitter.com/VEJBYby0Il

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 13, 2025​

Trey Hendrickson just spent 25 minutes with us and had a lot to say and didn’t hold back. The word “disappointed” was used often.

Said his statements have been “provoked.”

Asked explicitly if he will play on the current deal: “No.”

Stay tuned, much more to come.

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) May 13, 2025​

Inspired by Trey Hendrickson’s ongoing standoff with the #Bengals, I ranked my top 10 favorite contract staredowns in recent NFL history.

This was a fun one to put together. Some of the drama in these situations was wild.

My full top-10 here : https://t.co/gIhQc30SPb

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 13, 2025​

"I don't think the Cincinnati Bengals are a real Super Bowl contender without Trey Hendrickson..

He has been an absolute star on the field and he's an unbelievable representative off the field"@danorlovsky7 #PMSLive https://t.co/j3fhdJlBPA pic.twitter.com/KfnuvbzbHL

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 13, 2025​

Washington with 2nd highest odds of Trey Hendrickson trade via https://t.co/7NKLLfN7PR pic.twitter.com/Tc34MrssNv

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 13, 2025​

It took his brother's retirement to get David Carr on The lnsiders. pic.twitter.com/VnszPvxEGs

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) May 14, 2025​

Ar'Darius Washington's season has likely ended before it began, as the Ravens safety has suffered a torn Achilleshttps://t.co/amPkPr9zuA

— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) May 13, 2025​

Former UFC champion Ilia Topuria wore a Jayden Daniels jersey in the trailer for the first-ever NFL game in Spain pic.twitter.com/Eq4Q6T9iQC

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 13, 2025​

Jameis Winston looks ready to start https://t.co/dfDLzdtJjV

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 13, 2025​

pic.twitter.com/V7T2dViTYI

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 13, 2025​

According to NBA dot com tracking data, players are running about 9% more distance per minute on court than they did a decade ago

It's no surprise that the more miles a player puts on his body, the more likely he is to get injured pic.twitter.com/3qFpsGAQJh

— Lev Akabas (@LevAkabas) May 13, 2025​

There’s nothing wrong with the NFL that more fat quarterbacks in single-bar facemasks who look like they’re battling sciatica at the line of scrimmage can’t cure. pic.twitter.com/52CHjPoaTi

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) May 14, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/14...th-rich-eisen-trey-hedrickson-drama-escalates

 

[Washington Commanders]

What are the odds? The Washington Commanders open the season as big home favorites

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

Division season opener!

The Washington Commanders are officially opening up the 2025-26 season with a home game against their division rivals, the New York Giants. Jayden Daniels’ second NFL season starts with Washingtonas big home favorites against a Giants team that just drafted their own 1st round quarterback.

Jaxson Dart wasn’t the No. 2 overall pick like Daniels, or even taken with the Giants first pick at No. 3. New York traded back into the first round to take the former Ole Miss QB who will be competing with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito for the starting job,

Opening odds for the Commanders have them as 7-point favorites against the Giants at home.and the O/U opens at 46.5. Washington Washington 12-5 and played in the NFC Championship Game will the Giants were the worst team in the division last year.

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FanDuel odds:

Point spread: Commanders -7

Point total: 45.5

Moneyline: Commanders -350, Giants +280

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/14...manders-open-the-season-as-big-home-favorites

 

[Washington Commanders]

NFL Schedule Release Rumors Tracker: Washington Commanders hosting Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day

Kara Durrette/Getty Images

The leaks have started!

The NFL schedule leaks, rumors, and reports have started, and we should have most of the schedule penciled in before the Washington Commanders announce theirs at 7:45 pm tomorrow night. The NFL will officially release the entire season's schedule at 8 pm as part of their 2 hour release program, but will be officially announcing some games starting on Monday.

The first rumored Commanders game has been confirmed, and it's a big one. There was speculation that the Washington Commanders would be getting an international game, and they are playing the Miami Dolphins in the NFL's first game in Madrid, Spain. The report is now verified, and fans can register for ticket information here.

The second announced game was a division matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. This Week 16 game is on Saturday, December 20th, and likely sets Washington up to play in one of the three Christmas games at the end of the year. This was boosted further today with the announcement that the Dallas Cowboys will be hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, likely eliminating Washington from that slate of games. The Madrid game, and likely bye afterwards, also made Thanksgiving unlikely. There is an unverified report that the Buccaneers will be visiting the Rams for the night game(this report is now disputed), and Washington is hosting the Lions this year, not visiting them which would be a requirement to play them on Turkey Day.

The New York Giants schedule usually gets fully leaked out before the official announcement, and their first two games were reported this morning. They will open up the season with two division road games. First up is a trip to Northwest Stadium to kick off Washington’s second season of the Adam Peters/Dan Quinn/Jayden Daniels era. They follow that up with a trip to Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys who are playing the Eagles in Week 1. The Commanders will reportedly visit the Packers in Week 2 for the first Thursday Night Football game of the season.

The latest leaks have the Washington Commanders closing out their season with games against NFC East opponents. They visit the New York Giants in Week 15 for a 1 p.m. game. Week 16 is a Saturday home game against the Eagles, then then host the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day. The Commanders finish the season on the road for the second game against the Eagles. The NFL loves closing the season out with division games, and this year is no different for Washington.

The NFL will release the full 2025 regular season schedule on Wednesday May 14, but select games will be revealed earlier:

The rundown:
— May 12: NBC (TODAY Show), FOX, Prime Video

— May 13: ESPN (Good Morning America), NFL Network (Good Morning Football, for International…

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 8, 2025

FanDuel O/U Season Win Total Odds(9.5)

Washington 2025 Opponents:​

Home:​

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Denver Broncos

Las Vegas Raiders

Seattle Seahawks

Away:​

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

Los Angeles Chargers

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Atlanta Falcons

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All 32 teams' strength of schedule next season @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/1O4bEFH2cl

— NFL (@NFL) May 9, 2025​

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Year loading for @JayD__5

: NFL Schedule Release — 5/14 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN2
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/dO3WsoRN8n

— NFL (@NFL) May 7, 2025

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Rumored 2025 Washington Commanders schedule:​

Week 1 - vs New York Giants (Sunday, September 7th, 1 p.m.)

Week 2 - @ Green Bay Packers (Thursday, September 11th, 8:15pm, Amazon)

Week 3 - vs Las Vegas Raiders

Week 4 - @ Atlanta Falcons

Week 5 - @ Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, October 5th, 4:25 p.m.)

Week 6 - vs Chicago Bears (October 13th, 8:15 p.m., Monday Night Football on ESPN)

Week 7 - @ Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, October 19th, 4:25 p.m.)

Week 8 - @ Kansas City Chiefs (October 27th, 8:20 pm, MNF on ESPN)

Week 9 - vs Seattle Seahawks (November 2nd, 8:20pm, SNF on NBC)

Week 10 - vs Detroit Lions (Sunday, November 9th, 4:25 p.m.)

Week 11 - @ Miami Dolphins (November 16th, Madrid, Spain, 9:30 a.m., NFLN)

Week 12 - BYE WEEK

Week 13 - vs Denver Broncos (November 30th, 8:15 p.m., SNF on NBC)

Week 14 - @ Minnesota Vikings

Week 15 - @ New York Giants (Sunday, December 14th, 1 p.m.)

Week 16 - vs Philadelphia Eagles (Saturday, December 20th, FOX)

Week 17 - vs Dallas Cowboys (Thursday, December 25th, 1 p.m., Christmas Day, Netflix)

Week 18 - @ Philadelphia Eagles

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NFL Schedule 2025 Release Info​

Release Time: 8:00 PM EST (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)

TV Schedule: ESPN2, NFL Network

Online Stream: FuboTV, ESPN+, Paramount+

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Washington Commanders Leaks/Rumors/Reports:​

The Official Washington Commanders 2025 Schedule
W1: Giants at Commanders
W2: Commanders at Packers (TNF)
W3: Raiders at Commanders
W4: Commanders at Falcons
W5: Commanders at Chargers (4:25)
W6: Bears at Commanders (MNF)
W7: Commanders at Cowboys (4:25)
W8:Commanders at Chiefs…

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 14, 2025​

Behold! The full 2025 Minnesota Vikings schedule

W1: Vikings at Bears (MNF)
W2: Falcons at Vikings (SNF)
W3: Bengals at Vikings
W4: Vikings at Steelers (Ireland)
W5: Vikings at Browns (London)
W6: BYE
W7: Eagles at Vikings
W8: Vikings at Chargers (TNF)
W9: Vikings at Lions
W10:…

— Sean Kenner (@SK_NFL) May 14, 2025​

Here's an early Christmas gift: the NFL is LIVE on Netflix!

Thursday December 25 Cowboys vs. Commanders at 1 PM ET Lions vs. Vikings at 4:30 PM ET pic.twitter.com/DjhnV3yAfA

— Netflix (@netflix) May 14, 2025

I'm not chasing schedule news, but a few folks asked me about Commanders-Chiefs reports.

I'm hearing they are NOT at KC in Wk 10. Would be rough with Madrid next week.

There is another we8k for this MNF game floating around that seems more plausible.

Hang tough.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 14, 2025

NFL SCHEDULE LEAK

Raiders at Commanders - Week 3 pic.twitter.com/L3cMKfwtO2

— NFL Nerd (@NerdingonNFL) May 14, 2025​

The Official Denver Broncos Schedule
W1: Titans at Broncos
W2: Broncos at Colts
W3: Broncos at Chargers
W4: Bengals at Broncos (MNF)
W5: Broncos at Eagles
W6: Broncos at Jets (London)
W7: Giants at Broncos
W8: Cowboys at Broncos
W9: Broncos at Texans
W10: Raiders at Broncos (TNF)…

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 14, 2025​

Commanders will host Seattle for Sunday Night Football Week 9, per sources. Sam Darnold vs Jayden Daniels pic.twitter.com/toc3VO4H8f

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 14, 2025

Wont be 8 primetime games. Will be 8 national TV games (Christmas/Madrid/Saturday 12/20). I have heard they wont play a single Sunday 1 pm in October or November though https://t.co/5IdAMrmgM7

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 14, 2025

Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football at home vs the Broncos... https://t.co/5vQYjj53k9

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 14, 2025​

Here is the full Giants schedule! You heard it here first!@jokershawn37 @NYGiantsRush @GiantsCarbCrush pic.twitter.com/WYokP4pv9l

— Spartan Mike (NYG) (@SpartanMike96) May 14, 2025

After the Hail Mary last year, Commanders vs Bears will get primetime treatment this year. Sources tell me Chicago @ Washington on Monday Night Football Week 6. pic.twitter.com/dpOxWEWtPY

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 14, 2025

Commanders finish the regular season on the road vs Philly, per source. Washington plays Philly Week 16 and Week 18

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 14, 2025

And I’ll be there for one of them. (Hint)

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) May 14, 2025

That 8 includes Madrid

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) May 14, 2025

NFL SCHEDULE NEWS

Commanders at Packers - Week 2 - TNF

The first Thursday Night Football game of the season. pic.twitter.com/7gM4w52Qaz

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 14, 2025​

Christmas Day vs #Cowboys at home on Netflix. Probably the first game at 1pm. But might be 4:30. #Commanders

— Kevin Sheehan (@kevinsheehanDC) May 14, 2025

NY Giants to open 2025 season with back-to-back road games against NFC East rivals https://t.co/JiMWzDNv25 via @northjersey

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) May 14, 2025

¡Vamos a Madrid!

Excited to be a part of the first-ever NFL game in Spain pic.twitter.com/sIb9yQH1AR

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 13, 2025

FOX will air a Week 16 doubleheader on Saturday, Dec. 20:

Eagles at Commanders
Packers at Bears. pic.twitter.com/c3DqMxKmzY

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 12, 2025​

The #Bengals and #Buccaneers were in serious consideration to serve as the visiting team in Madrid, but ultimately the NFL decided to send Jayden Daniels and the Commanders to the Bernabeu.

The young star makes his global debut in Spain's inaugural NFL game. https://t.co/23mLTSpw7d

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 9, 2025​

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NFL Schedule Leaks/Rumors/Reports:​

Hearing that the Eagles will be playing at the Vikings in Week 7 on Oct. 19

— Arif Hasan, but NFL (@ArifHasanNFL) May 14, 2025

I can confirm that the Bucs at Rams game will NOT be on Thanksgiving in primetime as I previously alluded to. Instead, it will be played on Sunday Night Football on November 23 in Los Angeles. https://t.co/HgcmyLRAeD

— PewterReport ‍ (@PewterReport) May 14, 2025​

#Eagles will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 16 in a Week 11 matchup between two of the expected powers in the NFC, a source said.

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) May 14, 2025

Sources: The #Chiefs will host the #Lions in Week 6 on Sunday Night Football — in what should be an electric matchup between two of the NFL’s top teams. pic.twitter.com/8RRuzG4yqv

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 14, 2025

NFL SCHEDULE LEAK

Chiefs at Bills - Week 9 4:25 ET pic.twitter.com/6yw5cBWD3K

— NFL Nerd (@NerdingonNFL) May 14, 2025

BREAKING: Giants will travel to Denver in Week 7 to take on the Broncos in Russ' return to Mile High, per source. https://t.co/Cr9CCHJwtU

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) May 14, 2025

NFL SCHEDULE NEWS

The Chicago #Bears will host the Minnesota #Vikings on Monday Night Football - Week 1, per sources pic.twitter.com/WjcbdgyzPa

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 14, 2025​

NFL SCHEDULE NEWS

Giants at Broncos - Week 7 (per @art_stapleton) pic.twitter.com/KvgWetm8C6

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 14, 2025​

If the leaks are to be believed, the NFL's Christmas schedule appears to be set:

• Lions at Vikings, 1 pm or 4:30 pm (Netflix)
• Cowboys at Commanders, 1 pm or 4:30 pm (Netflix)
• Broncos at Chiefs, 8:20 pm (Prime)

Cowboys, Lions and Chiefs all playing on 2 holidays.

— John Breech (@johnbreech) May 14, 2025

The #Vikings are expected to host the Lions on Dec. 25, in a Christmas Day matchup of the two teams that battled for the NFC North title last year.

More here in our schedule release live blog, where we’ll have updates all day: https://t.co/HwYAte9zTN

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) May 14, 2025​

NFL SCHEDULE NEWS

Chiefs at Jaguars - Week 5 - MNF (per @E_Dilla) pic.twitter.com/kr19RH7HYf

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 14, 2025​

Arizona Cardinals to host the Seattle Seahawks Week 4 on Thursday Night Football, sources tell @JohnnyVenerable & myself.

— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) May 14, 2025

Sources: The Super Bowl rematch between the #Eagles and #Chiefs is set for Week 2 in Kansas City, with kickoff at 4:25 PM ET on FOX. pic.twitter.com/tKtsqioxcp

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 14, 2025

Sources: Jordan Love and the #Packers will open the season at home against NFC North rival Jared Goff and the #Lions on Sunday, September 7 at 4:25 PM ET. pic.twitter.com/YxKd2FqlgZ

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 14, 2025

A Thanksgiving feast

The @Chiefs will duel the @dallascowboys at 4:30 PM ET on CBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/PS8Asp4sHp

— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) May 14, 2025

Buccaneers Will Open The Season At Atlanta https://t.co/nMtTVqXZd1

— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) May 14, 2025​

I have a trustworthy friend who's got a source telling him it's going to be @Buccaneers at @RamsNFL as the nightcap on Thanksgiving! #Bucs #WeAreTheKrewe #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/qhRsNBLRpJ

— Pat Donovan (@PatDonovanRadio) May 12, 2025​

Sources: Bo Nix and the #Broncos will open the season at home against the #Titans in what’s expected to be Cam Ward’s NFL debut — Sunday, September 7 at 4:05 PM ET on FOX. pic.twitter.com/fxZEOv5phS

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 14, 2025​

Confirmed Eagles games so far:

Thursday, Sept. 4: Cowboys at Eagles
Monday, Nov. 10: Eagles at Packers
Friday, Nov. 28: Bears at Eagles
Saturday, Dec. 20: Eagles at Commanders https://t.co/79aG9aKn4O

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2025​

The #Vikings are set for an international road trip this season facing the Steelers in Ireland, and Browns in London in back-to-back weeks.

They’ll become the first NFL team besides the #Jaguars to play multiple international games within a single season. https://t.co/PlgPlw5LZ6

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 13, 2025​

Black Friday Football runs through Philly

Bears. Eagles. Only on Prime. pic.twitter.com/rWqRUml187

— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) May 12, 2025​

A Christmas showdown in Kansas City

Broncos. Chiefs. Only on Prime. pic.twitter.com/5tTVzuw0zr

— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) May 12, 2025​

EAGLES VS. COWBOYS TO KICK OFF THE 2025 SEASON #Kickoff2025 pic.twitter.com/PEHaVYvlxB

— NFL (@NFL) May 12, 2025

The Official 2025 NFL London Games Slate

Oct. 5th (W5): #Vikings at #Browns, Tottenham
Oct. 12th (W6): #Broncos at #Jets, Tottenham
Oct. 19th (W7): #Rams at #Jaguars, Wembley

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 8, 2025​

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Hogs Haven Media Information​

Podcasts: Apple Podcasts | Pandora | Spotify | Podbean | iHeartRadio

Facebook Page: Click here to like our page

Twitter: Follow @HogsHaven

Instagram: Follow @Hogs_Haven

Threads: Follow @hogs_haven

Blue Sky: Follow Hogs Haven

Manager: Scott Jennings: Follow @ScottJenningsHH

Buy Washington gear at the Hogs Haven Fanshop

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NFL News twitter feed

Washington Commanders twitter feed

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/9/...nders-hosting-dallas-cowboys-on-christmas-day

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 15 May 25 - Everybody will be watching the NFC East this season

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

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

Commanders links​

Everybody's watching the NFC East this season https://t.co/wktXKFD7BN

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 15, 2025​

Unfinished business

️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGbnY | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/htGXTKfZ9K

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

Articles​

Bullock’s Film Room​

Why the Commanders re-signed TE John Bates​

The first thing to note with Bates is that he has a mean streak to him. When we talk about offensive lineman, we always want to see that nasty streak, blocking through the whistle and finishing plays strongly to get under the skin of defenders and throw them off their game while establishing a tone. Bates isn’t quite an offensive lineman, but he does play with that same mentality.

This play against the Steelers is a great example of that mentality. The Commanders are running a zone scheme to their right with a read-option element added on to it. Bates is on the back side of the run, with his assignment being to help left tackle Brandon Coleman secure his block and then take over the block to allow Coleman to peel off and work up to the linebacker on the second level. Bates does well initially to work inside and help Coleman secure the defensive lineman.

However, as Coleman looks to climb up to the linebacker, the linebacker reads the running back cutting back to the left side of the line. That linebacker works around Coleman and attempts to get down to the line of scrimmage to make a play. Bates recognizes the issue and peels off the defensive lineman, who doesn’t know where the ball is, and picks up the linebacker instead. He gets just enough of the linebacker to prevent him from making the play, but then shows the nasty streak we all look for in the run game. Bates works hard to stay engaged in the block and ends up forcing the linebacker to the ground. The linebacker didn’t take too kindly to that block and the pair end up getting into a bit of a fight that had to be broken up by the referees.

Obviously you don’t want players getting into fights and receiving penalties as a result, but the play shows that Bates plays with the mentality of an offensive lineman rather than a normal tight end. That mentality is a key part of why he’s so important to the Commanders run game. But it’s not just mentality. Bates brings a lot to the run game as a blocker. He can perform a variety of different roles within various blocking schemes, which enables the Commanders to open up the playbook and scheme up some fun run plays.

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ESPN​

Book: Caleb Williams sought way around going to Chicago Bears​

Quarterback Caleb Williams was so concerned about being picked by the Chicago Bears in 2024 that he and his family weighed circumventing the entire NFL draft, consulting with lawyers to figure out a way around the league’s collective bargaining agreement while considering signing with the United Football League, details from a forthcoming book reveal.

“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Carl Williams, Caleb’s father, told Seth Wickersham, author of “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” in the months before the 2024 draft.

Caleb Williams wondered aloud to confidants: “Do I want to go there? I don’t think I can do it with [former Bears offensive coordinator Shane] Waldron.”

The forthcoming book, to be published in September, offers a detailed account of what it means to be a quarterback at various levels, from high school to college to the NFL, and what it’s like for legends in retirement. It features unprecedented access with dozens of quarterbacks and generational greats such as John Elway, Johnny Unitas, Warren Moon, members of the Manning family and Steve Young, among others. It also includes current signal-callers such as Kirk Cousins and Drake Maye.

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Podcasts & videos​

Why Josh Conerly Playing Guard Might Not Be Such A Bad Idea | Take Command​

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Photos​

happy schedule release day!

who is your current mood? pic.twitter.com/c0dcjpQ55s

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 14, 2025​

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NFC East links​

ESPN​

How the Giants ended up with Dart, Wilson and Winston at QB​

The Giants had inquired about Stafford prior to the trade deadline this past season, per multiple sources within the league. The Rams were fluttering around .500 at the time and there were whispers about the veteran’s future. It was more of a check-in to see where the situation stood rather than a serious inquiry. But the Giants would have been foolish not to at least gauge the possibility when a quarterback of that caliber became available, given their needs at the position at the time.

It’s why they reengaged in February when the Rams gave Stafford’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, permission to speak with other clubs because they were at an impasse about his salary. It led to a five-week dance where the Giants tried to pry Stafford from the Rams. They were willing to offer in the range of $50 million per season, a source with knowledge of negotiations told ESPN at the NFL scouting combine in early March.

The Raiders eventually got into the mix as well but in the end Stafford didn’t really want to uproot his family. He got two years and $84 million to stay in Los Angeles, less than what the Giants were willing to pay.

“I never really wanted to leave,” Stafford would say later.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

ESPN​

2025 NFL schedule release: Predictions, takeaways for 32 teams​

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys will end Kyler Murray’s dominance at AT&T Stadium. The Cardinals’ quarterback has not lost in Arlington, Texas, sporting an 8-0 record as a starting quarterback. Just two of those games have come in the NFL. He won five games while at Allen (Texas) High School, won a Big 12 championship game for Oklahoma and is 2-0 as the Cardinals’ starter. Only Dak Prescott and Tony Romo have more wins at AT&T Stadium. Read more from Todd Archer

New York Giants

The Giants will steal a win on the road in the first two weeks against a division rival. For most teams, that might not seem like much. But New York went 0-6 in the division last year and needs to get off to a strong start. The Giants have won their season opener just twice in the past 13 years, with their only two playoff seasons coming in years when they won in Week 1. Read more from Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles will have to fight out of a small hole at the beginning of the season. The Cowboys, Chiefs and Rams all have something to prove, with two of them — Kansas City and Los Angeles — losing to the Eagles last postseason. Philadelphia will be adjusting to a new offensive coordinator in Kevin Patullo following the departure of Kellen Moore this offseason, while the defense will be breaking in several new starters. That could equal a loss or two early on. Read more from Tim McManus

Washington Commanders

Washington will win three of its last four games to clinch a playoff spot. It will mark the first time since the 1991-92 seasons that the organization has made the playoffs in consecutive years. The Commanders will beat the Giants and Cowboys and split with the Eagles to follow up a 12-win first season under coach Dan Quinn. These wins will help Washington win double-digit games in back-to-back years for the first time since 1989-91. Read more from John Keim

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Discussion topics​

Former Redskins GM Scot McCloughan said that Washington's 4th-round pick Jaylin Lane reminds him of one of his former draft picks, Jamison Crowder...but faster@kevinsheehanDC

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 15, 2025

Show is up.

Start—schedule talk

24:23—Former NFL GM Scot McCloughan joined me to talk #Commanders draft & lots more

1:03:34—McCloughan on ⁦@ShedeurSanders⁩: “when all is said and done, he will be the best QB in this draft, it’s not even close”. https://t.co/Wuslmn83hc

— Kevin Sheehan (@kevinsheehanDC) May 14, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

The type of schedule you’ve been waiting for#WallpaperWednesday | @SeatGeek | @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/loYcUS3aTR

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

All eyes on us@Seatgeek | ️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGbnY pic.twitter.com/PfcxMsyOEF

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

This is what the face of a conference and future face of the NFL does .. our QB1 ain’t shaking ass for King magazine covers #RaiseHail #flyeaglesfly pic.twitter.com/BicBkuJdMm

— KARMELO FAFO (@Cutty757) May 14, 2025​

Kay's top 5 NFL matchups this season!!

Starting with Week 1... It's going to be a great season. ‍ @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/1cYScHT6tP

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 15, 2025​

the NFL is pulling for the Commanders to be great:

for the FIRST TIME in franchise history, the Washington Commanders have 8 standalone games

1 TNF
2 SNF
2 MNF
1 SAT
Spain
Christmas

more: https://t.co/7gCOJiZ9z3

full Commanders schedule: pic.twitter.com/0pgIsTiEhv

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 14, 2025​

the Commanders haven't had more than 4 standalone games since their glory years in the early 1990s

they've averaged just over 2 standalone games the last 6 years

thanks to Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have 8 standalone games in 2025

tied for most in the NFL with the Chiefs pic.twitter.com/QY7GlwNAGy

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 14, 2025​

no team has an easier start to the season than the Washington Commanders

only 1 opponent is expected to have a winning 2025 season:

Giants ► Packers ► Raiders ► Falcons pic.twitter.com/W5GdNZybfM

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 15, 2025​

IT'S HERE!

The 2025 @NFLonFOX regular season schedule highlights the league's elite NFC roster combined with more key AFC teams than ever before

A fan favorite, AMERICA'S GAME OF THE WEEK returns with marquee showdowns including Eagles-Chiefs, Lions-Bengals,… pic.twitter.com/l6GdcSw4YB

— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) May 15, 2025​

Looking at the schedule grid, the #Commanders lead the league with four games against opponents coming off a bye. The good news is one of those games is on a Monday and they’re also coming off a bye when they face the #Broncos. pic.twitter.com/62ybzAZi5y

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 15, 2025​

Number of games in a standalone or primetime slot (pre-flex):

8 - DAL, KC, WSH

7 - DET, MIN, PHI

6 - ATL, GB, MIA

5 - BUF, CHI, DEN, LAC, LAR, PIT, SF

4 - BAL, CIN, HOU, SEA, TB

3 - LV, NE, NYG, NYJ

2 - ARI, IND, JAX

1 - CAR, CLE

0 - NO, TEN

— NFL Nerd (@NerdingonNFL) May 15, 2025​

The gates are open…time to ride @Seatgeek | ️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGJdw pic.twitter.com/WH3tPZYwbn

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

Happy birthday Josh! pic.twitter.com/z8TL2rwjuX

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025

I believe so. There hasn't been another arbitrator ruling about contract tolling since the Joey Galloway case in 2000. Probably need to come back around the trade deadline like Trent Williams did in 2019 because of the potential of a 2-week roster exemption. https://t.co/geSpbLyvHR

— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) May 14, 2025​

The 12th Man ain't what he used to be. The Seahawks are trying to change that, by warning season-ticket holders that excessive reselling could forfeit renewal rights. https://t.co/jNuXActAkH

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 14, 2025​

Bucs introduce “Ticket Buyback” program to try to limit opposing fans at Raymond James. https://t.co/kT7SxINekp

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 14, 2025​

the howie roseman draft: nothing is more beneficial than drafting trenches (OT, ED, IDL) in the first round given the hit rates and surplus value of the positions https://t.co/mh7BVNegBF

— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) May 14, 2025​

This would allow only ONE player per @NFL team to play Flag in the 2028 Olympics.

Which 32 get the call? https://t.co/NUh4BItoYB

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) May 15, 2025

Are the Chiefs the new "America's Team"?

NFL VP of Broadcast Operations Mike North Mike North believes so due to their seven primetime games in 2025.@heykayadams | @North2North | @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/OHyBhqUBGC

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 15, 2025​

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/15...ody-will-be-watching-the-nfc-east-this-season

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 16 May 25 - Will we see Jayden Daniels representing the USA in flag football in 2028?

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

ESPN​

Washington Commanders schedule 2025: Takeaways, predictions​

Biggest takeaway​

Call it the schedule Jayden Daniels built. His popularity is one big reason why Washington will play five prime-time games and 10 games in what’s considered a national window. The Commanders have seven national games in a row from Weeks 6-13, interrupted only by their bye — with three night games in four weeks. It ties the record for the most prime-time games in franchise history — they had five in 2013 and ‘17.

Circle this date​

Dec. 20. The Commanders will face Philadelphia for the first time since losing the NFC Championship Game, 55-23. Numerous players were upset not just in losing the game but in the lopsided score. They clearly felt they could beat the Eagles. Washington spent the offseason trying to do what the Eagles have done for years — build strong lines on both sides of the ball. Their first meeting is so late in the season that the teams will be well-established. Has Washington closed the gap at all? This game will help answer that question.

How will the Commanders handle more prime-time games and national attention?​

It’s quite a jump for the franchise. Washington did go 2-1 in prime-time regular-season games last season — and 2-0 in the postseason. The Commanders were a fresh team down the stretch last season and that helped them win seven consecutive games before losing to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. But this schedule — the night games combined with the 10th-most miles traveled — will test their endurance.

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Commanders.com​

5 takeaways from Commanders’ 2025 schedule​

3. A busier travel schedule.​

The Commanders had a favorable travel schedule in 2024, as they only had to travel across the country for one game. This year will be a bit more challenging in terms of sheer travel miles.

The Commanders won’t travel as far as the Los Angeles Chargers, who will lead the league with 37,086 miles, but they do rank just outside the top 10 with 21,363 miles. Much of that will come from the game played against the Dolphins in Spain, but they will also have to travel to SoFi Stadium to play the Chargers as well as Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers and U.S. Bank Stadium to play the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s not all bad for the Commanders, though. The games between the Packers (Week 2), Chargers (Week 5) and Vikings (Week 14) are all spread out, meaning there will not be a similar situation to last year, when they had to play the Arizona Cardinals on the road less than a week after traveling to play the Cincinnati Bengals. The Commanders will also play two western division teams (the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks) at home.

Still, the Commanders will be moving around the country far more often in 2025.

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Washington Post (paywall)​

Rating every game on the Commanders’ 2025 schedule​

A “Monday Night Football” showdown with the Chiefs and playoff rematches with the Lions and Eagles highlight Washington’s slate.

Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28 at Atlanta (1 p.m.)

Last year, the Commanders had the NFL’s easiest schedule and feasted on teams that didn’t make the postseason, going 11-1 in those games. That included a playoff-clinching 30-24 overtime win against Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons in Week 17. Expect Washington to be fired up for Dan Quinn’s return to Atlanta, where he coached for five-plus seasons.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5 at Los Angeles Chargers (4:25 p.m.)

Washington hasn’t won a road game against the Chargers (in Los Angeles or San Diego) since 1986, when Gary Clark caught a late touchdown pass from Jay Schroeder in a 30-27 win. Quarterback Justin Herbert will provide a stiff test for defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s unit.

Week 6: Monday, Oct. 13 vs. Chicago (8:15 p.m.)

The Bears come to Landover for a third straight year and the second showdown between the first two picks of the 2024 draft. Methinks Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was seen taunting the home crowd with his back to the line of scrimmage when Washington’s Hail Mary play began, will keep his focus on the field this time. The Commanders fan who was telling a Fox 5 sports reporter “I feel as though we won, for real” as the game-winning miracle was unfolding behind him would be an inspired choice for honorary captain.

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Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders could allow Jayden Daniels to participate in 2028 Olympics​

According to Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network, owners will discuss a resolution at next week’s league meeting that would allow professional players to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This will include flag football for the first time, and no more than one player from each team, coupled with a designated international player, will be permitted to participate.

This brings excitement and trepidation in equal measure. Players would no doubt relish the prospect of representing their country at such a prestigious event. For the clubs that invest millions into their stars, there will be nervousness.

The last thing the Commanders, or anyone around the league, wants is for their franchise player to get hurt doing something that isn’t team-related. Considering Daniels might have a barrier-breaking extension sewn up by the time 2028 rolls around, there is a lot potentially at stake.

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Commanders.com

Top 5 plays from Trey Amos’ 2024 season​

Amos breaks up game-tying touchdown against LSU​

Amos knows how to make big plays in clutch situations. Just look at what he did against LSU.

The Rebels had a 17-10 lead against the Tigers, who were looking to tie the score with 17 seconds left before halftime. With the ball at Ole Miss’ 28-yard line, Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier dropped back and flung a pass to tight end Mason Taylor, who was in the end zone with Amos in coverage.

Taylor is usually a reliable pass-catcher, but that was not the case working against Amos. The cornerback batted the ball away just before Taylor could get his hands on it, and LSU had to settle for a field goal.

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Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders could get Brian Daboll fired by the Giants after Week 15​

Their investment in quarterback Daniel Jones failed spectacularly. To make matters worse, running back Saquon Barkley thrived with the Eagles en route to hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy. This came after the Giants didn’t believe he was worth another financial commitment.

Speculation inevitably rose regarding the futures of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. Both came under fire last season, but owner John Mara gave them another shot to prove themselves. The margin for error is almost non-existent, and he won’t be as leniant next time around if the same trend continues.

The NFL schedule makers handed the Commanders a golden opportunity to put Daboll out of his misery. They’ll get the chance to turn up the heat immediately when the Giants come to Northwest Stadium in Week 1. If improvements haven’t been made by the time Washington’s voyage to MetLife Stadium in Week 15 rolls around, another crippling defeat to a division rival might be enough for Mara to pull the plug.

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Podcasts & videos​

Commanders Poised For A BIG Leap? | NFC East Offseason Breakdown​

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We knew the who and where. Now we know the when. Commanders schedule breakdown with @JacksonSports. Toughest and must-win stretches. Opposing QB order. Stateside game you'd pay to attend. Record predictions. More.https://t.co/fXFm7EEsn3

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 15, 2025​

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On video with 5 thoughts: on the schedule that Jayden’s popularity built; Trey Hendrickson; the OL and more. ⁦@ESPNRichmond⁩ https://t.co/h12ufEMCds

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 15, 2025​

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Episode 1,073 - Five takeaways from the Commanders' 2025 regular-season schedule. Eight national-TV games, including a franchise-record-tying five primetime games. A proper bye for the first time in four seasons. Key stretches and travel data. And more.https://t.co/bZGLGwNyrt

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) May 15, 2025​

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Photos​

Commanders.com​

The best of Trey Amos​

Check out the top photos of Commanders cornerback Trey Amos during his college career.

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NFC East links​

NFL.com​

NFL schedule: Each NFC team’s win total projection for 2025 season​

Wins - 11.0​

Philadelphia Eagles​

NFC EAST CHAMPIONS​

• Win Total: under 11.5 (-135)
• Make Playoffs: -425
• Win Division: -160
• Win Conference: +290
• Win Super Bowl: +650
• Eagles’ complete 2025 NFL schedule

Week 1’s win percentage represents Philly’s highest forecasted odds of beating Dallas in their first matchup of the season (in any week) in at least 10 seasons. You’re welcome, Eagles fans. Over the next three weeks, the defending champs visit the Chiefs, host the Rams, then travel to the Bucs — with each game presenting a much tougher task than the opener. It’s worth noting that the Eagles and Commanders don’t have their first matchup until Week 16 in Washington (with the follow-up set for Week 18 in Philly).

Wins - 10.2​

Washington Commanders​

WILD CARD​

• Win Total: over 9.5 (-140)
• Make Playoffs: -140
• Win Division: +225
• Win Conference: +900
• Win Super Bowl: +1800
• Commanders’ complete 2025 NFL schedule

Through Week 7, the Commanders are forecasted to be atop the NFC East. At that point, they will reach what could be a major turning point for their season: a Monday Night Football game in Kansas City in Week 8, followed by back-to-back home contests against the Seahawks and Lions. Washington can secure its best chance of outlasting the Eagles in the division by winning at least two of those three games. In other words, the Commanders can really set themselves up well ahead of their Week 11 game against Miami in Madrid, Spain.

Wins - 7.2​

Dallas Cowboys​

• Win Total: under 7.5 (+110)
• Make Playoffs: +190
• Win Division: +700
• Win Conference: +2800
• Win Super Bowl: +5500
• Cowboys’ complete 2025 NFL schedule

Here’s the Cowboys’ toughest three-game stretch: In Week 12, they host the Eagles, welcome the Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day in Week 13 and then head to Detroit for a Thursday Night Football clash in Week 14. It’s important to remember that if Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons, who each missed time in 2024, are available all season, Dallas’ ceiling increases, especially if rookie right guard Tyler Booker is able to get acclimated. The first-round pick had the highest floor and was my highest-rated lineman at his position in this year’s draft.

Wins - 5.4​

New York Giants​

• Win Total: under 5.5 (-115)
• Make Playoffs: +800
• Win Division: +3000
• Win Conference: +10000
• Win Super Bowl: +20000
• Giants’ complete 2025 NFL schedule

Trying to win at Washington (in Week 1) and hosting Kansas City (on Sunday Night Football in Week 3) in the first three weeks of the season is tough in itself. That becomes a much tougher ask if rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart ends up being the team’s starter. The Giants’ schedule is punishing overall and especially so midway through the campaign, with back-to-back road games in Denver (Week 7) and Philadelphia (Week 8) and home games against San Francisco (Week 9) and Green Bay (Week 11) sandwiched around a trip to Chicago. The difficult sequence finally ends in Detroit in Week 12.

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Tickets for the Washington Commanders vs Miami Dolphins game in Madrid, Spain go on sale July 8th!

Who's going?

Get updates here: https://t.co/HEDWkkOcAC pic.twitter.com/mG3nfVSCSg

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 16, 2025

No way: Cowboys stars Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb ROAST Eagles standout CB Quinyon Mitchell:

Parsons: “They [Eagles fans] talking about ‘You going to Quinyonimo Bay’”

Lamb: “Stop the cap. I ain’t never been locked down.”

pic.twitter.com/RUwi1Nxpag

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 15, 2025​

Dawg: Cowboys star WR CeeDee Lamb talks about how he feels about his signature “nose wipe” celebration being banned as the NFL labels it a “violent gesture.”:

“So disrespectful…God forbid, I’m sick,”

According to the new rule, any player who does the celebration will… pic.twitter.com/y8xraf6Q3R

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 15, 2025​

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How does GM Joe Schoen envision Kayvon Thibodeaux's role with the Giants this season?@heykayadams | @Giants pic.twitter.com/4Ycjin6upP

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 15, 2025​

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NFL league links​

BREAKING: The Indianapolis #Colts DELETED their 2025 schedule release video just an hour after posting it.

The team likely deleted it because they had the Coast Guard arresting #Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (@cheetah) in the video.

WOW… pic.twitter.com/NI7XNPmvia

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 15, 2025​

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Discussion topics​

: Robert Griffin III hinted at coming out of retirement in his latest TikTok video

RGIII last played for the Ravens in 2020. pic.twitter.com/yek0xXzyaX

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 16, 2025​

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All aTwitter​

JD5 to Scary Terry is BACK ‍ pic.twitter.com/uVy2SeXbFe

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

Washington doesn't play on Thanksgiving, but, point taken https://t.co/uVgeuPBqbf

— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) May 16, 2025​

Can't wait to deck out @NWStadium

️ https://t.co/xryvqNoCH3 pic.twitter.com/RjikKvsp07

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

Washington, coming off a 12-win season, is now favored in 12 games this season.

No crazier sign of how much has changed in a year is that the Commanders are only a 3.5 dog at KC on MNF. Imagine the line at any other point in the Mahomes era. https://t.co/tJMKbOL0mx

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 15, 2025​

Expectations pic.twitter.com/1bYnsb0351

— Big Doug (@DougMcCrayNFL) May 15, 2025​

Confident: Falcons star RB Bijan Robinson placed a bet with his friend that he will beat the Commanders by 20+ points this season.

Atlanta is coming into the season with vengeance. pic.twitter.com/GR1ETadgyb

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 16, 2025​

Weird that the Bears OC and HC have already been fired and Williams struggled as a rookie. https://t.co/iU2ySlJGP2

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 15, 2025​

Going to the right place is vital. The Bears were a disaster with a def HC and first time play caller. Daniels went to a place that had a plan for him — on the field and with how they built out support around him. Minn a terrific place too. Denver clearly as well. It matters. https://t.co/ON4kbpJbvE

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 15, 2025​

LISTEN: “We will reach a deal.” DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson now sounding like the deal to build a new Commanders stadium is inevitable. He says it will likely involve local tax dollars going to it, which he himself doesn’t support. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/ThEa0HAEvI

— Nick Iannelli (@NickWTOP) May 16, 2025​

Sam Hartman was HAMMERING these beers at the Capitals game

(via @Capitals)
pic.twitter.com/ZG2xNYWwZX

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 16, 2025​

Final: Carolina 3, Washington 1

Capitals season comes to an end in game five.

— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) May 16, 2025​

Alex Ovechkin on the Caps Game 5 loss to Carolina and elimination from the playoffs@Gio_Delfa @JPFinlayNBCS #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/wZ2n4y78RJ

— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) May 16, 2025​

Tom Wilson: “It’s really tough. This was one of the best years of my hockey career. The amount of fun we had, how close a group it truly was.” #AllCaps pic.twitter.com/gHr0s3QqRb

— Ethan Cadeaux (@Ethan_Cadeaux) May 16, 2025​

The Caps exceeded expectations and one could argue this season was the best in franchise history outside of 2017-18. https://t.co/LX4cu3jdYL

— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) May 16, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/16...representing-the-usa-in-flag-football-in-2028

 

[Washington Commanders]

2024 REWIND: Week 4 - Commanders take control of the NFC East with a road victory over the Arizona Cardinals

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

This was a fun and relaxing game to watch

The Commanders took a unique approach to a difficult schedule in Weeks 3 & 4 by traveling from the team’s Monday night game in Cincinnati directly to Arizona for this late Sunday afternoon game. The players and coaches spent the entire week together on the two-city road trip, and the team was able to use the facilities at Arizona State University, where Jayden Daniels had once been the starting quarterback, to practice and prepare for the game.

When the Sunday kickoff actually arrived, the Commanders were well-positioned. With the Eagles getting whipped by the Buccaneers 33-16 in the Week 4 early afternoon time slot, Washington entered this game against Arizona in sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

By the time the game was over, Washington had put up its first 40-burger of the Dan Quinn era and was in the division lead as the first quarter of the 2024 regular season drew to a close at the end of September.

First Quarter​

A fast start for the home team
The Cardinals got the ball first and marched right down the field for the game’s opening score. Kyler Murray hit rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. for a TD with Igbinoghene in coverage. The drive lasted 9 plays and covered 55 yards to give Arizona the first lead of the game at 7-0.

Marvin Harrison Jr with an excellent grab on 4th and 1 for the Cardinals touchdown. pic.twitter.com/Uy4A5lWFE6

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

Commanders continue streaks: scoring, no punts, no turnovers
Washington’s offense had gone 17-straight drives without a punt or a turnover, scoring on 14 consecutive possessions (not counting end-of-half kneeldowns). Today was no different. Jayden Daniels led the team on an efficient offensive drive. On 1st & goal from the 6-yard line, Brian Robinson went straight up the middle for the touchdown to complete the team’s 15th consecutive scoring drive as punter Tress Way napped on the sideline. The score was tied at 7-7 after the 9-play, 70-yard drive.

Brian Robinson Jr. and the @Commanders answer with a TD!

: #WASvsAZ on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/JCyz6dq3Ax

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024​

Cardinals
Again, it looked like the Washington defense was not able to contain the Cardinals offense, and the home team soon had 1st & 10 at the Washington 43-yard-line. However, after two more plays, it was 3rd & 9 at the 42-yard line. The attempted pass by Kyler Murray was incomplete, and the Cardinals punted. Washington set up for their second offensive possession a their own 7-yard line with just 02:39 left in the first quarter.

Washington’s 2nd offensive possession
A highlight of this drive was a beautiful pass to Terry McLaurin on the right sideline for 11 yards. The quarter ended on a 6-yard run by Brian Robinson, bringing up 2nd & 4 at the Washington 35-yard line.

Terry McLaurin is perhaps the best WR in the league when it comes to sideline footwork.

Sublime.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/wjBHoojdJX

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

Second Quarter​

A few plays into the 2nd quarter, Daniels hit on another big pass, hitting Olamide Zaccheaus for his 3rd reception of the game; this one went for 14 yards and another first down in Arizona territory. At this point, Daniels was 7 for 7 and 62 yards.

A few plays later, under pressure on first down, Daniels sloughed off a would-be sack, and scrambled for 6 yards in what was quickly becoming his signature play style.

From what seemed like a sure-fire sack, to a 6 yard gain on the ground.

Jayden Daniels! SLIPPERY!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/VxxMaUbWgb

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

On the next play, backup running back Jeremy McNichols took the ball 27 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Tiptoed for the touchdown

#WASvsAZ FOX pic.twitter.com/BY2raTYL7E

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 29, 2024​

Following the PAT, which resulted from the perfect Tress Way hold, the score stood at 14-7. The scoring drive lasted 07:31, taking 13 plays and covering 93 yards. The Commanders had scored on every offensive drive since the Week 2 kickoff and hadn’t punted since Week 1.

Cardinals go 3 & out
With a short kickoff and a shorter return, Arizona started their 3rd offensive drive at the 28-yard line. After 2 plays, it was 3rd & 1. Kyler Murray was unable to complete the pass to Michael Wilson on a play well-defended by Noah Igbinoghene, forcing the game’s first 3 & out.

Jayden Daniels throws his first career interception
After first-downs that took Washington into Cardinals territory, the offense faced 1st & 10 at the Arizona 49 yard line. On the pass attempt, which targeted Terry McLaurin, Daniels suffered his first career interception (Garrett Williams), giving the Cards the ball at their own 18-yard line.

PICK!

The @AZCardinals get the ball back.

: #WASvsAZ on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/qmwP031MF6

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024​

Commanders defense forces another 3 & out
Kyler Murray was sacked on 2nd down, bringing up 3rd & 15 at the 13-yard line. A short catch & run earned 7 yards, forcing the second 3 & out of the game.

SACK

Armstrong and Luvu bring down Kyler Murray for a loss of 5!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/juW5MZXzCA

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

Tress Way’s first punt since Week 1
Washington’s streak of scoring drives had come to an end with the interception, though Tress Way still hadn’t punted since the 4th quarter of the Tampa Bay game in Week 1.

When Washington couldn’t get any traction on this drive, for the first time in a looong time, Tress Way came on to punt. With a 51-yard punt and a 4-yard return, the result was that the Cardinals set up for business at their own 30-yard line.

Cardinals
Two plays later, the Cardinals faced 3rd & 1 at the two-minute warning, which James Conner converted, gaining 4 yards to pick up an important 1st-down for the home team. On the next play, Kyler Murray beat the blitz for an 11-yard gain, but two plays later faced 3rd & 10 at the Washington 44-yard line. After an 8-yard gain on 3rd down, the Cardinals faced 4th & 1 with 00:34 left in the half.

Head Coach Jonathan Gannon decided to go for it. The Commanders defense came up big-time, as Dorance Armstrong recorded his first sack as a Commander — burying Kyler Murray for an 8-yard loss.

SACK!

On 4th down, Dorance Armstrong works around the backside and brings down Kyler Murray for the turnover on downs!

Massive!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/cyTDYKZ2Fe

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

By halftime, the Cardinals were just 1-6 on third down conversions, and had produced 100 fewer yards of offense than had Washington.

The Commanders add 3 points before the half
Washington took over, 1st & 10 at their own 43 yard line with 00:29 on the clock and 3 timeouts in hand. Two quick pass completions — the second to Zach Ertz for 13 yards to the Arizona 39-yard line put Washington in scoring position.

On 1st down, Daniels scrambled for 7 yards to the 32-yard line. With 9 seconds left on the clock, Jeremy McNichols carried the ball to the Arizona 27, and then Austin Seibert came on to attempt his 9th field goal as a Commander.

His 45-yard kick was good enough, making the score 17-7 as the first half came to an end. The scoring drive lasted 29 seconds, covering 31 yards in 5 plays.

Be back in a few#WASvsAZ | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/cwy9Lqs4mI

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 29, 2024​

Halftime Stats​

Statistics via ESPN​

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Third Quarter​

The rout begins
The Commanders received the kickoff to start the second half with a chance to add to their 10-point lead. They earned a first down, and then, on a 47-yard pass to Noah Brown, Sean Murphy-Bunting got called for pass interference, setting up 1st & goal at the 9-yard line.

Jayden Daniels airs it out deep for Noah Brown, who can't get to the ball because the defender grabbed him early.

DPI. Commanders 1st and goal!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/6lxRe1Cr0m

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

Jayden Daniels ran the ball to the right side for an easy touchdown. The 3-play drive covered 70 yards, with the DPI call being the key play. The Commanders lead increased to 24-7 just 68 seconds into the third quarter.

TOUCHDOWN!

Twinkletoes Jayden dances behind the blockers and into the endzone for six!

Great blocks! Great vision. Great playcall!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Ge6x9OsW7h

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

Early penalties doom another Arizona drive
After another touchback, a holding call against the Cardinals on the first play created 1st & 16; another holding call brought up 1st & 26 at the 14-yard line.

After an incomplete pass, the Commanders defense got home for the third sack of the day, with Bobby Wagner and Daron Payne combining to drop Kyler Murray at the 6 yard line.

SACK

Bobby Wagner collapses the front of the pocket and Daron Payne is there at the edge, too.

Washington is having a GREAT day. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/UZ0Iy3xfP6

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

The Cardinals had to punt following an 8-yard gain on 3rd down. Olamide Zaccheaus fielded the 62-yard punt and returned it 16 yards to the Washington 40-yard line.

Commanders
Jayden Daniels, who had completed 12 of 14 passes to this point in the game, led the offense onto the field to try to add to their 17-point lead.

The offense moved the ball effectively for six plays, but then failed to convert a 3rd down on the seventh. Faced with 4th & less than a yard near the 40-yard-line, Dan Quinn, unsurprisingly, elected to go for it.

On the 4th down carry, Jeremy McNichols exploded up the middle for 15 yards.

The drive stalled again at the Arizona 19-yard line, and this time, facing 4th & 4, Quinn elected to kick the field goal.

Austin Seibert made a 38-yarder to extend the lead to 20 points at 27-7 with just over 5 minutes remaining in the quarter.

At this point, Kyler Murray was 9-14 for 70 yards, 1 TD, and he’d been sacked 3 times. Washington’s defense was doing what it needed to do to help the offense.

Arizona’s only other scoring drive of the game
On the second play of the drive, James Conner burst up the middle for a 20-yard gain to the Washington 49-yard line.

Two plays later, on another 2nd & 5, the Commanders got to Kyler Murray for the 4th time, with Jonathan Allen collecting his first sack of the season.

The Cardinals decided to go for it on 4th & 12 at their own 49-yard line, and Murray completed an out route to Marvin Harrison Jr. for 19 yards to convert an improbable first down.

Following another first down, the Arizona offense reached the red zone, with 1st & 10 at Washington’s 20-yard line. Three plays later, James Conner went straight up the middle on 1st & goal from the 6-yard line to cut into Washington’s lead. With 11 seconds left in the 3rd period, the score was 27-14.

Following the kickoff, Washington took over at the 30 yard line with enough time remaining in the quarter for just one play — a 4-yard run by Brian Robinson.

The final quarter would be all Washington.

Fourth Quarter​

Commanders score again
With a two-score lead, Washington needed another good drive to use some clock and expand the margin on the scoreboard. The first play of the 4th quarter was a line-drive pass from Daniels to McLaurin for 15 yards to generate another set of downs.

Two plays later, Daniels rolled to his right and kept the ball himself, running for 1 yards to the Arizona 34-yard line for a fresh set of downs.

On the next play — 1st & 10 — Zaccheaus gained 14 yards, but was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The first-down still counted, but Washington was now set up on the 35-yard line.

It didn’t slow down the Daniels-led offense. The Commanders converted another first down on another reception by Zaccheaus to the Arizona 21-yard line.

A holding penalty against Sam Cosmi on the next play pushed the ball back to 1st & 20 at the 31-yard line. On 2nd & 15, Luke McCaffrey got his first target and reception of the game, gaining 17 yards to set up 1st & goal at the 9-yard line.

Daniels McCaffrey

: #WASvsAZ on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/l7Dv76LjxQ

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024​

Like last week, Washington was struggling with penalties in a 4th quarter drive, but they were also eating up time on the clock. Then, there was another flag - this one for 12 men in the huddle, pushing the ball back to the 13-yard line.

On 3rd & goal from the 10-yard line, Daniels hit a wide-open Terry McLaurin in the middle of the end zone for a killing shot.

Jayden Daniels throws a dart to Scary Terry for the TD!

: #WASvsAZ on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/txEwSyl2Se

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024​

With a 19-point lead, Dan Quinn decided to go for 2 in an effort to achieve a 21-point margin. Daniels hit Zach Ertz in the end zone to push the score to 35-14.

Cardinals lose all hope with a late-game turnover
Michael Wilson appeared to fumble the ball with a Washington recovery with 07:14 remaining in the game. The officials ruled Wilson down by contact, but the call was reversed on a challenge by Dan Quinn.

With just over 7 minutes left in the game, the Commanders had possession of the ball at their own 24-yard line and a three-score lead.

The game’s final scoring drive
Two plays later, the Commanders faced 3rd & 9, and Brian Robinson broke through for an 18-yard gain. An unnecessary roughness penalty called against the Cardinals added 15 yards, pushing the ball all the way to the Arizona 42-yard line.

The Cardinals called their final timeout with 06:48 remaining on the clock, and the outcome of the game all but certain.

The Commanders drove the nails deeper into the Arizona coffin with a 27-yard catch & run by Zaccheaus, setting up another 1st & goal for the Commanders at the 10-yard line, with the opportunity to achieve a 4-score lead.

Huge gain on the sideline from Zaccheaus here and the Commanders offense isn't done for the day!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/32dspOhSnA

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 29, 2024​

Jeremy McNichols took two handoffs; the second one was a touchdown run of 7 yards, but drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for his touchdown celebration (shooting a bow & arrow). The subsequent long PAT went between the uprights, and the Commanders had hit their first 40-burger of the year, and sportswriters all over America raced to re-write their next Power Rankings article.

Jeremy McNichols with his 2nd TD of the game for the @Commanders!

: #WASvsAZ on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/C8SiHl5WFl

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024​

Bullshit call on Jeremy McNichols. A quick bow and arrow celebration turned into a 15 yard penalty. McNichols has 2 TDs, 68 yds on 8 carries. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/V6l4qEyz2r

— Arabia (@ALL32NFL_) September 29, 2024​

With just 04:30 remaining in the game, players on both sides just needed to run out the clock and go home.

For Washington, the return home would mark the end of a week-long trip that saw them win two games to achieve a 3-1 record. There were plenty of smiles on the Washington sideline.

The Cardinals, mercifully, focused on running the ball. James Conner broke 100 rushing yards with his 18th carry of the game, joining the Commanders lead back, Brian Robinson, who had 101 yards and a TD on 21 carries.

For Washington, Terry McLaurin had the most targets (10) and receptions (7); he also scored the only Commanders receiving touchdown. However, Olamide Zaccheaus led the WRs in yards, with 85.

Jayden Daniels had another impressive statistical performance, completing 26 of 30 attempts for 233 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He also ran 8 times for 47 yards and another TD.

The Cardinals were able to convert three first downs, and ended their final drive of the game at Washington’s 30-yard line.

Washington Commanders vs. Arizona Cardinals Game Highlights | NFL 2024 Season Week 4​

played our Cards right #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Q4c1njbc7F

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 29, 2024​

Full Game Stats​

Statistics via ESPN​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/16...-with-road-victory-over-the-arizona-cardinals

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 17 May 25 - Feature video focuses on Frankie Luvu, his Samoan culture, his family and the NFL

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

Sports Illustrated​

Trading for Deebo Samuel was just step one for the Commanders​

The Commanders packaged three picks to acquire All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel and elite left tackle Laremy Tunsil—two additions expected to immediately impact the offense unit.

But for Quinn, the offseason wasn’t just about landing top talent—it was about reinforcing the team’s identity of brotherhood.

“Adding those guys into the team—what does that look like? How are they connecting with teammates? That’s what the offseason is about,” he said. “We’ve been off to a good start putting this crew together. It’s a very, very competitive group.”

As for how Samuel will be used, fans can expect offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to find creative ways to showcase his versatility—but not necessarily in the same role he played in San Francisco.

“Similar, but I wouldn’t say the same,” Quinn said when asked if Samuel would line up in the backfield. “That’s kind of what’s fun about it. You find these unique things that a player has—and man, does he have them.”

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Riggo’s Rag​

NFL may have handed Dan Quinn a golden runway to Coach of the Year​

Let’s suppose that in Washington’s first 13 games, the team goes 8-5 or 9-4, or perhaps even 10-3. If the Commanders won out from there, they would enter the playoffs as arguably the NFL’s most dangerous team. They would have beaten the Eagles twice, including on their home turf, and would almost certainly be NFC East champions.

For Quinn, who missed out on winning NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2024 despite his team’s improbable playoff surge, it would be a shot at redemption.

Taking a team from the basement to contention is hard enough. Taking that next step forward into being a legitimate Super Bowl favorite is arguably even harder, especially when the team with the target on its back is in your division.

If the Commanders can make a statement down the stretch by sweeping their rivals up north and entering the 2025 playoffs as the class of the NFC East — perhaps even the conference’s No. 1 seed — there’s no doubt that Quinn would be considered a heavy favorite to win the award.

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The 51st​

D.C. pole vaulters and skateboarders hope they aren’t forgotten in push for new Commanders stadium​

A world-class pole vaulting facility and skate park could be replaced by new bars and restaurants.

But RFK isn’t completely empty: A world-class pole vaulting facility and community skate park are still used every day.

This active community of athletes is now facing an uncertain future, as the parcel of land they sit on could soon be replaced by what would become the stadium’s Plaza District.

Neither are yet in panic mode about any impending evictions, but they are fighting to make sure they’re not left out of the conversation on the future of RFK.

“This is prime real estate. It’s a no-brainer: there’s no way they’re going to let us stay here,” says Edward Luthy, who developed the pole vaulting facility. “But we want to continue saying, ‘Hey, don’t forget, we want a toehold somewhere if we can have it.’”

A pole vaulting paradise​

You can be forgiven for not knowing there is a pole vaulting training and competition facility in D.C.; I certainly didn’t until recently. But to simply say it exists is to undersell Luthy’s single-minded effort to create it – and the long list of records, championships, and elite athletes it has produced.

[Edward Luthy built] his dream pole vaulting facility in the shadow of RFK, investing more than $100,000 of his own money to buy top-shelf equipment (each pole, and there are dozens, can cost close to $1,000) to create what he says is one of the only stand-alone pole vaulting centers in the country that is certified by World Athletics for national and international competition. (On June 27-28, it is hosting a Pole Vault Championships.)

“I basically designed the facility to handle everything from six-year-olds through Olympic-level athletes,” he says. “We try to make it really engaging for all of them.”

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Podcasts & videos​

Frankie Luvu’s Journey: From American Samoa to NFL Stardom​

Panthers.com
published March 2021​

Signing with a heavy heart​

Signing an NFL contract should be a time of great celebration for any player.

But for new Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu, the only thing he could muster was that his news offered a brief moment of happiness for his parents, a small glimmer of joy in a time of deep sadness for their entire family.

Luvu came into the Panthers’ facility Tuesday dressed casually but wearing a reminder of the man he could never forget. The 24-year-old linebacker had a large button pinned to his shirt which read: “Rest in Jesus — Till We Meet Again. Frazier Luvu. Sunrise July 9, 1986, Sunset March 6, 2021.”

Frazier was the oldest of Veresa and Faaloiloia Luvu’s eight children. Frankie is the youngest.

Frankie recalled being with his brother the week before his death, speaking slowly but plainly about the grief.

“I’ve lost teammates, I’ve lost an uncle, but losing a brother that I looked up to and molded myself to be like, everything he did I wanted to imitate, . . . It was hard, it was really hard,” Luvu said. “I was in Arizona when it happened, I was by myself, I didn’t have any family around me, I was out there for training.

“It was really hard, I didn’t work out, I didn’t feel like eating, I felt stuck.”

Luvu explained that his brother took his own life, a shattering bit of news he was still processing, and which made his joining a new team more difficult to enjoy.

“Yeah, it’s hard talking about it now,” he said. “Just knowing he’s not going to be here is hard. At the end of the day, I want to make him proud.”

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Photos​

Going hunting pic.twitter.com/HRYsgPODx2

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 16, 2025​

how life feels now that the schedule is out pic.twitter.com/uO50Lm75JO

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 16, 2025​

LEGENDARY: Joe Theismann, Joe Gibbs, Jayden Daniels, Dan Quinn, Doug Williams, Mark Rypien.

3x Suoer Bowl winning Coach with his Suoer Bowl winning QBs and the future of the franchise with his Coach.

Last night at the Youth for Tomorrow Event#RaiseHail

Via @Theismann7 pic.twitter.com/mtLFVyoxd1

— WSH on the Daily (@WSHontheDaily) May 16, 2025​

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NFC East links​

Bleeding Green Nation​

5 Eagles games I’m most looking forward to in 2025​

Eagles @ Washington Commanders, Northwest Stadium - TBD, Week 16​

Yep, the NFC Championship Game rematch is No. 4 on my list. Before I discuss this game, a quick word about the schedule makers.

They’re sniffing glue.

Why on earth are these two teams playing twice in three weeks, and in the final three weeks of the season to boot? I know the NFL wants to have as many key intra-divisional games in Week 18 as possible, but the vast majority of the time at least one of the teams playing has nothing to play for in the final week of the season, so it’s more likely than not that the second of these two games will be without consequence. What a waste.

That said, the Week 16 game in DC will almost certainly have tremendous importance. It could decide the division. I’m not convinced the Commanders will be as good as they were last season, there’s a non-zero chance their 2024 run was just a Robert Griffin-like, one-season blitz, but I don’t think so. Daniels is for real, and if he’s healthy, the Commanders will be a force to be reckoned with.

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Big Blue View​

New York Giants projected to go 5-12 by pair of statistical models​

That is better than 3-14, but not by a lot

Whether you look at it by opponents’ 2025 winning percentage or by opponents’ expected 2025 win totals, the New York Giants face the most punishing schedule in the NFL during the upcoming season.

“There’s nothing we can do about it,” GM Joe Schoen said on the ‘Up & Adams’ Show.

So, how many games can the Giants, with a revamped defense and an overhauled quarterback room, be expected to win after going just 3-14 a season ago?

Our post-schedule release prediction was a generous 7-10. A majority of voters in our poll are expecting a six-to-eight-win season.

The FanDuel over/under of 5.5 victories has not budged since the schedule release.

Now, NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund is out with her simulated projection of the 2025 season. After running every game one million times, Frelund came up with a projected 5.4 victories for the Giants. She writes:

Trying to win at Washington (in Week 1) and hosting Kansas City (on Sunday Night Football in Week 3) in the first three weeks of the season is tough in itself. That becomes a much tougher ask if rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart ends up being the team’s starter. The Giants’ schedule is punishing overall and especially so midway through the campaign, with back-to-back road games in Denver (Week 7) and Philadelphia (Week 8) and home games against San Francisco (Week 9) and Green Bay (Week 11) sandwiched around a trip to Chicago. The difficult sequence finally ends in Detroit in Week 12.

The Athletic came up with 5.5 victories for the Giants in their season simulation. The Athletic gives the Giants a 4.7% chance of reaching the playoffs. The Browns (3.6%) are the only team with worse odds.

If I had to do it over again, I might revise my season prediction down to 6-11.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

Card Player​

Matthew Judon Exclusive: Pro Bowler Talks Sack Luck, NFL Future​

Pass-Rusher Ready For Big Season Wherever He Plays

While it was the four-time Pro Bowler’s lowest per-game sack production since his rookie year, Judon is adamant the fall-off didn’t have to do with luck or age.

Judon said his role was different with the Falcons compared to previous years.

“Hell naw, (it wasn’t bad luck),” Judon said in an exclusive interview with Card Player. “If you go look at the film, I dropped (into coverage) on 60 percent of the plays. It’s hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.”

Judon is one of the biggest names still available in free agency.

While he may not be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate like at his peak, the 32-year-old believes there is still gas left in the tank.

“I think I can still [play],” Judon said. “But that’s not up to me. I’m not a GM making that decision. I just have to be ready if and when my name is called.”

Judon said “a couple” teams have expressed interest, but he’s in no hurry to sign.

“I really haven’t gone to OTAs or minicamps since year 2 in the league,” Judon said. “Right now I’m just weighing the options, chilling and enjoying my family.”

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Pro Football Talk​

Brock Purdy’s contract has a true average from signing of $45 million per year​

For 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, his new contract — leaked at 5:00 p.m. ET on a Friday, where bad news usually goes to die — has a best-case number of $265 million over five years. That’s a new-money average of $53 million per year, tying him for seventh with Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

But it’s not a five-year extension that kicks in come 2026. His remaining contract, with $5.346 million in salary for 2025, gets torn up and replaced with a six-year, $279.346 million contract. That’s a per-year average from signing of $45.057 million.

Which seems more than fair for a middle-of-the-pack quarterback. And it’s OK to call him that. He’s not among the top five. It’s a stretch to put him in the top 10. For the last pick in the 2022 draft, there’s no shame in being roughly the 16th best quarterback in the entire NFL.

In time, we’ll know much more about the true value of the deal. The key factors are these: (1) signing bonus; (2) full guarantee at signing; and (3) cash flow over the first three years.

The structure of the deal also will show whether the 49ers are tied to the contract for one, two, or three years. (Teams rarely commit fully to more than three years of any non-rookie contract — except for the Browns.)

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Discussion topics​

The regular season schedule is set, so let's take a look at ... the postseason?

In my way-too-early playoff predictions, I projected the postseason, from the wild-card round to the Super Bowl.

For @NFLonFOX https://t.co/9lCSVQtWSP pic.twitter.com/0d7IdE3TBe

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) May 15, 2025​

There are two organizations that — to me — look exhausted: Kansas City and Detroit.

The Chiefs just put their heart and soul into the three-peat and failed brutally on the biggest stage. And while I think there’s a big-brother complex where Andy Reid lords over both Sean McDermott and John Harbaugh, I don’t think that’s true of Sean Payton, who will bump a fatigued Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce out of the offseason.

For the Lions, they just seem to be on a downward trend. Their two 2024 coordinators are now head coaches (Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn). It seems as if they’ll never fix their secondary issues. And now, without Johnson, I wonder if the super-powered offense might experience some vulnerability, particularly as teams league-wide bulk up to stop the trendy, run-heavy offenses.

J.J. McCarthy’s season might look like a poor man’s version of what Jayden Daniels did last year. McCarthy will be coming back from an ACL injury, which can slow a player down in the early days. But Minnesota has the supporting cast to lift its young QB. By the postseason, I think this offense will be humming. But … not at the level of the Commanders, whose offseason additions will help prevent a sophomore slump for Daniels. He’ll return to the NFC Championship Game.

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All aTwitter​

Big Play Trey ‍ @TreyAmos21 | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/N82ovuYCsR

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 3, 2025​

BREAKING: 49ers and QB Brock Purdy agree to terms on a five-year, $265M contract extension, including $181M in total guarantees. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero, @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/X9rbw300WN

— NFL (@NFL) May 16, 2025​

From The Insiders leading into our chat: The #49ers and Brock Purdy struck a deal! Officially a franchise QB. And with plenty of time to spare. pic.twitter.com/sla7bq0DiD

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 16, 2025​

His 54-yarder on the final play late in 2023 helped give Washington the no. 2 pick. Hello, Jayden Daniels. Second franchise altering play in 5 years. In ‘19 Wash stopped Miami’s 2 pt conversion on final play. A loss would have later resulted in the No 1 pick and Joe Burrow. https://t.co/VXrVYcFE3F

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 16, 2025​

The Jets have cut Greg Zuerlein.

Never forget this kick from Zuerlein. It allowed Washington to draft Jayden Daniels.pic.twitter.com/plnFKR9tYS

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 16, 2025​

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The Lions' tabled proposal on playoff reseeding will be reconsidered by NFL owners at next week's meeting in Minneapolis but it's still regarded as a long shot to be approved for next season, sources say. Some view it as a measure that could be enacted with an 18-game season.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 17, 2025​

The Lions' playoff-reseeding proposal would allow a wild-card team with a superior record to be seeded ahead of a division winner. The fact that it was tabled at the previous meeting means a vote is possible next week. But few believe the measure can get 24 votes at this point.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 17, 2025​

If they change seeding by record they have to change scheduling as well.
The Rams, Bucs and Texans will have won their division, not host a playoff game and then get a first place schedule? Do not like it. You’d have to schedule based off record now. https://t.co/nnLncxp8LZ

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) May 16, 2025​

The Packers' tabled proposal to ban the tush push is still expected to be revised on site at next week's NFL owners' meeting in Minneapolis into a proposal to prohibit pushing or pulling the ballcarrier anywhere on the field, sources say. That was always the expected timing.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 16, 2025​

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Dawg: Eagles 23-year-old CB Eli Ricks apologizes to Ivanka Trump for not seeing her and invites her to drink a glass of wine with him:

"My apologies ‍, I owe you a glass of wine now xx! "

Eli is shooting his shot for President Donald Trump's daughter. https://t.co/q6evn5Vj92 pic.twitter.com/T0wunyt6Hb

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 16, 2025​

Ivanka Trump Leaves Cute Note In Eli Ricks' Locker After Social Media Crushing | Click to read more https://t.co/Sjwvc6spno

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) May 16, 2025​

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Awesome: Running Back Rushing Yards in the NFL — By College 1966-2024:

Very surprising...

(via @DeegSports) pic.twitter.com/ZdsdhguLtM

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 17, 2025​

Jayden Daniels narrated the @WashMystics hype video for the season and it’s !

Love seeing all the continuity amongst the local teams now!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/0X27U5nWhU

— Bleeding Burgundy & Gold (@BleedinBnG) May 16, 2025​

#Commanders Deebo Samuel & Jayden Daniels in the building for #Mystics home opener @dbltakesports pic.twitter.com/2KVxuyiGg8

— Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) May 17, 2025​

How it started.
How it's going. pic.twitter.com/qdhdMsH6kj

— Disco (@discoque90) May 16, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/17...uvu-his-samoan-culture-his-family-and-the-nfl

 

[Washington Commanders]

The 2025 Washington Commanders schedule is now official!

Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

We have dates, times, primetime games and more

2025 Washington Commanders Schedule​

The gates are open…time to ride @Seatgeek | ️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGJdw pic.twitter.com/WH3tPZYwbn

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

Repeat after us: Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime

️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGJdw | @SeatGeek | @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/twythO5lXt

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 15, 2025​

The Commanders' 2025 schedule:

*5 prime-time games
*First Christmas Day game
*First international game in 9 years
*10 nationally televised games pic.twitter.com/O4oxpbZGIx

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) May 15, 2025​

Preseason​

Week 1 - @ New England Patriots (Friday, August 8th, 7:30 p.m., CBS/WUSA9)

Week 2 - vs Cincinnati Bengals Monday, August 18th, 8 p.m., MNF on ESPN)

Week 3 - vs Baltimore Ravens (TBD, CBS/WUSA9

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Regular Season​

Week 1 - vs New York Giants (Sunday, September 7th, 1 p.m., FOX)

Week 2 - @ Green Bay Packers (Thursday, September 11th, 8:15pm, Amazon)

Week 3 - vs Las Vegas Raiders, (Sunday, September 21st, 1 p.m., FOX)

Week 4 - @ Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, September 28th, 1 p.m., FOX)

Week 5 - @ Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, October 5th, 4:25 p.m., FOX)

Week 6 - vs Chicago Bears (October 13th, 8:15 p.m., Monday Night Football double header on ESPN)

Week 7 - @ Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, October 19th, 4:25 p.m.)

Week 8 - @ Kansas City Chiefs (October 27th, 8:15 pm, MNF on ABC/ESPN)

Week 9 - vs Seattle Seahawks (November 2nd, 8:15 p.m., SNF on NBC)

Week 10 - vs Detroit Lions (Sunday, November 9th, 4:25 p.m., FOX)

Week 11 - @ Miami Dolphins (November 16th, Madrid, Spain, 9:30 a.m., NFLN)

Week 12 - BYE WEEK

Week 13 - vs Denver Broncos (November 30th, 8:15 p.m., SNF on NBC)

Week 14 - @ Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, December 7th, 1 p.m. FOX)

Week 15 - @ New York Giants (Sunday, December 14th, 1 p.m., FOX)

Week 16 - vs Philadelphia Eagles (Saturday, December 20th, FOX)

Week 17 - vs Dallas Cowboys (Thursday, December 25th, 1 p.m., Christmas Day, Netflix)

Week 18 - @ Philadelphia Eagles (Date/Time TBD)

Purchase Washington Commanders tickets at StubHub!

Notes on the Washington Commanders schedule​

• Week 14 bye last three years in a row, now Week 12 after Madrid game
• No 1 p.m. games in October or November
• 5 primetime games along with international(Madrid) and Christmas(Cowboys)
• Another primetime home game against the Bears; rematch from Hail Mary game
• Last four games are against the NFC East(Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Eagles)
• Commanders could play Eagles 3 times in 4 weeks if they both make the playoffs
• Three home and three away games after the Week 12 bye
• Back-to-back home games two times, road games three times during the season
• Commanders and Patriots have discussed joint practices before their preseason game
• Commanders lead the NFL in games against teams coming off a bye(4)

The annual anticlimax​

The annual NFL schedule reveal is probably the most anti-climactic event of the year. First of all, fans know 14 of the 17 games that every NFL team will play for years in advance.

• Every NFL team plays 6 games per season against its division rivals (home & away)
• Every team in a division plays every team in another division within its conference on a rotating 3-year schedule.
• Every team in a division plays every team in another division in the opposing conference on a rotating 4-year schedule.

The other 3 games are determined at the end of the previous regular season. A team’s opponents in those three games will have finished in the same divisional ranking (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th place) — a game against an opponent from each of the remaining two in-conference divisions, and one against a non-conference division opponent (the “17th game” added in 2021), alternating home & away with the AFC home in odd years and the NFC home in even years, on a predetermined schedule of divisional pairings.

Even the home & away matchups are known long before the schedule release. This year, every AFC team plays 9 homes games, while every NFC team plays 8 home games. That’s one factor that could make this year’s schedule for NFC teams slightly harder than last year’s.

In the end, today is really only about dates, times and bye weeks.

When you throw in the leaks that start appearing on Twitter last week, there’s not really much mystery left by the time of the official release at 8pm tonight; still, the NFL manages to turn it into a 2-hour TV event.

Video: How is the NFL Schedule Created? | NFL Explained​

Watch the full @NFL Explained on how the schedule is created: https://t.co/tdyg0MVS7K

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) May 15, 2024

No fan is ever satisfied with his or her favorite team’s schedule; there’s always something (often many things) to complain about. Some fans wonder why the announcement of the schedule release date is sometimes delayed until the last minute. Putting the schedule together is incredibly complex. If you want to get the flavor of the complexity, watch the embedded video above.

The factors are crazy — stadium availability, holidays, travel distance, international games, television contracts — it’s mind boggling.

Thirty-two NFL teams will travel 625,947 miles this season. Here is the breakdown, via @billsperos: pic.twitter.com/WJ2sU5hrVG

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2025​

TV contracts change regularly, changing the dynamics of the schedule, but there have been other changes as well, such as the “Black Friday” games that are now played on the day after Thanksgiving. Also, teams are allowed to play two Thursday games this year, and not every team is guaranteed a prime-time game.

Purchase Washington Commanders tickets at StubHub!

NFL Week 1 schedule​

THE WEEK 1 SCHEDULE IS HERE @FedEx pic.twitter.com/GQ6qelFO64

— NFL (@NFL) May 15, 2025​

International games schedule​

More scheduling announcements: the NFL’s full 2025 international slate. pic.twitter.com/YRYtpj51XP

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2025​

Holiday schedules​

Thanksgiving & Football @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/MYgmc1dBRd

— NFL (@NFL) May 15, 2025​

The best Christmas gift? A full day of football. @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/p6V40fLQGg

— NFL (@NFL) May 15, 2025​

The full 2025 NFL season schedule​

The full 2025 NFL schedule in one graphic: pic.twitter.com/qkKFQU5wxU

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 15, 2025​

Betting lines​

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/14/24425841/the-2025-washington-commanders-schedule-is-now-official

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 18 May 25 - WR Jaylin Layne reps the Commanders at NFL Rookie Premiere

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

ESPN​

Rookie NFL running back role tiers: Stacking 25 draft picks​

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders​

2025 projection: 8 carries, 34 yards, 0 TDs; 0 receptions, 0 yards, 0 TDs

Drafted: Round 7, No. 245

After four seasons at Alabama State, Croskey-Merritt had his breakout season at New Mexico in 2023 before appearing in only one game in 2024 for Arizona. His elite 2023 efficiency (8.2 yards per carry) is notable, but he’s an older developmental back at 24. With Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler leading the depth chart, and Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. being in the mix, Croskey-Merritt is not a lock to make Washington’s 53-man roster.

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Commanders.com​

Top 5 plays from Jaylin Lane’s 2024 season​

Lane scores on a reverse against Miami​

Virginia Tech liked using Lane on reverses because he could use his speed to get to the edge. One of the best examples of that came against Miami, and the play helped the Hokies get a leg up on the Hurricanes.

The play was executed to perfection. Drones handed the ball off to the receiver in motion, who then flipped it back to Lane running in the opposite direction. A few of Miami’s defenders caught on but couldn’t catch up to Lane. Once Lane got to the sideline, he followed his blockers and cruised into the end zone to put Virginia Tech up 21-14.

It was another solid day for Lane, who had 69 yards on five touches.

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Pro Football Talk

Commanders will face four opponents coming off byes in 2025 - Michael David Smith, NBC Sports​

Washington’s opponents will have plenty of rest this season.

The Commanders will play some well-rested opponents this season.

The NFL schedule makers gave Washington four games against teams coming off their bye weeks, which is the most of any team in the NFL this season.

The Commanders will see the Bears in Week Six, Seahawks in Week Nine, Broncos in Week 13, and Giants in Week 15, all coming off their byes. The Commanders’ bye is in Week 12 at the same time as the Broncos, so Washington does not get to play a less-rested team after its own bye week.

According to Seth Walder of ESPN, only 10 teams since 2002 have had to play four different opponents coming off their byes.

The good news for the Commanders is that bye weeks have become less important in recent years, and last year teams coming off their byes actually had a losing record. So the extra rest may not help the Commanders’ opponents all that much.

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Podcasts & videos​

Episode 1,074 - Guest: @MarkBullockNFL. Great All-22-style analysis of Jaylin Lane, Kain Medrano & Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

Reaction to end of Capitals' season
Time for Nats to sign CJ Abrams to contract extension
Breakdowns of latest losses for Nats & O'shttps://t.co/X72kGBB3CA

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) May 16, 2025​

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In Part 1 of a two-part Take Command segment, Mina Kimes joined Craig Hoffman to break down the Commanders' offensive personnel: https://t.co/1ASLCDeifK pic.twitter.com/aYiNO8gdii

— The Team 980 (@team980) May 17, 2025​

Part 2 of the two-part Take Command segment: Mina Kimes breaks down the Commanders' defensive personnel with Craig & Logan! https://t.co/UaQy6brm64 pic.twitter.com/pYwPOm6Rv8

— The Team 980 (@team980) May 17, 2025​

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Photos​

5/17 DAY!!!!!!!!@JayD__5 x @TheTerry_25 pic.twitter.com/uiFC6GY0R4

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 17, 2025​

Cut the check AP — Future HOF #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/gaA0fFugog

— Burgundy&Gold Soulja (@FLYSHit_Period) May 17, 2025​

Last year's Rookie Premiere pic.twitter.com/vFOv5pDbwa

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 17, 2025​

Jaylin Lane in the #RookiePremiere class #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/ABrxXBY0QQ

— Wam ✞ (@WamNFL) May 17, 2025​

First look at Jaylin Lane in a #Commanders jersey

Sure looks like a future pro bowler to me
#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/77N8MDfAmH

— Wam ✞ (@WamNFL) May 17, 2025​

REDSKINS REWIND: 1942 NFL Champions! No Hail Mary needed.

Redskins 14
Bears 6 pic.twitter.com/JQJzk3sXPF

— DRB 15 (@DaveBroadie) May 17, 2025​

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NFC East links​

Pro Football Focus​

2025 offseason grades for all 32 NFL teams​

DALLAS COWBOYS: C+​

This grade comes down to what Brian Schottenheimer is as a head coach. The Cowboys waited a long time to make a move to hire him (and determine Mike McCarthy’s future), watching several good head coach candidates sign elsewhere in the meantime. They were also very quiet in free agency (not uncommon for them) when they had money to spend.

Dallas’ draft was a home run, though, especially the team’s first three picks. I remain worried about how their offensive and defensive lines will come together in 2025, with Zack Martin retiring on offense and the duo of Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa, who earned PFF run-defense grades of 35.9 and 50.8, respectively, slated to start again.

NEW YORK GIANTS: B-​

The Giants took swings at quarterbacks Geno Smith and Matthew Stafford in the trade market, and even called up to No. 1 overall for Cam Ward. But they were forced to settle for Jaxson Dart at the back end of Round 1. Defensive backs Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland were great additions via free agency for a defense that earned a 52.2 PFF coverage grade last season. The Giants’ draft was very good overall, earning an A- in PFF’s draft grades.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: B​

It was an offseason of substitutions and additions for the Eagles. They lost Kellen Moore at offensive coordinator but replaced him with Kevin Patullo, who has been their pass game coordinator since 2021. Philadelphia also waved goodbye to Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers in free agency, but the team’s roster is set up — especially with newly drafted players — to fill those vacated roles. It was a lot of change, but the Eagles were prepared for it.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: A-​

No one was poached from the Commanders’ coaching staff after the team’s hugely successful 2024 season. They also made big splashes by trading for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel and signing Deatrich Wise and Jonathan Jones for depth.

I also like that the Commanders brought back veterans Zach Ertz and Bobby Wagner. Their draft class was small in number, but the Josh Conerly Jr. pick could be huge for the flexibility of their offensive line in the short and long term. The only things holding Washington back from a better grade were the team’s overpay for Javon Kinlaw and lack of upgrades at edge rusher.

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Giants GM Joe Schoen shares his thoughts on their defense. pic.twitter.com/h3RHXSqA07

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 18, 2025​

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pic.twitter.com/LpT16vdFDD

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 17, 2025​

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NFL league links​

Articles​

ESPN​

Derek Carr retired, then an avalanche of unanswered questions followed​

Less than three months after the New Orleans Saints named him head coach, Moore found himself confronting a barrage of news conference questions about a player he had never coached — never even met with in person — since taking the job. The Saints had announced quarterback Derek Carr’s surprise retirement three hours earlier, with the team saying in a statement that Carr experienced pain in his throwing shoulder in late March after his first significant throwing session of the offseason. The Saints said scans determined Carr had a torn right labrum and “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.”

The dual May 10 statement from Carr and the team left a lot of questions. Twenty-three of them, in fact, were posed to Moore on Saturday, including these:

When did Carr decide to retire? How did he get injured? Did you talk to Carr yourself about the retirement? Why did you say you were optimistic at league meetings that Carr would play if, according to your statement, you’d just found out Carr was injured? Why were the Saints searching for clarity on Carr’s condition if his communication was “really good” as you said?

Everyone concedes Carr is injured. Not everyone believes it’s the full story of why he retired.

NFL pauses coach accelerator, plans to reimagine program​

The NFL has paused the accelerator program it has used for three years to help increase diversity levels in key coaching positions, the league confirmed Tuesday.

The latest accelerator event, which connects coaches of diverse backgrounds with owners and team executives, had been scheduled to take place during next week’s spring meeting in Eagan, Minnesota. There have been a total of five such events since the program’s inception in 2022, most recently with coaches at the 2025 scouting combine.

In a statement provided to ESPN, NFL chief administrative officer Dasha Smith said the program will be reimagined and return next year.

“We believe diversity of thought and background is essential to our success,” Smith said in the statement, “and it’s reflected in the policies, programs, and partnerships that help us attract, develop, and retain top talent at every level on and off the field.

“Every off-season, we take a step back to reflect on the positives and areas for improvement of our programs and assess ways to make them more impactful. This year, we assessed and identified additional opportunities with the Accelerator — including combining the coaching and front office programs to ensure the Accelerator continues to be as impactful as possible.

“We have decided to hold the next iteration of the Accelerator in May 2026. This will allow us to reimagine the program, reflecting on the feedback and engaging with stakeholders so we can ensure a successful program in the future. We’re steadfast in our commitment to strengthen our talent pipeline and create an environment that reflects the diversity of our fan base. The NFL strives to be a unifying force, and we are confident the next evolution of our efforts will take us one step closer to that goal.”

---

Discussion topics​

Pro Football Talk​

Cam Ward not being scheduled for a primetime game is a rarity for No. 1 overall QB​

The Titans used the No. 1 overall pick on quarterback Cam Ward. Yet, the Titans are one of only three teams not to have a primetime game.

NFL Vice President of Broadcast Planning and Scheduling Mike North explained the league’s reasoning for shutting out the Titans.

“We kind of have this adage that you play your way into primetime,” North told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. “You don’t draft your way into primetime. So the Titans are one of the teams that don’t currently have a national television window assigned. But that’s what things like flexible scheduling are for. And if you look down the stretch for the Titans, they play San Francisco in Week 15, Kansas City in Week 16. They’ve got the same opportunity every other team has to play their way into a national window.”

That’s all well and good, but the past two No. 1 overall picks — Bryce Young with Carolina in 2023 and Caleb Williams with Chicago in 2024 — had multiple night games as rookies despite both their teams coming off 7-10 seasons.

The last No. 1 overall pick not to have a primetime game was edge rusher Myles Garrett with Cleveland in 2017.

The last quarterback drafted No. 1 overall not to have a primetime game as a rookie was Cam Newton with Carolina in 2011.

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“It probably doesn't get any bigger right now than KC & Dallas, they're the two most viewed teams in the league…”

“Put them together and put them on Thanksgiving. MAYYYYBE we can get Taylor to sing the national anthem…”

NFL Schedule Creator Mike North on putting Cowboys vs… pic.twitter.com/wXDULuoMYr

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 15, 2025​

---

All aTwitter​

Happy 5/17 to all who celebrate #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/mJKZv8bpKe

— SleeperCommanders (@SleeperWSH) May 17, 2025​

Jayden Daniels partnering with #Nike introducing the new @Hyperice boot ‍ ‍ #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/akgQQnvy8E

— PAIN (@Xommanders) May 17, 2025​

Commanders rookie WR Jaylin Lane will be a very good player in the NFL.

Fontel Mines, his WR coach at VT, is one of the most underrated coaches in country, imo.

Washington was the best possible landing spot to unlock his full potential. #RaiseHail

— JD (@CommanderJD5) May 17, 2025​

RD 4 | PK 128 - Jaylin Lane WR, Virginia Tech

Lane recorded a 4.34-second 40-yard dash, 11-foot broad jump, and a 40-inch vertical at this year's Scouting Combine, all of which ranked 3rd among wide receivers to workout. His performance in Indy earned himself an NGS athleticism… pic.twitter.com/gLLdNObwsG

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 26, 2025​

A Jaylin Lane touchdown from 2023

Hits a top speed of 20.9 MPH
pic.twitter.com/fE10QM71QQ

— DC Rising (@DC__Rising) April 26, 2025​

"Extremely unique. As in has never happened before in NFL history..."

Detroit Lions fans

No one breaks down the NFL schedule better than @SharpFootball and he joined me today on the @VSiNLive Weekend Morning Line pic.twitter.com/BDp7fHgBpU

— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) May 17, 2025​

Rod Tidwell is weeping https://t.co/wdPAx2HsKV

— Steve Lawlis (@stevelawlis) May 17, 2025​

Brandon Hyde's last game was a loss to the #Nats https://t.co/RvYYfMJnaf

— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) May 17, 2025​

The magical run for Commanders’ owner Josh Harris continues. As a general partner of the English football club the Crystal Palace Eagles, Harris was in London today to witness his club defeat Manchester City 1-0 to raise its first major trophy in its history, 164 years. Here’s… pic.twitter.com/4RF7SpSvVX

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 17, 2025​

Unbelievable effort pic.twitter.com/XjRFAQ5qQc

— Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) May 17, 2025​

---

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/18...ne-reps-the-commanders-at-nfl-rookie-premiere

 

[Washington Commanders]

Washington Commanders way too early 53-man roster projection

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The doldrums of the NFL offseason are upon us, and with that comes...well, less to write about until training camp begins.

With a brand new crop of players added this offseason via trades, free agency, the NFL Draft and undrafted free agents, I wanted to take my first stab at predicting the 53-man roster and practice squad. Now, I know this will remain very fluid, as players will be added and cut before we even get to training camp, however, I will play the hand I’m dealt and give it my best shot with the current roster.

Below is my breakdown of offense, defense and special team, followed by practice squad candidates.

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Offense (24)​

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

QB (2)​

Starter: Jayden Daniels

Backup: Marcus Mariota

Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

RB (3)​

Starters: Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler

Backup: Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

WR (6)​

Starters: Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Noah Brown

Backups: Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, Michael Gallup

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

TE (4)​

Starter: Zach Ertz

Backups: John Bates, Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

OL (9)

Starters: Laremy Tunsil, Brandon Coleman, Tyler Biadasz, Andrew Wylie, Josh Conerly

Backups: Trent Scott, Nick Allegretti, Nate Herbig, Tim McKay

*Sam Cosmi to PUP

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Defense (26)​

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

EDGE (5)​

Starters: Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise

Backups: Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Clelin Ferrell, Jacob Martin

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

DT (5)​

Starters: Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw

Backups: Jer’Zhan Newton, Eddie Goldman, Sheldon Day

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

LB (5)​

Starters: Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu

Backups: Jordan Magee, Dominique Hampton, Kain Medrano

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CB (6)​

Starters: Marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos, Mike Sainristil

Backups: Jonathan Jones, Noah Igbinoghene, Fentrell Cyprus

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

S (5)​

Starters: Quan Martin, Will Harris

Backups: Tyler Owens, Percy Butler, Jeremy Reaves

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Special Teams (3)​

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Punter (1)​

Tress Way

Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kicker (1)​

Matt Gay

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Long Snapper (1)​

Tyler Ott

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Returners​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Kick Returners ​

Luke McCaffrey, Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Punt Returner​

Jaylin Lane

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Practice Squad Candidates:​

Sam Hartman (QB)

Chris Rodriguez (RB)

Michael Wiley (RB)

Lawrence Cager (TE)

Ja’Corey Brooks (WR)

Jacoby Jones (WR)

Tyre Phillips (OL)

Chris Paul (OL)

Foster Sarell (OL)

Jalyn Holmes (DL)

Norell Pollard (DL)

Andre Jones (DL)

*T.J. Maguranyanga (DL)

Kam Arnold (LB)

Allan George (DB)

Carlin Viggers (DB)

Robert McDaniel (DB)

---

Notes:

-I see no reason to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster.

-I went with just three running backs because Samuel could also see some carries back there.

-The fight for WR6 should be an interesting one to watch during camp.

-We kept four tight ends last year, and the staff seems to like Yankoff as a special teams contributor.

-I have us keeping nine offensive linemen, however, if another spot opens up, I could see us adding a tenth.

-With the focus on stopping the run, I think 10 defensive linemen is the number we go with.

-I see the three young linebackers being kept over the 36yr old Nick Bellore.

-I was torn on six corners and four safeties, but it seems the staff does not want to lose the leadership and special teams prowess of Reaves - even if he won’t see much action on defense, so I went with a fifth safety.

-Lane should be the obvious punt returner.

-Because he’s a bit older, I kept Ekeler off kick returns and let McCaffrey and JCM handle those duties.

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/19...anders-way-too-early-53-man-roster-projection

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 19 May 25 - PFF says Commanders have weakest defensive line group in NFL

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

ESPN​

Inside the first month of being an NFL rookie​

EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL for Washington Commanders first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. during rookie minicamp. There were classroom meetings, drills with coaches and bonding with new teammates.

Until the final day, May 10. That’s when the Navy SEALs arrived.

They talked to the rookies for approximately 30 minutes about grit and mindset and what it was like to train like a SEAL. Then they had them perform a drill that reinforced what Commanders coach Dan Quinn often emphasizes: teamwork and communication.

They had three teams — two with six players and another with coaches — lift a 250-pound log. Whichever team held it in position the longest won. They squatted with it, did lunges and then held it at their shoulders with the log covering their neck area.

Conerly’s six-man crew emerged victorious after about five minutes.

“It gets hard after three or four minutes, to be honest,” said the 21-year-old Conerly, an offensive tackle.

But for Conerly and the other rookies in camp, the day reinforced the message Quinn wanted them to receive. Quinn has brought in the Navy SEALs in the past, both when he was in Atlanta and last year with Washington. With the rookies, the goal was to bring everyone together quickly after having been off for a while.

“It was cool, knowing that you all have to be on the same page, hear the same communication, and you just have to move as one at all times,” Conerly said. “One thing that kind of stands out to me about Coach Quinn, and one of his quotes, is doing hard ... I’m going to say ‘stuff’ with good people. That resonates throughout the whole building.”

---

Riggo’s Rag​

Commanders 53-man roster projection​

Commanders running backs (4)​

• Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols.

The Washington Commanders’ ground game regressed as the season went on. Kliff Kingsbury’s offense was far too reliant on Jayden Daniels, which he’s more than capable of. However, it’s a trend that cannot continue moving forward.

Adam Peters opted to keep faith with the options already available. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler will once again play key roles in the final year of their respective deals. However, there’s a growing belief that the Commanders might have a steal on their hands with seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

If Croskey-Merritt takes on coaching, he’s got a good chance of establishing himself right out of the gate. If he needs a little longer, Jeremy McNichols is perfectly capable of manning the third spot behind Ekeler and Robinson.

Commanders wide receivers (6)​

• Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Noah Brown, Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, Michael Gallup.

The Commanders’ wide receiver room has a nice mix of explosiveness and youthful exuberance entering the 2025 season. Adam Peters struck a telling blow by trading for Deebo Samuel Sr., whose versatility and dynamism look tailor-made for Kliff Kingsbury’s schematic concepts.

Terry McLaurin remains the undisputed alpha, and he could get a new deal before Week 1 rolls around. Noah Brown re-signed to a one-year deal. He’ll be tasked with providing a physically imposing downfield threat capable of accumulating big plays and defensive pass interference penalties.

Luke McCaffrey should improve after being brought along gradually as a rookie. Jaylin Lane, the No. 128 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, has the traits capable of carving out an immediate role for himself. A chance is also taken on Michael Gallup, who came out of retirement to join Dan Quinn’s ambitious project.

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Pro Football Focus​

Strongest, weakest position groups after free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft​

Defensive Line​

Strongest: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers boasted the NFL’s top-graded defensive line last season. T.J. Watt is still at the top of his game as the only player who earned 90.0-plus PFF grades in run defense and as a pass rusher in 2024. Alex Highsmith wasn’t far behind with an 89.3 PFF pass-rush grade.

Even at his advanced age, Cameron Heyward managed to rank second among defensive tackles with a 90.1 PFF overall grade. Add in contributions from Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton and first-round pick Derrick Harmon, who led all FBS interior defenders in pressures last season, and the Steelers will once again carry an elite unit into the 2025 season.

Weakest: Washington Commanders

Washington fielded the second-lowest-graded defensive line in the NFL last season. The team added a few veterans to the group, but none project to be impact players. Javon Kinlaw has improved a bit as a pass rusher but has never earned above a 55.0 PFF overall grade in his five NFL seasons. Jacob Martin projects as a rotational pass rusher, as well.

Deatrich Wise Jr. and Eddie Goldman have both struggled over the past two seasons. Playing in a division with the Philadelphia Eagles will necessitate some surprise performances from the Commanders’ defensive line, which looks like the team’s biggest weakness.

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The Athletic (paywall)​

Must-watch game for every NFL team during the 2025 regular season​

Chicago Bears: at Commanders, Week 6​

It should surprise no one that this game will be played in prime time. Before we knew much about these teams in 2024, the NFL flexed it into a late-afternoon time slot. The result was the craziest finish of the season, one that began the demise of Matt Eberflus’ tenure and the Bears’ season, and helped ignite a magical Commanders run to the NFC Championship Game. This one could have serious NFC playoff implications. For a non-division game, this is as marquee as it gets. — Kevin Fishbain

Washington Commanders: vs. Dolphins, Week 11 in Madrid​

For the first time since 2016, Washington fans can break out their passports to watch the burgundy and gold. That rarity and the international setting raise the intrigue against a Dolphins team coming off an 8-9 season. There’s no sleeping for Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and cornerback Marshon Lattimore against the explosive passing combination of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. — Ben Standig

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Podcasts & videos​

Talked to Louisiana-Monroe coach Bryant Vincent about Jacory Croskey-Merritt (was his OC at New Mexico); and CB Car’lin Vigers. He also coached at South Alabama when @JR1ERA played there. Good insight. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/e5OzMmt73J

— John Keim (@john_keim) May 19, 2025​

THE DEEBO SAMUEL DOCUMENTARY (This is from when he was still with San Francisco)​

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Photos​

.@j_lane_2 suited up#RookiePremiere x #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/CYslJF57GE

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 18, 2025​

A new playmaker for the @Commanders #NFLPA #RookiePremiere #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/vsZIeZ01UR

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 18, 2025​

that's our WR duo pic.twitter.com/JvKsa2MWqo

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 18, 2025​

️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGbnY pic.twitter.com/QzRDd0CmWC

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 18, 2025​

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NFC East links​

Sports Illustrated​

2025 NFL Season: Ranking Every Roster in the NFC East​

The Eagles may be the defending Super Bowl champions, but the Cowboys, Commanders and Giants all made moves to get better this offseason.

1. Philadelphia Eagles​

The Eagles retaining the No. 1 spot is a testament to the depth GM Howie Roseman has built throughout the roster over the years. The three other NFC East teams gained plenty of talent while the defending Super Bowl champions were forced to part with several key starters this offseason to maintain cap space flexibility.

But even with all the splash trades and signings elsewhere, the Eagles remain a level above the rest with their stacked offensive line and the league’s best running back in Saquon Barkley....

2. Dallas Cowboys​

The Cowboys went from a fringe playoff team to a contender in the loaded NFC East thanks to the late offseason trade of Pickens.

3. Washington Commanders​

The Commanders were a year early with their surprising run to the NFC championship game behind Jayden Daniels’s historic rookie season. Thanks to two splash trades and an impressive draft class, Washington has built a legitimate contender with a roster that had several holes a year and a half ago.

After years of doing the heavy lifting, McLaurin has a quality running mate in Samuel, the versatile playmaker acquired from the San Francisco 49ers. Daniels should have a cleaner pocket this year with the arrival of left tackle Laremy Tunsil, the five-time Pro Bowler and former Houston Texan. There’s also depth at tackle with the team investing a first-round pick on Josh Conerly Jr., who could compete with veteran Andrew Wylie for the right tackle spot.

Washington continued its renovations of the once shaky secondary with the second-round selection of Trey Amos and signing of veteran Jonathan Jones. With more help, Marshon Lattimore could have a better season after struggling to find his footing with his new team following the midseason trade from the New Orleans Saints. Plus, the Commanders got it right with slot cornerback Mike Sainristil, the 2024 second-round pick.

4. New York Giants​

The Giants’ offense still needs plenty of work, but this unit acquired better quarterback options with the signing of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and the first-round selection of Jaxson Dart. None are Hurts, Prescott or Daniels, but whoever wins the starting job won’t have to be perfect when playing with a stacked defense.

New York could have one of the best defensive fronts in the league after using the No. 3 pick on Abdul Carter, who’ll play next to defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

---

The Athletic (paywall)​

If Cowboys get George Pickens’ best, what would that mean for 2026 and beyond?​

In Lamb, the Cowboys are already paying a wide receiver top dollar. They are also paying the quarterback the most money of any player in NFL history, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will often remind you. Without any restructures, that’s roughly 35 percent of the team’s salary cap tied to two players in the passing game.

Would the Cowboys add Pickens to that equation?

The messaging from the front office has been inconsistent. Jones has spoken often about funds allocation, in terms of the salary-cap “pie” and the limits for how much investment goes into certain positions. For a time, they pointed to the big contracts they gave out last year and stated that it was the responsibility of those players to raise the level of their games to elevate the passing game, and the offense in general. However, the tune has changed a bit over the past month. In drafting Tyler Booker at No. 12 and trading for Pickens, the Cowboys are investing in their investments.

As long as Prescott has glowing results in 2025, the Cowboys will likely continue to build around him. They understand that these next four years of Prescott’s contract are likely the final years of a contending window with Prescott in his prime. Prescott is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but he’s not top-tier. He needs the right pieces around him. If the Lamb-Pickens duo proves to be the talent that elevates Prescott, it would serve the Cowboys well to keep the tandem together.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

NFL.com​

2025 NFL schedule: Lions, Browns among seven teams with toughest 17-game slates​

Rank - 1 - Detroit Lions - 2024 record: 15-2​

• Strength of schedule: .571 (T-2nd)
• Prime-time games: 5

Replacing both coordinators following a shocking playoff loss to the Commanders would be hard enough for the Lions if they didn’t have to take on a monstrous opposing slate featuring 11 games against teams that made the playoffs last year. They are also TV darlings now, and their schedule is littered with showcase games.

The Lions open with the Packers in Green Bay, followed by the Bears (for Ben Johnson’s return to Detroit) and a road game against the Ravens. The hits just keep coming, leading into the Week 8 bye: at Cincinnati (Week 5), at Kansas City on Sunday night (Week 6) and home against the Buccaneers on Monday night (Week 7). And then what about another trifecta coming out of the break? Week 9 brings a home game against the Vikings, followed by roadies at Washington and Philadelphia (the latter being another prime-time battle, on Sunday night).

Detroit will also have three Thursday games this season: the traditional Thanksgiving game (against the Packers), the following week’s matchup against the Cowboys and Christmas Day at the Vikings. Oh, and in between those two games, they face the Rams and Steelers, too.

The Lions will have a shot at going 8-0 at home, one year after they lost three times at Ford Field (counting the postseason). But the road schedule is arguably the NFL’s most imposing. Each of Detroit’s nine road opponents harbor anywhere from fair to very realistic playoff hopes.

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Discussion topics​

Pro Football Talk​

The Vikings’ two-week European road trip is a sign of things to come​

For the first time ever, an NFL team will play a pair of road games in two different European cities. It’s a sign of things to come.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Vikings’ Week 4 game against the Steelers in Dublin followed by their Week 5 game against the Browns in London is trial run for the expanded use of multiple teams that will play in multiple European cities in consecutive weeks.

As soon as next year, there could be two or three teams that swap two traditional road games for a pair of neutral-site games in London and/or Dublin and/or Germany and/or Spain and/or elsewhere in Europe.

In 2026, those teams would likely come from the AFC, which will have nine road games in the current 17-game eight/nine home/away rotation.

Eventually, look for four franchises to serve as the “road” team in (math is hard) eight European games.

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All aTwitter​

Rick Snider’s Washington discusses second-guessing over proposed Washington Commanders stadium. Gimme two minutes. pic.twitter.com/FFj2kacuKM

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) May 19, 2025​

As part of his five-year, $265-million extension, #49ers QB Brock Purdy received a full no-trade clause for the duration of the deal, sources tell The Insiders.

Purdy gets financial security and control over his future in a deal that will be finalized and official soon. pic.twitter.com/Ngarmt2gwN

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 19, 2025​

.

The most improved offensive lines this offseason pic.twitter.com/6HZ2LUHAeL

— PFF (@PFF) May 18, 2025​

Which team improved their offensive line the most this offseason? pic.twitter.com/zZLxW9LK9j

— PFF (@PFF) May 19, 2025​

Guys who made the most of every target in the regular season last year pic.twitter.com/VM3JyYRYt1

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) May 18, 2025​

The Packers' proposal to ban the tush push, tabled by NFL owners in April at the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, is expected to be modified on site at this week's meeting in Minneapolis to prohibit pushing or pulling the ballcarrier anywhere on the field.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 19, 2025​

: Davante Adams says he yells “milk check” to his QB anytime he’s lined up against a white cornerback:

“Have y’all ever heard of the milk check? You get out there, you got one on: ‘Milk Check.’ You scream that to the quarterback. You let em know.”

(via… pic.twitter.com/JrmTbAYZig

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 18, 2025​

Deebo Samuel in the HOUSE!!!

: ABC | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/xOucAuHI64

— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 18, 2025​

WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/neeJjMAaAS

— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) May 18, 2025​

DEFENDERS WIN & CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT ️ @TheUFL @XFLDefenders pic.twitter.com/YxwuqVztca

— Arabia (@ALL32NFL_) May 18, 2025​

ABC audience misses thrilling finish when UFL game between Arlington and D.C. was switched to ESPN2 with less than two minutes to play to accommodate NBA pregame show. https://t.co/OZfH4l6Hdv

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 18, 2025​

Best pursuit tackle I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/gpnecpH8SG

— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) May 18, 2025​

Final: Mystics 90 Sun 85

What a game. Sonia Citron closes it out for Washington and the Mystics are 2-0!

Sykes: 27 pts, 7 ast
Iriafen: 17 pts, 14 reb
Citron: 15 pts

So impressed by this trio. What a start to the season for Washington

— Mason Kinnahan (@Mason_Kinnahan) May 18, 2025​

The Terps are headed to the Final Four!

https://t.co/e9eFlhr9OY#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/F5MgVHiTx0

— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) May 18, 2025​

Hero down.

"Ed Smylie, Who Saved the Apollo 13 Crew With Duct Tape, Dies at 95"https://t.co/mgPWjr9dhK

— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) May 18, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/19...ders-have-weakest-defensive-line-group-in-nfl

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 20 May 25 - Commanders have one of the NFL’s most expensive wide receiver rooms

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

Pro Football Focus​

Jayden Daniels ranked among PFF’s top 25 players under 25​

It has been just over a year since the Washington Commanders drafted quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick, and he has already placed himself among the best young players in the NFL.

Daniels, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year after setting multiple team and league records, was listed No. 4 on Pro Football Focus’ list of top 25 players under 25 entering this season. He is the highest-ranked player from the 2025 class on the list.

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (No.1), Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (No.2) and Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (No. 4) are the only players ranked ahead of him.

“According to PFF WAR, Daniels accounted for more than three wins on the year alone,” Macri wrote, “which was a top-five mark in the league.”

AURA off the charts #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/kJFDrJbzDD

— PAIN (@Xommanders) May 19, 2025​

Every Jayden Daniels touchdown from his incredible rookie season @JayD__5 | @commanders pic.twitter.com/xzF006q0z5

— NFL (@NFL) May 19, 2025​

This might be a hot take, but I think Caleb Williams is lightyears ahead of Jayden Daniels.

I’d like to consider myself an unbiased Eagles fan, but I just don’t think it’s close.

If we were talking off just one year, it feels like RG3 compared to Andrew Luck

— Kendall Beck (@KBeckEagles) May 17, 2025​

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Commanders Wire​

Washington Commanders have one of the NFL’s most expensive wide receiver rooms​

most expensive WR rooms in 2025:

1. CIN - $55.01M
2. TB - $47.9M
3. TEN - $45.5M
4. MIA - $43.3M
5. WAS - $42.0M
6. CHI - $38.7M
7. IND - $37.0M
8. ATL - $36.0M
9. DET - $33.5M
10. DAL - $33.3M
11. PHI - $31.5M
12. DEN - $30.5M
13. LAR - $28.9M
14. MIN - $27.7M
15. NE - $27.6M…

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 12, 2025​

Based on total cap hit, Terry McLaurin is the biggest hit with a $25.5 million cap hit. Deebo Samuel is next at $5.151, followed by Noah Brown with $3.01. McLaurin and Samuel make up over 71% of the cap hit to the Commanders in 2025.

Remember, this was by design. Peters knew he needed to get weapons for Daniels, so he did. McLaurin’s deal was done before Peters came on board, and it’s likely he’ll negotiate a new contract before he becomes a free agent next spring.

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Commanders.com​

Top 5 plays from Kain Medrano’s college career​

Medrano gets a pick-six against Nebraska.​

Medrano was one of the most athletic linebackers in this year’s draft class, and that ability shined whenever he had the ball in his hands.

Medrano’s only defensive touchdown in his college career came in 2024, when the Bruins took on Nebraska. Quarterback Dylan Raiola tried to float a pass over three UCLA defenders in the third quarter, but Medrano leapt up to grab it first. It didn’t take long for him to sprint past most of the Nebraska offense and head for the end zone.

Raiola was the last obstacle between Medrano and a touchdown. Raiola made a dive for Medrano’s feet, but the linebacker hurdled over the attempted tackle and finished things off by giving the Bruins a 20-7 lead.

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ESPN​

Best NFL team fits for remaining free agents, trade candidates​

J.K. Dobbins, RB​

Best team fit: Washington Commanders

Finding an ideal fit for a veteran running back isn’t easy at this point in the offseason, especially for a player with Dobbins’ rich injury history. He missed four games with an MCL sprain last season, yet he still managed a career high in rushing yards (905) and tied a career high in rushing touchdowns (9).

In Kliff Kingsbury’s offense in Washington, I could see Dobbins providing competition for Brian Robinson Jr. as the early-down runner. Dobbins can run between the tackles and has the juice to create big plays on the ground. He took 27 carries for 10 or more yards last season.

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Podcasts & videos​

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is READY to be a Washington Commander | Raising Hail with the Rookies | NFL​

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Brian Robinson sends message to doubters!​

Keep that same energy

— Brian K Robinson Jr (@BrianR_4) May 16, 2025​

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FULL INTERVIEW: Former New England Patriots head coach and current UNC football coach Bill Belichick discusses his memoir “The Art of Winning” and his life on and off the field with @michaelstrahan. pic.twitter.com/NgmaCxxP9S

— Good Morning America (@GMA) May 16, 2025​

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Two former Redskins players throwing punches in the media​

Riggo’s Rag​

WNBA beef ignites bitter social media war between former Washington stars​

Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to ignite the blue touch paper if something is simmering underneath. That proved to be the case between two former Washington Commanders stars on social media.

Everyone has an opinion regarding the ongoing feud between WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Their latest altercation in the season opener saw this come to the fore again. Both players brushed it off, which should have been the end of it. But that didn’t stop opinions on social media from making it a trending topic quickly.

Robert Griffin III and Ryan Clark traded blows on the issue. The subject quickly became personal, which centered on the former quarterback becoming enraged about comments surrounding his wife, sparking a video retort.

Clark has obviously felt a type of way about Griffin for some time. Both were teammates in Washington. Both worked together on ESPN. There didn’t seem to be any real issues, but some hidden resentment couldn’t be more obvious.

Neither comes out of this with much (if any) credit. If Clark and Reese were willing to move on, that should have been enough for everyone else to do the same.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese speak on flagrant foul and heated moment​

RG3: Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark - The Truth behind this heated Rivalry​

Ryan Clark on recent Angel Reese & Caitlin Clark flare up & reacts to RG3’s comments| The Pivot​

Bruh you know what it is with me and you! I saved you the entire season on MNF. I urged people to let you be you. No matter how corny, how bad a teammate you were I had your back. What did you do? Invite someone on your show you know I don’t fool with to ask questions about me,… https://t.co/DVowpagZFk

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) May 19, 2025​

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NFC East links​

NFL.com​

Eagles HC Nick Sirianni agrees to multiyear contract extension following Super Bowl win​

Sirianni, fresh off piloting the franchise to its second Super Bowl victory, and the Eagles have agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension, the team announced on Monday.

Following three seasons as the Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator, Sirianni was hired in 2021 by Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman to replace Doug Pederson as the Eagles’ head coach.

In each of Philadelphia’s four seasons with Sirianni at the helm, the Eagles have flown to the postseason.

However, it’s hardly been all sunshine and rainbows.

Following the team’s Super Bowl LVII loss to the Chiefs, Philadelphia began the 2023 season going 10-1. The Eagles crumbled down the stretch, though, backing into the playoffs at 11-6 before they were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in lopsided fashion, 32-9, in the Wild Card Round.

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Bleeding Green Nation​

Joe Douglas is reportedly returning to the Eagles​

The Eagles’ former vice president of player personnel is returning to Philly after being fired by the New York Jets.

The Philadelphia Eagles are hiring Joe Douglas “in a senior scouting role,” according to a report from the Inquirer’s Jeff McLane.

Douglas returns to Philly after being fired as the New York Jets’ general manager last November. At the time, we wrote about how a reunion with the Eagles could be on the table:

Douglas obviously failed to replicate success in North Jersey with the Jets going 30-64 during his time there. He ultimately never managed to get the quarterback position right, which is kind of a big deal. The Jets’ ownership being bad is also kind of a problem.

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Big Blue View​

New York Giants favored in just one 2025 game​

The New York Giants are favored to win just one game in 2025, according to oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Here is a look at the early odds in each of the Giants’ 2025 games. It might be interesting to note how these change when we actually get to each individual game.

Week 1 — Giants at Washington Commanders​

Line: Giants +7.5

I get it. The Commanders won 12 games and went to the playoffs last year, while the Giants won just three and went back to the drawing board. But, the Giants’ two losses to Washington last season came by a total of eight points. I would be tempted to take the Giants with the points.

Week 2 — Giants at Dallas Cowboys​

Line: Giants +4.5

This is probably what should be expected. Again, though, the Giants lost two games to Dallas by a total of 11 points last season. If you think the Giants are improved beating the Cowboys once in 2025 should not seem impossible. I picked the Giants to win this game.

Week 3 — Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs​

Line: Giants +6.5

I kind of hate the Giants’ home opener being on a Monday night against this team. If the Giants are already 0-2, this line might be bigger when game week rolls around.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

ESPN​

Is the NFL ready to let stars play Olympic flag football?​

When NFL owners convene in Minnesota this week for their spring meeting, they are expected to vote on a resolution released last Thursday that aims to make this a reality. The vote could happen Wednesday, and the resolution needs to be approved by at least 24 of the 32 team owners. But is the potential agreement — which proposes limits on how many players can participate, outlines injury protections for players and clubs and addresses how much time a player will miss with his NFL team — enough to win over the remaining skeptics?

Many of the final details remain a long way off and are yet to be negotiated between the NFL, the players union and Olympic governing bodies. For now, the proposal calls for the six participating nations which have not yet been identified to select a maximum of one NFL player each, with Team USA expected to be capped at 10 players.

“I think overall, [flag football in the Olympics is] a great thing,” Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutenkunst said. “I’d love it if we kept the NFL players out of it.”

IF OWNERS VOTE to pass the resolution, it merely authorizes the NFL to work toward the goals outlined in the proposal, with all future agreements subject to the outcome of negotiations with the NFL Players Association and the various Olympic governing bodies.

Injury protection would, perhaps, be the biggest obstacle.

Currently, injuries that occur away from official team functions are classified as “non-football injuries,” and teams are not required to pay a player’s salary while he recovers from one. But the resolution proposes injury protection and salary-cap relief stemming from an injury to a player participating in the Olympics.

The NFL needs only to go back in its own history to find the nightmare scenario. Patriots running back Robert Edwards suffered a catastrophic left knee injury while playing a sanctioned flag football game on a beach in Hawaii during Pro Bowl week in February 1999. Edwards tore all three ligaments in the knee, partially tore a fourth and also ruptured an artery after jumping to catch a pass. He missed three full seasons, returned for a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2002 and eventually retired.

The league would also seek an agreement with Olympic officials to ensure that NFL minimum standards are met for medical staffs and playing fields used for competitions.

Not to be ignored here is the potential conflict of Olympic duties with the NFL’s offseason and training-camp schedule. NFL training camps occur in late July, and the ‘28 Games are scheduled for July 14-30.

DARRELL “HOUSH” DOUCETTE is one of the world’s premier flag players. A quarterback on Team USA and the longest-tenured member of the national team, Doucette was among the players called upon by the NFL to give players a crash course on flag football before recent Pro Bowls.

Doucette doesn’t have the name recognition of the NFL’s biggest stars, but he still believes he is just as well-suited to play for a gold medal as many of the best players in pro football. He welcomes the competition — just not the assumptions about the end result.

“We just don’t think they’re going to be able to walk on the field and make the Olympic team because of the name,” he told The Guardian last year. “They still have to go out there and compete.”

He’s got a point.

The idea of NFL players competing in the Olympics might be exciting, but there are a slew of players who have been competing on the global stage in flag football — and, in the case of Team USA, dominating — for years. The U.S. men have won the past five world championships. The women have won the past three.

The NFL has players with ties to more than 70 countries, so there is a long list of nations that players could potentially represent in the Olympics. But for American players and those from countries with a long history of competing, there should be no assumption that NFL players will be best suited to what is a very different game.

"At the end of the day, I feel like I'm better than Patrick Mahomes because of my IQ of the game."

-US Flag football QB Darrell Doucette

pic.twitter.com/G2gKTWHctj

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 21, 2024​

Currently, there are various requirements set forth by USA Football that players must go through before ascending to the U.S. national team (each national team can develop its own process). Athletes who advance receive an invite to the USA Football trials, where the pool is trimmed to 60 players. Those players advance to the USA Football training camp, where the final roster — 10 players for the 2028 Olympics — will be selected.

That’s a potentially lengthy process, perhaps complicating NFL players’ ability to pursue a roster spot. But a streamlined pathway for NFL players could be implemented if they receive approval to compete.

But for NFL players to be a part of that effort, a labyrinth of issues must first be navigated. And the parties aren’t quite there just yet.

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NFL players to play flag football in the 2028 Summer Olympics? @PSchrags gives us the latest on the NFL making flag football a "huge priority." pic.twitter.com/VwkHz3lE59

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 19, 2025​

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NFL.com​

Niners, LB Fred Warner agree to terms on three-year, $63 million contract extension​

San Francisco and linebacker Fred Warner have agreed to terms on a three-year, $63 million contract extension that includes $56.7 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Monday.

The 28-year-old’s pact with the Niners elevates him from second in per-year annual salary for inside linebackers to first, coming in at $21 million per year, just ahead of the Ravens’ Roquan Smith ($20 million per season).

Warner, who had two years remaining on his contract but nothing guaranteed, was in need of a new deal as he was set to enter the 2025 season with a $29.2 million cap hit.

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Discussion topics​

NFL.com​

Most/least vulnerable NFL division champs: Chiefs to repeat in AFC West? Lions in trouble?​

Rank 1 - Detroit Lions - NFC North · 2024 record: 15-2​

The NFC North came down to the final game of the 2024 regular season. There’s no reason to think the division, which just sent three teams to the playoffs, won’t be as ferocious in 2025, particularly with the anticipated improvement of the Bears, who are coming off a last-place finish. The Vikings are making a switch at quarterback, but how do you bet against Kevin O’Connell making the right choice and having J.J. McCarthy ready, especially after Minnesota did so much to fortify the interior of the offensive line, the team’s biggest weakness in 2024? The Packers gave Jordan Love a first-round wide receiver, while the Bears have done everything possible to make life better for Caleb Williams, from hiring Ben Johnson as head coach to overhauling the interior O-line to spending their first two draft picks on TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden III. All of that makes for a whole lot of competition for the Lions, who are still flush with talent, but must adjust to two new coordinators after Johnson and Aaron Glenn got head-coaching jobs. Even if that process turns out to be seamless, it’s easy to envision the division again coming down to the final week.

Rank 3 - Philadelphia Eagles - NFC East · 2024 record: 14-3​

It’s been more than two decades since the NFC East had a repeat winner (the Eagles held the title from 2001 through 2004), and Philadelphia could be in a dogfight to hold on to the crown again this season. The Commanders are a team on a very rapid rise, and whatever unsteadiness Jayden Daniels showed in his rookie season should be improved in 2025, especially because he will be behind an improved offensive line and have Deebo Samuel to target in addition to Terry McLaurin. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman conducts a clinic in roster replenishment, but he did lose plenty of big-name talent on defense. Philadelphia had one of the most balanced rosters in the NFL last season, and the team still has an extraordinary cast of offensive weapons. This place in the ranking is a reflection not of any thought that the Eagles will take a significant step back — they almost certainly won’t, barring injury disasters to Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley — but of their current reality. They have an in-division rival who is coming on strong and NFL history is on the side of a change at the top.

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Potential rule changes​

Pro Football Talk​

NFL considers rule change that could make onside kicks easier to recover​

The league is considering changing onside kick rules to make it easier for the kicking team to recover, adding language that restricts where players on the receiving team can line up for onside kick recovery.

“The receiving team may have a maximum of three players in the setup zone not on the restraining line, but never more than one player in each of the three areas within the setup zone bordered by the sidelines and inbounds lines,” the new language says.

That language is going to be confusing to most football fans, as the league’s new kickoff rules have introduced a new vocabulary that hasn’t caught on with the general public. But the gist is that the new rule is designed to spread out the receiving team and give the kicking team a better chance of placing an onside kick into an area where no one on the receiving team is waiting to recover it.

Any restrictions on how the receiving team can line up on onside kicks will at least in theory give the kicking team a slightly better chance of recovering, but the reality is that even if this new rule passes, onside kicks will remain extremely hard for the kicking team to recover. Unless the NFL goes back to allowing the kicking team to line up as many players as they want on either side of the kicker, and allows those players to get a running start, don’t expect many onside kicks to succeed. And the NFL has no interest in doing that because of concerns that the old onside kick rules risked too many injuries from high-speed collisions in confined spaces.

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Front Office Sports​

NFL Owners Set to Vote on Tush Push, Olympics, Playoff Seeding​

NFL owners are gathering this week for another round of annual league meetings, and several major votes could reshape the sport both on and off the field.

The meetings, which begin Tuesday in Minneapolis and will run through Wednesday, are the last time all 32 owners are scheduled to be together before the 2025 season begins in September.

The long-awaited vote on the Tush Push will arrive after tabling a potential vote on banning the play—or changing rules that will dramatically alter it. NFL owners will once again consider doing away with the quarterback sneak that the Super Bowl LIX champion Eagles have perfected in recent years.

Owners are also scheduled to vote on a proposal to change seeding in the NFL playoffs.

The Lions have proposed changing seeding in the playoffs so that non-division champions with better regular-season records than division champions can be seeded higher. That would mean hosting a home game is no longer guaranteed for each conference’s four division champions. Under the proposal, division champions would win seeding tiebreakers over non-division champions.

A seemingly less controversial vote will be held on a resolution that would allow active NFL players to participate in the flag football competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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The Athletic (paywall)​

Explaining the NFL playoffs reseeding proposal: How would a rule change impact the postseason?​

[T]here was hesitance among owners to strip division champions of their first-round home-field advantage, prompting the modification to reseed after the wild-card round. Under the new proposal, teams would be reseeded based strictly on record for the divisional round, regardless of whether a team won its division or made the playoffs as a wild card.

Change would begin in the second round. Instead of the top-seeded team playing the lowest-remaining seed in the divisional round, the team with the best record would play the team with the worst record. The team with the second-best record would play the team with the second-worst record.

If the new proposal had been implemented last year, here’s how the NFC playoff picture would have looked:​

NFC wild-card round

• No. 1 Detroit Lions (15-2, NFC North champion): Bye
• No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, NFC East champion) host No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6, wild card)
• No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, NFC South champion) host No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5, wild card)
• No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7, NFC West champion) host No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3, wild card)

Under the current format, the Commanders, after upsetting the Bucs, traveled to Detroit for the divisional round, and the Eagles hosted the Rams. Under the proposed new format, the divisional-round matchups would have changed because the Commanders had a better record than the Rams.

NFC divisional round under new proposal

• No. 1 Lions (15-2) host No. 4 Rams (10-7)
• No. 2 Eagles (14-3) host No. 3 Commanders (12-5)

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All aTwitter​

Our brotherhood. pic.twitter.com/jhIh6tRBI8

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 20, 2025​

Divisional Round rematch

️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGJdw pic.twitter.com/zlL90FjY3U

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 19, 2025​

A no-brainer

https://t.co/EIbgvK5UgD pic.twitter.com/tvJHNp9qzC

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 19, 2025​

.@ben_sinnott got pic.twitter.com/qmniFywKfb

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 19, 2025​

Surreal moment indeed @frankluvu7 expresses how much repping the Samoan culture means to him pic.twitter.com/uoW3pV4Hiw

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) May 19, 2025​

Two years ago, after gun violence took the lives of several students, the @Commanders helped Digital Pioneers Academy launch its first football program

As @JPFinlayNBCS reports, the Commanders donating not just money, but also time@_Heyyy6 @AnttonioBrown @DPApcs#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/3E1MGkThFF

— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) May 19, 2025​

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“I think they should ban it.”

-Commanders linebacker and Tush Push legend Frankie Luvu pic.twitter.com/abfL7CJPeV

— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) May 19, 2025​

There’s no doubt the #Commanders’ Luvu Leap and officials threatening to ‘award the score’ in the NFC Title game forced the #NFL’s hand on this. It would have made a mockery of the game… #RaiseHail https://t.co/yiP9iyn2lF

— Earl Forcey (@EarlForcey) May 19, 2025​

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Thanks for dropping by Mr. National! ️ pic.twitter.com/siJ5vdgYU4

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 19, 2025​

#Throwback still can’t believe Terry caught this ball #RaiseHail
pic.twitter.com/0tcgLTCSth

— PAIN (@Xommanders) May 20, 2025​

Move over Cowboys fans!

America's Team resides in Washington D.C.

Commanders Foundation chair Marjorie Harris said today, "we have so much to look forward to and look the Commanders are America's Team. What better place than to have the NFL Draft than in the Mall?" pic.twitter.com/1PYvG2q9Ni

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 19, 2025​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/20...f-the-nfls-most-expensive-wide-receiver-rooms

 

[Washington Commanders]

2024 REWIND: Week 5 - Commanders whip the Browns, reach 4-1 and retain first place in the NFC East

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

This was not a pretty game, but the Commanders defense had 7 sacks and the offense was 2-2 on 4th down conversions

The Commanders, having a roster that featured 33 new players, including 17 new starters, entered Week 5 with a 1-game lead on the Eagles and Cowboys in the NFC East and a chance to cement that lead for at least another week. The Browns came in on a two-game losing streak and trying to find a way to right the ship.

Washington had the attention of the NFL world following a Week 3 Monday night shootout (which they won) against the Bengals. That game featured several big plays offensively, but a 27-yard touchdown throw to Terry McLaurin at the right sideline in the endzone for a back-breaking 12-point lead with 02:10 on the clock is still one of the highlight plays of the 2024 season.

Heading directly from Cincinnati to Arizona, the Commanders hung 42 points on the Cardinals. Jayden Daniels sported an 82% completion rate through 4 games. To begin the season, his passes had been short and safe, but in Weeks 3 & 4 he had been increasingly aggressive as he looked to run less and rely more and more on Terry McLaurin, who put up 164 yards against the Bengals and Cardinals after tallying just 39 receiving yards in the opening two games.

The 3-1 Commanders had played three road games, and this return to Northwest Stadium was welcome, as was the opponent. Although much was made pre-game of the challenge of a rookie quarterback facing Myles Garrett in a Jim Schwartz coached defense that was 18-6-1 vs rookie QBs, Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson was struggling, and expectations were high for Washington’s second-consecutive home victory behind a suddenly red-hot offense that had scored 80 points in 6 days on the road in Weeks 3 & 4.

Those expectations were met. The Commanders out-played the overmatched Browns, and by the middle of the 4th quarter, Dan Quinn had inserted Marcus Mariota to ‘mop up’ for Jayden Daniels.

First Quarter​

Browns
Washington kicked off, and, following the return, the Browns started the first offensive drive at the 30-yard line. After a quick first down, the Browns faced 3rd & 3 at the Washington 49 yard line. The run was stopped by DE Dorance Armstrong to force the Browns to go for it on 4th & 1. The play was short, and the Commanders forced a turnover on downs, taking over at their own 47 yard line. It was a strong start for Washington’s defense.

The Commanders defense get a stop on 4th down at midfield against the Browns, who swapped Deshaun Watson for Jameis Winston for this pitch play.

Interesting!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/StOdTPXj4M

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Commanders
After two unsuccessful runs, the Commanders faced 3rd & 10; on the third down play, Jayden Daniels was sacked by Zadarius Smith to force the punt. So far, the game is a defensive battle.

Browns
Washington’s defense forced a 3 & out, and the Browns punted on 4th & 17.

On a fair catch by punt returner Olamide Zachheaus, a Browns player hit him hard, drawing a penalty flag and setting up the second Commanders offensive drive at the Washington 34-yard line.

Zaccheaus had called for the fair catch, but still gets popped on the Punt Return.

15 yard penalty means the Commanders second drive on offense is starting from good field position.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/wN6zfNApiK

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Commanders
Again, the Browns defense put the brakes on Washington with a loss on first down and another incomplete pass on 2nd down to bring up 3rd & 13. Daniels escaped heavy pressure on the pass rush, scrambled to his right, and then threw a ball about 50 yards in the air to Terry McLaurin for a 66-yard gain to set up 1st & goal at the 3-yard line. We’d seen glimpses from Daniels and McLaurin before this, but this play was a shot across the bow for NFL defenses to warn them what they’d be up against as the Commanders offense continued to gel. That 82% completion rate wasn’t built only on screen passes and clean pockets.

This kid is incredible.

: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/9RdWLZ9hiJ

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024​

Like last week, when he scored a touchdown on a called run, Daniels tried to run the ball right, but got stopped for a 2-yard loss, followed by an incomplete pass on 2nd down. With 3rd & goal from the 5-yard line, Daniels made a terrible decision. Targeting Zach Ertz, JD5 threw his 2nd career interception at the goal line; it was pulled in by Brown’s linebacker JOK.

Jayden Daniels intercepted in the redzone and that's the first redzone possession Washington has not scored on in season 2024. pic.twitter.com/02esUYTQKk

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Browns
In this scoreless defensive battle, Cleveland’s offense started its 3rd offensive drive of the game at their own 1-yard line with 07:33 remaining in the 1st quarter. They couldn’t get past the 5-yard line, and punted for the third time in the first quarter.

On the punt, Washington’s returner, Zaccheaus fielded the ball near midfield and returned it to the Browns 35-yard line where the Commanders set up for their 3rd offensive drive with the score tied 0-0 with about 6 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Zaccheaus with a nice return on the Punt and the Commanders drive starts in Field Goal range. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/GyeHYWZQH9

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Commanders
At this point, it was feeling like this game might be decided by a score of 6-3, but the Commanders finally got on track with a touchdown drive on this possession, and would end up scoring 34 points in the remaining 3 1⁄2 quarters.

Washington got a quick first down, but the Browns played good defense, and the drive stalled after 4 plays, but Dan Quinn decided to go for it on 4th & 2 at Cleveland’s 14-yard line, eschewing the chip shot field goal. They handed it to Austin Ekeler, returning from a missed game due to concussion, on a jet sweep with two tight ends blocking on the right side. It looked for a moment as if he’d be trapped behind the line, but he made the first down to set Washington up with 1st & goal at the 4-yard line.

Commanders go for it on a 4th and (long) 2. Ekeler gets the carry and cuts inside nicely on the sweep run.

First down!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/64uCvNj1gr

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

On the next play, Brian Robinson broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage and ran the ball in for the first score of the game. It was 7-0 with 02:40 remaining in the first quarter.

In goes @BrianR_4 for a @Commanders TD

: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/AshTdKcKgd

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024​

After a couple of frustrating drives, the Commanders had found a groove.

Browns
On the subsequent kickoff, the Browns set up for the 4th Cleveland drive of the game at the 28-yard-line.

After two fruitless plays, the Browns faced another 3rd & long, needing 10 yards for a first down. Deshaun Watson scrambled, but gained only 5 yards to complete another 3 & out series.

The Browns punted, and managed to down the ball at the Washington 2-yard line with about a minute left in the quarter.

Commanders
Washington went 3 & out and Tress Way punted from under his own goal posts to end the quarter.

Second Quarter​

Browns
Cleveland opened the 2nd quarter with the ball on their own 48-yard line. The Browns offense had managed just 25 yards of offense in the first quarter — 14 passing and 11 rushing yards. They would need to take advantage of this strong field position.

Watson hit Amari Cooper for 19 yards on 2nd & 10 to get deep into Commanders’ territory. A penalty on the next play, brought up 1st & 15 at the Washington 29 yard line. After a pair of incompletions — the second nearly picked off by Quan Martin — it was 3rd & 15.

Frankie Luvu sacked Deshaun Watson — the first of the day for Washington’s D — to force a 51-yard field goal attempt by Cleveland kicker Dustin Hopkins. It was good, making the score 7-3 with about 13 minutes remaining in the half.

Following the kickoff return by Ekeler, the Commanders started their fifth offensive drive of the day at their own 20.

Commanders
The first-down play was a simple handoff to Austin Ekeler off tackle to the right. He scampered 57 yards to the Cleveland 23-yard line.

A largely forgotten contribution from Olamide Zaccheaus came on this play when he alertly and immediately recovered Ekeler’s fumble to prevent the turnover.

WOW

Ekeler busts out a HUGE run on the first play of the drive, but the ball comes loose at the end of the play and Zaccheaus is there to fall on it.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/1IHxEkJK4C

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Two plays later, it was Brian Robinson’s turn. He broke three tackles on the way to a 9-yard gain to bring up 3rd & 1 at the Cleveland 14-yard line. Jayden Daniels kept the ball around the right end to earn the needed 1 yard and set the team up 1st & 10 at the 13-yard line.

Unable to punch in the TD, Dan Quinn brought Austin Seibert out for a 27-yard field goal attempt. Seibert, prior to this kick, had been perfect in his short Commanders career. He remained perfect, hitting his 11th field goal on the season to lift the score to 10-3 with 08:41 remaining in the half.

Browns
Again trailing by a touchdown, the Browns started their next drive at the 31-yard line. After a pair of short runs, Washington forced 3rd & 8 at the 33-yard line. At this point, the Browns were 0-5 on third down.

They fell to 0-6 when the Commanders defensive line got heavy pressure on Watson, sacking him for no gain. Cleveland punted, having earned just 2 first downs and gained just 42-yards of total offense with 06:48 left in the second quarter.

Following the punt, Washington set up for its 6th offensive drive of the half at their own 26-yard line.

Commanders
Washington’s offense had shown flashes during the first five drives, but had managed just 10 points and had suffered an interception and Ekeler had put the ball on the ground when he fumble at the end of his long run.

The game was about to break open now, as the Commanders would score touchdowns on three of its next four possessions to take control of the game. This would be an efficient 10-play drive with 5 first downs (including one conversion on 4th & 3), culminating in another Brian Robinson touchdown.

A key play in the drive came on the 4th down play when Daniels escaped a good pass rush and ran down the right sideline for 34 yards. A defensive holding penalty added 5 yards to set the Commanders up with a 1st & goal at the 3-yard line. The run gave Daniels the record for most rushing yards by a rookie QB in his first 5 games. It also kept the Commanders perfect at 8 of 8 on 4th down for the season.

Jayden Daniels picks up the first down and more!

: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gBR7UhZV0p

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024​

pic.twitter.com/hQUsnV2VAA

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Two plays later, Brian Robinson ran in a 1-yard touchdown. Following the PAT, the Commanders held a 17-3 lead with 03:11 remaining in the half.

One more time for @BrianR_4 #RaiseHail

: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/pdyulYiB78

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024​

Browns
When Cleveland took the field again, the Commanders held tough on two plays to bring up yet another 3rd down for the Browns as the 2-minute warning arrived. The Browns were averaging 2.0 yards per play and had yet to convert a third-down in the game.

After the timeout, the Commander defense swarmed the Browns offensive line to sack Watson again, with Bobby Wagner getting credit for the sack on this jail break.

SACK

This might be the single most dominant team sack I've seen from Washington in 5 years.

What an insanely good effort from every defender here.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/mbzzWoyVIe

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Following the punt and return, the Commanders set up for their final drive of the half at their 38-yard line.

Commanders
This would be a quick touchdown drive.

On 3rd & 3 from the Washington 45-yard line with 44 seconds left in the half, Daniels hit McLaurin for 11 yards.

Two plays later, Dyami Brown got behind the defense, and Jayden Daniels hit him in-stride for a 41-yard touchdown that Brown pulled down 2-yards into the end zone.

Jayden Daniels let it rip

: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ph6x4BKxlW

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024​

Following the extra point, the Commanders held a 24-3 lead.

Cleveland got the ball with just 30 seconds left on the clock and 78 yards away from the Washington end zone. The Browns managed to be flagged twice in the short time left before halftime. The Browns punted; the ball was not fielded, and the half ended as the ball rolled to a stop.

The Washington Commanders would get the ball to open the 2nd half.

y'all having fun?#CLEvsWAS | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/d1epihyp7p

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 6, 2024​

Halftime Stats​

Statistics via ESPN​

---

Third Quarter​

Leading 24-3, the Commanders started the second half with the ball for their 8th offensive drive of the day at the 30-yard line having dominated on plays run, yards gained, time of possession and — of course — points scored in the first half. Kingsbury and Daniels needed to keep their foot on the gas to finish this one out and add an important win.

This drive would be the second-biggest blemish of the game, resulting in the Browns’ second takeway of the day.

On the first play of the half, JOK punched the ball out of Terry McLaurin’s hands to force a fumble. The Browns took over on the Commanders 30-yard line with a chance to take advantage of a huge turnover.

McLaurin gets the carry on an end-around but loses the ball with a perfect peanut-punch.

Fumble lost, Cleveland ball.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/UGpUTv95HI

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Browns
Two plays later, following a 19-yard completion to Amari Cooper, the Browns had 1st & goal at the 2-yard line and a chance, after getting completely out-played in the first half, to get right back in the game.

A false start pushed the ball back to the 5-yard line.

Needing a score, the Browns used their first time out. On the subsequent play, Deshaun Watson scrambled, didn’t do it quite right, and got blasted by Dorance Armstrong for a 1-yard loss and another sack.

BANG

Dorance Armstrong doesn't give up on the play, and lays the HUGE HIT on Deshaun Watson.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/n75hOv52qt

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Unable to sort things out offensively, the Browns took a delay of game penalty and settled for a 31-yard field goal attempt. It was good, but, following the huge turnover opportunity, the terrible series by the Brown had to be deflating for the visitors. The score was 24-6 with 12:12 remaining in the third quarter.

Commanders
This drive would result in the Commanders final touchdown of the game, but at the end of this drive, the score would be 31-6 and the game would effectively be over. The final 20 minutes would be the two teams just playing out the clock and hoping to avoid injuries.

Washington’s drive started at the 20 yard line due to a holding flag against Jeremy Reaves.

With good blocking, Jayden Daniels had a ton of time on 2nd & 6 and threw a beautiful pass left to Scary Terry for 23 yards.

On the next play, Daniels stepped out of heavy pressure and added another 23 yards by rushing straight up the middle. (The play is the last of the four Daniels runs shown in the tweet below)

Jayden Daniels was able to make free rushers miss and create big plays under pressure in the Commanders win over the Browns

Daniels was blitzed on more than half of his dropbacks but was 8/12 for 150 yards in those situations, per NFL Pro pic.twitter.com/HKwQIMnHU8

— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 6, 2024​

Suddenly, Washington had 1st & 10 at Cleveland’s 30-yard line.

The Commanders pushed the ball aggressively and soon Washington had 3rd & 1 at the 3-yard line.

Daniels simply did what he did a week ago; he handed the ball to Jeremy McNichols, Washington’s #3 RB, who went off tackle to the left side for another score. Seibert added his 4th PAT of the game (13th of the season) to make the score 31-6 midway through the third quarter.

TOUCHDOWN

Jeremy McNichols pounds through traffic for the 3rd Washington rushing TD for the day!#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/FBw4BwBLdj

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Cleveland had yet to reach 100 total yards of offense; they were 0-9 on third down and had not scored a touchdown despite being ahead in the turnover battle 2-0. The Commanders wouldn’t score another TD today, but the game was already over. It was now ‘garbage time’.

Browns
Only one play mattered on this 3-play drive. As Deshaun Watson scrambled under some pressure, Frankie Luvu got credited with an interception (later, ruled a fumble recovery) when Watson lost control of the ball as he was being hit by Bobby Wagner.

Commanders take it away!

: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/7yM8hWjLgS

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024​

Commanders
The forced turnover gave the Commanders another first down at midfield. This drive would end in a field goal and the Commanders final score of the day, but this was really just a matter of running out the clock against an already-defeated team.

With 5 minutes left in the third quarter, on a 3rd down play, the Browns defense gave up an 18-yard catch and run by Austin Ekeler, who took the ball to Cleveland’s 18-yard line on a simple screen pass.

3rd and 12?

No problem.

Textbook screen pass and incredible blocking sees Ekeler pick up approximately 5000 yards of YAC.

Gorgeous.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/vX73tBg11i

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Two plays later, on 3rd & 4 at the 12-yad line, Daniels threw a beautiful pass with plenty of air under it to Terry McLaurin on the left side of the end zone. It hit Terry right in the hands about a yard inbounds, but McLaurin was unable to hold on.

A very rare drop from Terry McLaurin.

And even then, it was ALMOST a mid-catch recovery.

So close.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/Xut9n6NxTe

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Seibert came on the field for his second field goal of the day — this one from 30 yards — to advance the lead to 31 points as the scoreboard moved to 34-6 with 02:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Browns
After making a quick first down, the Browns faced 3rd & 10 at midfield. An offsides penalty against Dorance Armstrong changed the count to 3rd & 5. On the subsequent play, Watson was under heavy pressure, looking like he would get sacked, but scrambled for 4 yards, to keep their 3rd down conversion futility streak intact; however, the Browns converted the 4th down (their 7th first-down of the game) as the quarter came to an end.

Fourth Quarter​

Through 3 quarters, Watson was 11-24 passing for 100 yards, an interception, and 5 sacks.

He took his 6th sack on the first play of the 4th quarter as Frankie Luvu got home by beating the right guard on the way to the QB.

SACK

Luvu again! Having himself an absolutely fantastic day at the office. #RaiseHail | @frankluvu7 pic.twitter.com/gfiovYaK7Q

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

Two plays later, on 3rd & 14, Dante Fowler got the team’s 7th sack of the day to kill yet another Browns drive and force a punt by the Browns.

SACK

This time it's Fowler who brings down Deshaun Watson!

Gotta be honest; there's just an incredible lack of effort from the Browns. They look like they've given up.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/IUS92TNqCb

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 6, 2024​

It was a good kick that was downed at Washington’s 8-yard line, but with less than 13 minutes left in the game, the outcome seemed all but certain.

Commanders
Dan Quinn decided that Jayden Daniels was no longer needed. Marcus Mariota, freshly activated from injured reserve, came into the game to hand the ball off to McNichols in an effort to play out the string, kill the clock and bank the win.

The drive was a 3 & out; the Commanders punted, and the Browns offense resumed the field at their own 46-yard line.

Browns
For Cleveland, Deshaun Watson stayed in the game. With the Commanders playing a fairly soft defense, the Browns ran the ball and completed passes in the middle of the field as both teams seemed content to keep the clock running and put the game announcers out of their misery.

The Browns would score a touchdown here, but it would be inconsequential.

Unfortunately, a couple of minor injuries and a pair of penalty flags stopped the clock several times, slowing down the inevitable. One of the injuries was a possible concussion for Quan Martin. The Browns, at one point, couldn’t get the play in on 3rd & 10 following a clock stoppage for a false start and had to burn a time out, which was not ideal for anyone.

With 7:45 left in the game, facing 4th & 7, Watson threw a touchdown pass on a frozen rope to TE Jordan Akins to make the score 34-13.

Commanders
The Commanders began their 12th offensive drive of the game at the 30-yard line following a touchback.

The Commanders kept the ball on the ground losing a yard on two plays. On 3rd down, McNichols scampered 28 yards, then gave himself up at the Cleveland 43 yard line to keep the clock running.

The drive ran out of steam with 02:36 left in the game when Tress Way came on to punt. His kick went into the end zone for a touchback, giving the Browns another drive starting at their own 20-yard-line.

Browns
Deshaun Watson finally took a seat on the bench as Jameis Winston came on in relief. A 6-yard run was the final play before the two-minute warning.

Following the timeout, Winston took yet another sack - his first - to bring up 3rd & 7. On the next play, Jerome Ford ran for 16 yards to earn another 1st down. Winston handed the ball to Ford one more time and then everyone happily let the clock run to zero to end the game.

Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Commanders | 2024 Week 5 Game Highlights​

4 in a row pic.twitter.com/V5xOHSW4ti

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 6, 2024​

Full Game Stats​

Statistics via ESPN​

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Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/20...ch-4-1-and-retain-first-place-in-the-nfc-east

 

[Washington Commanders]

The NFC East will be featured on Hard Knocks: In season

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Maximum exposure!

The NFL expanded their Hard Knocks series last year by adding an In Season version that focused on the AFC North. Commissioner Roger Goodell just announced that the NFC East will be the focus of this year’s version of the show on HBO Max. This is a great choice for the league as it features one of the oldest and most important divisions in the league. It also helps that two of the division’s teams played in the NFC Championship game last season, and that the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. The NFC East also hasn’t had a repeat division champion since 2004. Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North, debuted on Tuesday, Dec. 3 last year, so expect a similar start date for this year’s version.

The Washington Commanders were 12-5 last season, and their season ended with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams will be getting a lot of exposure in primetime and stand alone games this season. Second-year QB Jayden Daniels took the league by storm in 2024, winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and breaking NFL and franchise records. He is quickly becoming a face of the league, and this new opportunity puts him and the rest of the team in the spotlight even more in the second year of the Josh Harris/Adam Peters/Dan Quinn era.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces some fun ones — The #Bills will participate in Hard Knocks during training camp…

And the NFC East will be the focus for in-season Hard Knocks. pic.twitter.com/iN9pslFKLz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 21, 2025

More Hard Knocks in December: pic.twitter.com/vIu0enolTY

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2025

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/21...-washington-commanders-phiadelphia-eagles-nfl

 

[Washington Commanders]

Daily Slop - 22 May 25 - Don’t panic about report that Terry McLaurin missed Wednesday’s OTAs

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

Commanders links​

Articles​

Yahoo Sports​

Terry McLaurin not at team’s offseason workouts Wednesday​

Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin did not participate in the team’s voluntary offseason program Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

McLaurin had been a full participant previously, per Schultz, so it is unclear whether his absence was related to his desire for a contract extension.

The start of Phase 3 of the program next week will give a better indication about whether McLaurin is making a statement.

McLaurin skipped the voluntary offseason program in 2022 before the sides agreed to a three-year, $69.6 million deal in early July.

#Commanders All-Pro WR Terry McLaurin was not at practice today as offseason workouts continue. He had been a full participant previously and is entering the final year of his contract.

Worth monitoring as Phase 3 of Washington’s program kicks off in under a week… pic.twitter.com/JgQAh4eC6y

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 21, 2025​

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Commanders.com​

Commanders, NFC East to be featured on HBO’s in-season ‘Hard Knocks’​

HBO and the NFL announced on Wednesday that the NFC East will be focus of the in-season version of “Hard Knocks,” which will debut in December. It is the second year that HBO and the NFL have featured an entire division, with the AFC North being the main attraction in 2024.

New episodes featuring the Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants will stream on HBO Max every Tuesday in December and continue into the playoffs in 2026.

The Buffalo Bills will be the focus for this year’s training camp edition of “Hard Knocks.”

Prior to the announcement, the Commanders were one of seven teams to not be featured on “Hard Knocks,” which began in 2001 with the Baltimore Ravens. It will be the first appearance for the Eagles, who are still fresh off their Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys have been on “Hard Knocks” three times, the most recent coming in 2021. The Giants have never been part of the training camp edition of the show but were featured on the offseason edition in 2024.

The decision by the NFL and HBO to feature the NFC East, which has not had a repeat winner since 2004, is the latest example of the Commanders getting more room in the national spotlight. They were given eight standalone games for the 2025 season, including matchups on Christmas Day and in the first-ever game to be played in Spain. They also have five primetime games, which is tied for the second-most in the league this year.

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Sports Illustrated​

What if Washington Commanders’ $18 million star is past his prime?​

Instead of signing big names in free agency, the Commanders’ GM opted to go out and spend some capital to get some, bringing in receiver Deebo Samuel and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in the process.

While there are mixed opinions about what Washington is getting with those two, there’s another trade acquisition who might present the team with its biggest roster decision of 2025, at least according to Sports Illustrated’s John Pluym, who asks: What happens if Marshon Lattimore struggles?

“Lattimore is a four-time Pro Bowler, but he’s struggled to stay healthy and it’s fair to wonder if his best days are behind him,” says Pluym. “Washington gave up a slew of draft picks for him at the trade deadline last year, including third-, fourth- and sixth-round selections. Lattimore has played only 26 games over the past three seasons, and should the Commanders release him, they’d save $34.5 million over the next two years with $2 million in dead money.”

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Commanders.com​

Josh Conerly gets swift introduction to Commanders’ culture​

For the Commanders, part of the plan is to get Conerly up to speed as quickly as possible so he can get in the starting lineup and protect quarterback Jayden Daniels at some point in the 2025 season. The Commanders haven’t ruled out anything for Conerly, aside from playing left tackle, but regardless of where he ends up, they’re confident he can help elevate their performance up front.

But head coach Dan Quinn doesn’t want the rookie thinking about that right now, and Conerly isn’t looking that far ahead. For now, he’s fine with working on his skill set and (quickly) getting up to speed on Washington’s offense.

There’s no timetable for when Conerly will be ready for a starting job, and the Commanders are not giving away their plans. Still, Conerly is doing all he can to improve, and that starts with working alongside offensive line coach Bobby Johnson. It shouldn’t come as a surprise at this point in the offseason that Johnson is covering all the basics with the rookie.

“We’ve really just been working a little bit of everything,” Conerly said. “Mainly install stuff and just making sure I’ve got all the plays down.”

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Pro Football Focus​

PFF Quarterback Rankings: All 32 starters ahead of the 2025 NFL season​

Tier 2: High-End Starters​

5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts’ 2024 campaign — capped by an impressive Super Bowl run — was a return to form after a turbulent 2023 season. A year earlier, Hurts too often pressed in high-leverage moments and struggled under pressure, but he flipped the script this past season, showing poise and control even when things broke down around him. After a slow start, he found his rhythm and delivered when it mattered most. Over the past three seasons, his 91.5 overall grade ranks fifth among all quarterbacks.

6. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Perhaps we’re crowning Daniels a bit too early, as plenty of quarterbacks have had standout rookie seasons only to regress in Year 2. But what separates Daniels is his poise under pressure and in clutch moments late in the year. His rookie campaign was arguably the best we’ve ever seen, with his 90.6 overall grade marking the highest ever recorded by PFF for a rookie quarterback.

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Riggo’s Rag​

NFL analyst believes Commanders QB Jayden Daniels could make Team USA’s flag football squad​

Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports thought Jayden Daniels was a lively candidate to be the USA’s starting quarterback at the prestigious event. The analyst thought his unique skill set and the fact that he’ll be even better in three years make him a worthy option for the job.

“What’s the common thread for our selections? Speed. Athleticism. Multipurpose potential. Whereas traditional football still values tenacious blocking and defensive physicality, flag football is all about open-field dynamism. You need players with sure hands and other fundamentals, yes, but burst and elusiveness are paramount. It’s why, at quarterback, we prioritized a true dual threats, with [Jayden] Daniels arguably best positioned to offer the best of both worlds — tightrope accuracy, downfield touch and effortless mobility — in three years’ time.”

Daniels would love the opportunity. He’s a California kid and might be the face of the league by this point. Even so, it would create a potential headache for the Commanders.

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Podcasts & videos​

ICYMI: Spoke with Terry McLaurin earlier this month about his extension talks. The 2nd team All-Pro shared optimisim but the timeline or if practice time would be affected, tbd.

"We're working on it."https://t.co/zktMKMI3nc

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 21, 2025​

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ALL Eyes on Jayden Daniels + Spain Games | Command Center Podcast | Washington Commanders | NFL​

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NFC East links​

The Athletic (paywall)​

How Jeffrey Lurie, Jason Kelce and the Eagles saved the tush push​

One high-ranking league source who was in the room said, “Lurie was like a guy trying to convince his girlfriend why she shouldn’t leave him.” Throughout his pitch, Lurie was emotional, passionate and — at one point — crude. He said the fact that his team came up with a play so unstoppable that the rest of the league had no other choice but to try to ban it was “like a wet dream for a teenage boy.” Toward the end of his address, he told the assembled owners that, regardless of the day’s result, he and his franchise would walk out winners, with Super Bowl rings to show for it.

[Jason Kelce] told the room: “If I could run 60 tush pushes a game, I’d come back.”

Jason Kelce's presence was felt at owners meeting today. Steelers president Art Rooney II said Kelce's presentation "may have" swayed teams on the fence about the tush push vote.

"(He highlighted) it's a safe play and not something you need to worry about much," Rooney said

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 21, 2025​

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ESPN​

Sources: Tempers flare as Eagles defend tush push in heated debate​

After Lurie finished speaking, executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent chastised the Eagles owner for the “wet dream” comment, specifically for saying it in front of women in the meeting.

Lurie spoke for several more minutes, adding that whoever voted to ban the play would be taking liability for putting quarterbacks at risk. He criticized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Vincent for advocating the ban, adding that he had spoken to NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills at length about the play.

Eagles assistant general manager John Ferrari and former Eagles star center Jason Kelce, currently an ESPN analyst, addressed the room next. Kelce said that he would return to the NFL if he could run 60 tush pushes a game.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones asked a few questions, while Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula — a critic of the tush push — said his team was good at the play and still supported banning it.

An hour had passed when San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York asked Lurie “how much more s---” he needed to say.

There were a few scattered laughs, but the room was quiet and tense.

Think about how much more obnoxiously Eagles fans will celebrate every short yardage moment now.

Their fans have already wrapped themselves in the pride of their play. Now most of the league tried to take it from them and failed.

It’s becoming their whole identity.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 21, 2025​

And push on we will pic.twitter.com/HK0kQ9LmFK

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 21, 2025​

*pretend that says push lol

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 21, 2025​

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Pro Football Talk​

Jalen Hurts: Experiencing all the coaches I’ve had has turned into a positive​

Whatever tweaks will be made, Hurts said that going through the process so many times has made him a better player because it gives him so many options about handling situations that come his way.

“You’re always in a place where you’re trying to improve and find that 1 percent,” Hurts said, via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I think it’s unique to experience all the coaches I have — the [the offensive coordinators], the offensive leadership in the quarterback room — all those things have been positives for me because I’ve turned it into a positive. I’m able to lean on so many different things and decide when do I need it when it comes to going out there and performing and leading.”

The Eagles offense hasn’t always fired on all cylinders with Hurts, but his adaptability and productivity have helped Steichen and Moore graduate to top jobs. If things keep rolling in 2025, Patullo might be the next head coach to climb the ladder with help from the quarterback.

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Big Blue View​

New York Giants find themselves involved in another ‘Hard Knocks’ edition​

“We are thrilled to provide ‘Hard Knocks’ fans a summer with the Bills and winter with the Cowboys, Giants, Commanders and Eagles in the first year of our exciting new deal with NFL Films,” said Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller, co-executive vice presidents HBO Documentary and Family Programming, and Bentley Weiner, senior vice president HBO Sports Documentaries. “There will be no shortage of star power.”

The Giants might not be as thrilled.

The organization was featured on the first — and as of now only — offseason edition of ‘Hard Knocks’ during the 2024 offseason. The organization was widely panned for the appearance, mostly because of the way their handling of Saquon Barkley’s free agency exodus to the Philadelphia Eagles was portrayed.

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NFL league links​

Articles​

The Athletic (paywall)​

Jim Irsay, longtime owner of the Indianapolis Colts, dies at 65​

Jim Irsay, the eccentric, outspoken, sometimes controversial and largely successful owner of the Indianapolis Colts, who away from the field battled personal demons for decades and later became a fierce champion of addiction awareness and mental health advocacy, died Wednesday. He was 65.

Irsay passed away peacefully in his sleep, the team said in a statement.

A statement by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the passing of Jim Irsay pic.twitter.com/JrML07reun

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2025​

#Colts owner Jim Irsay was a legend, a truly unique and endearing man. As an owner, he had many significant contributions to his team and the NFL.

For me personally, this was his biggest: The first to publicly call for Dan Snyder’s removal while many others were quiet. https://t.co/sCpxXBu68b

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2025​

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NFL.com​

Lions withdraw playoff reseeding proposal at Spring League Meeting​

The Lions withdrew their playoff reseeding proposal on Wednesday, NFL Network Senior National Columnist Judy Battista reported.

Detroit’s proposal was to amend the current playoff seeding format to allow wild-card teams to be seeded higher than division champions if the wild-card team has a better regular-season record. Under that format, the division champion with the best record would be seeded No. 1 and thereafter the remaining six seeds would be determined strictly by record, regardless of division finish.

Following the withdrawal, there was an extended discussion during Wednesday’s meeting among owners about the idea of the proposal. There is some support for the Lions’ proposal and the NFL will study possible reseeding scenarios for potential changes in 2026, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero and Battista reported.

Onside kick
The competition committee’s proposal to tweak the onside kick was passed by NFL owners on Wednesday. The rule allows teams to declare an onside kick at any time while trailing — not just in the fourth quarter — and line up one yard closer to opponent. Pelissero added that the hope is to modestly increase success rates from 6% last year.

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All aTwitter​

déjà vu

️ https://t.co/aSQQqWGbnY pic.twitter.com/AS4OcM7EZA

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 21, 2025​

J.Boog getting ready!!!#InDoubtFind83 pic.twitter.com/X7O3cZbDB2

— Brian Lane (@Coach_Lane8) May 22, 2025​

SMILE, you're on camera! pic.twitter.com/hmEweS7j30

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 21, 2025​

Terry McLaurin is missing OTAs as he seeks a new contract...but Ben Standig doesn't think it's a big deal right now. pic.twitter.com/imNzpYrb7e

— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) May 21, 2025​

Last month AP and the organization spoke very highly of Terry Mclaurin.

"He got better and better as the season went on." They will get it done, and he will retire a Washington Commanders. pic.twitter.com/m9HahfzuSa

— Chris Bryant (@HogfarmerChris) May 21, 2025​

Quinyon Mitchell on his least favorite moment from last season:

(It’s Terry Mclaurin) pic.twitter.com/6wDPErIqHo

— brady (@burgermanders) April 26, 2025​

Looking at what Terry McLaurin's extension might look like with @BenStandig on @TBDACS pic.twitter.com/XfpygYbp12

— Big Doug (@DougMcCrayNFL) May 8, 2025​

Oh my… https://t.co/4nLF7kAETc pic.twitter.com/QizDXjS9tQ

— Mark Tyler (Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) May 21, 2025​

Rick Snider’s Washington says Washington Commanders fans should be allowed to resell their tickets. Gimme one minute. pic.twitter.com/E38J17SCmm

— Rick Snider's Washington (@Snide_Remarks) May 22, 2025​

NFL executive Troy Vincent announces a new end-of-the-year award -- “Protector of the Year” -- to recognize best offensive lineman each year.

Credit to Dion Dawkins and others for championing this cause.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 21, 2025​

The offensive lineman has long been the unsung hero of every great offense.

That changes this season, when we’ll recognize the best in the game with the Protector of the Year Award at NFL Honors.

Learn more: https://t.co/ocvfHG81Eu pic.twitter.com/ufUT6Az6Ls

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) May 21, 2025​

The tush push survived again.

I don’t remember so many national NFL reporters being universally wrong on something.

Not taking a shot — obviously they had sourcing that thought the tush push would be banned. But they were all saying it was cooked. Felt like a formality.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) May 21, 2025​

With the Tush Push remaining in the NFL, it’s up to defenses to try and stop it. Here is a look at how one team tried, by affecting the Eagles secondary push, which often times is the key to the play’s success. pic.twitter.com/fvD8WeBhhv

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) May 21, 2025​

NFL needed 24 votes today to ban the Tush Push, but got only 22. Here are the 10 teams that voted against the Tush Push ban, per sources:

Eagles
Ravens
Browns
Lions
Jaguars
Dolphins
Patriots
Saints
Jets
Titans

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2025​

I think it was very smart and very intentional that Dan Quinn and Adam Peters never commented more than "we need to figure out how to stop it" when asked about the Tush Push.

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 21, 2025​

The Washington Commanders didn’t say much about the proposal to ban the Tush Push — and that was by design: pic.twitter.com/moGqlb0NmR

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) April 1, 2025​

The NFL needs to be prepared for more of what Frankie Luvu did in the NFC Title Game. Opponents are going to try to figure out new ways to stop the tush push, or refs are going to have to enforce neutral zone rules. pic.twitter.com/nBr3SRSMss

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) May 21, 2025​

Roger Goodell said there were discussions at today's NFL owners' meeting about potential CBA issues with the NFLPA, including costs and salary cap matters. But there was no discussion about a potential 18-game season, Goodell said.

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 21, 2025​

Former Washington LB Milo Eifler becomes a free agent https://t.co/1m8xKXP8nv

— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) May 22, 2025​

Mikey Sainristil getting his teammates with the viral goodnight call TikTok prank

The contact photo for @JayD__5

Credit: selianacarvalho on TikTok #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/blUH2uKDIj

— BurgundyBonez (@BurgundyBonez) May 21, 2025​

Matthew ROBERT Lafleur.

Not ONE of you corrected me.

I blame you all of for this start to the interview. oooooops.

Watch @UpAndAdamsShow tomorrow. #GoPackGo https://t.co/wRgcAuybfk pic.twitter.com/Bf1JwUXxW0

— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) May 20, 2025​

pic.twitter.com/TZg4kMpdAj

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 21, 2025​

---

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/22...rt-that-terry-mclaurin-missed-wednesdays-otas

 

[Washington Commanders]

The tush push survives after NFL owners fall two votes short

Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NFL owners are in Minneapolis, Minnesota today to vote on several rule change proposals. The proposal making the biggest headlines was from the Green Bay Packers, and that failed to get enough votes today. The tush push, made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles over the last few years, will remain an option for all NFL teams. The Eagles successfully lobbied to prevent the ban, and team owner Jeffrey Lurie brought Jason Kelce to the meetings to dispel rumors about the reason for his retirement.

Final vote on the proposed ban of the Tush Push, per sources: 22-10.

At least 24 votes were needed to ban The Tush Push. https://t.co/Z7IHkBSBZm

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2025​

Only one former Philadelphia Eagles coordinator, now head coach[Kellen Moore(Saints)] listened to Nick Sirianni's edict. The Colts(Shane Steichen) and Cardinals(Jonathan Gannon) voted to ban it. https://t.co/USeH4HPdxR https://t.co/0kfGPZLaek

— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) May 21, 2025​

2025 PLAYING RULE PROPOSAL NO. 5A

Amend Rule 12, Section 1, Article 4 as follows (new language underlined, deleted language struck through):

ARTICLE 4. ASSISTING THE RUNNER AND INTERLOCKING INTERFERENCE. No offensive player may:

(a) push or pull a runner in any direction at any time; or lift him to his feet; or

(b) use interlocking interference, by grasping a teammate or by using his hands or arms to encircle the body of a teammate in an effort to block an opponent; or

(c) push or throw his body against a teammate to aid him in an attempt to obstruct an opponent or to recover a loose ball; or

(d) assist the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him.

Penalty: For assisting the runner, interlocking interference, or illegal use of hands, arms, or body by the offense: Loss of 10 yards.

Submitted by

Green Bay

Effect: Prohibits an offensive player from pushing, pulling, or assisting the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him.

Reason: Player safety, Pace of play.

Lurie just sat down after a speech that lasted over half an hour, giving way to Jason Kelce, who will talk about the safety of the play, per sources. https://t.co/BFD1PPkZF8

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) May 21, 2025

Key NFL committees have recommended the league ban the “tush push” ahead of a vote on Wednesday, sources tell @DMRussini.

The development suggests team owners will vote in favor of a proposal to ban the play https://t.co/tPxdkIR15S pic.twitter.com/wKIzMoefjV

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 21, 2025

The NFL’s competition committee and health and safety committee have recommended the league ban the “tush push,” the Philadelphia Eagles’ signature QB sneak, ahead of a league vote on Wednesday, according to league sources. The development suggests team owners will vote in favor of a proposal to ban the play.

This iteration of the proposed ban is broader and mirrors the language that was on the books for the NFL from the league’s start in 1920 through the 2005 season, banning players from pushing or pulling the runner in any direction. https://t.co/pBMjUe0vft

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 19, 2025​

Eagles calling teams to lobby for 'tush push' to not be banned: Sources https://t.co/PcM5ZacIeI

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) May 19, 2025​

Frankie Luvu’s opinion didn’t sway NFL owners.

“I think they should ban it.”

-Commanders linebacker and Tush Push legend Frankie Luvu pic.twitter.com/abfL7CJPeV

— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) May 19, 2025​

“My personal opinion? I think they should ban it,” Luvu said in an interview with “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network. “But I know the argument’s going to be about, ‘Hey, you guys have to stop it. Don’t get us in short yardage,’ and whatnot.

“But it’s kind of like a cheapo play. ... That’s pretty much a scrum in rugby. That’s how I kind of look at it. And we’ve got to have a scrum, too, on the other side. And the scrum is, we have a cadence where we all go at once. It’s not like you hard count and this and that, where now you’re getting us — or myself — jumping over the pile thinking that you’re going to snap the ball. That’s just my own personal opinion, and I’m going to leave it at that.”

"You can give them a touchdown?"

"I guess if they do it again."

Frankie Luvu's "mental warfare" had everyone confused (via @nflfilms) pic.twitter.com/0Godn3mCkD

— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2025​

Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/2025/5/21...urvives-after-nfl-owners-fall-two-votes-short