As expected, the Washington Redskins have decided to retire their nickname and logo, the team announced on Monday. According to the team, owner Daniel Snyder and head coach Ron Rivera will be working together to find a new name.
The pressure was mounting against the team to change the name after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Also, retail giants Amazon, Target, and Wal-Mart all said they would stop selling Redskins merchandise.
According to the Washington Post, On July 2, FedEx — one of the franchise’s top sponsors and the holder of its stadium’s naming rights — released a statement asking the team to change its name, and it sent a letter to team lawyers saying it would terminate the naming rights deal and not pay the contract’s remaining $45 million if Snyder did not change the team name. Other sponsors, including PepsiCo, Nike and Bank of America, also made similar demands.
Here is how social media reacted to the news:
As a kid who grew up in the dmv it’ll always be #HTTR but looking forward to the future 🤝 https://t.co/1qjYtrhGra
Dan Snyder is a life long Redskins fan. Imagine being able to BUY the team as a life long Redskins fan and then all you do afterwards is lose, drive the fans away and then ultimately change the name of the team. It’s unbelievable. I’d love to know what he thinks of all this.
Jaguars RB Chris Thompson is coming home. Thompson signed a one-year deal with Jacksonville earlier this month. The Greenville, Florida native spent the first six seasons of his career with the Redskins. Thompson also went to college in Florida(Florida State).
The seven-year veteran is excited about the opportunity to play in front of family and friends.
‘That is one thing that I am super excited about, just to be back in my home state and be a lot closer to what I would say is my fanbase that has been there for years, even back to people that watched me play in high school,” Thompson recently said via a video conference call. “I am super excited about that, and then my family is an hour-and-a-half away now, so they will be able to come and watch me play and be able to spend some more time with me than they have been able to the past seven years. I think it will be good. I missed a lot of time, I missed a lot of holidays, and I will be able to make that time up. I am super excited about that. I just had a daughter, too. She is four months old, so I am happy about that and for my parents to be able to spend some time with her.”
For Thompson, playing in Jacksonville will reunite him with Jaguars offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, who was Thompson’s head coach in Washington from 2014-2019. Thompson believes that Gruden’s belief in him helped his career.
“He is one of the biggest reasons I was able to have the success that I had in Washington and to be able to stick around there,” Thompson said. “The first year he got there, I was on the practice squad. I ended up being cut and put on the practice squad, but he talked to me afterwards for a while after the last preseason game and told me what the situation was. He let me know from day one – [he said] ‘I know this is going to be a hard year for you. You are probably mad and upset at everybody because you got cut, but I want you to come back here because I know the type of player you can be. I know you are going to play a bigger part in the future here with Washington, and I know you will be able to have a great impact on this team and on the players on this team.’ He had that talk with me, and I really appreciated that. That was one reason why I ended up coming back and spending that practice squad year with Washington. It was tough, but having him and knowing that he had my back, it really meant a lot. Throughout this whole process and all my time there in Washington, he believed in me. He gave me every single opportunity that he possibly could. Me coming here to Jacksonville with him being one of, I guess, two guys — with [Tyler] Eifert also — being familiar with his offense. It is good for me and him to be able to help the younger guys be able to grasp this offense and know what Jay is expecting from his playmakers.”
The 29-year-old Thompson is a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield, and in 2017, Thompson had career-highs in receiving yards(510) and touchdowns(4). He has had over 40 receptions three times in his career, so expect Thompson to continue his pass-catching ways with the Jaguars in 2020.
With Daniel Jones in place as the starting quarterback, the Giants seemingly have their franchise quarterback for years to come. However, with Eli Manning’s retirement, the Giants needed some experience in their quarterback room, which they have found.
The Giants signed QB Colt McCoy, who spent the past five seasons with the Redskins. According to the NY Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, it’s a one year deal worth $2.25 million, which includes $1.5 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $3 million.
“I’m excited to get going in that. I’m sure you guys all know the structure,” McCoy said during a conference call on Wednesday. “I’m assuming Daniel(Jones) is the starting quarterback, he was the sixth pick in the draft, and he has a super bright future. That doesn’t just count out coming in and practicing hard and working hard in the classroom, and in the film room studying.
“I have sort of mentioned on another phone call earlier that for me, I’ve been a backup and a starter,” he continued. “The way that I approach it is, number one, making sure that Daniel feels as comfortable as he can going into these games. Understanding and feeling good about the game plan and our preparation all week long so he can go out and play as best he can.
“I take pride in helping him feel that way and helping Coach Garrett. Being an old guy, you don’t get a lot of reps, but you have to do a lot of mental reps. The second part is the responsibility of being ready to play if something were to happen. You have to go in from the bench and play well, and that’s expected, those two things. I’ve been a starter, and everyone wants to be a starter, but as a backup, it’s just as crucial to handle your business that way. I really feel confident that I bring value to this team and to that quarterback room.”
The 33-year-old McCoy is a reliable backup for the Giants. The 10-year veteran has started 28 games, and he’s not a bad option if Jones falters or gets injured. Obviously, since Jones was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 Draft, it’s probably going to take an injury for McCoy to get playing time in 2020.
For the New York Giants, it’s all about pride, and that pride was on full display against the Redskins on Sunday. Behind Saquon Barkley and rookie QB Daniel Jones, who threw the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to TE Kaden Smith, New York defeated the Redskins 41-35 at FedEx Field.
Obviously, with both teams coming into this game at 3-11, the talk was about draft order, and for some, that means Ohio State DE Chase Young, but according to Giants RB Saquon Barkley, it’s all about wins.
“A lot of people probably would have wanted us to just lay down and lose for draft picks,” Barkley said. “A lot of people probably would have wanted us to just lay down and lose for draft picks. But we made a mindset as a team that we wanted to finish the season off strong, and we have the opportunity to do that next week(Philly at home).”
Good defense was not on display for both teams, as both offenses combined for 11 touchdowns and 913 yards of total offense However, the Giants’ offense shined a little brighter, especially Jones, who returned after missing two games due to an ankle injury, and Barkley.
Jones and Barkley set team records on Sunday. Jones, who completed 28 of 42 passes for a career-high 352 yards, became the first rookie in Giants history to throw five touchdown passes in a game. Jones also became the first rookie in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards, five touchdown passes and zero interceptions in a game, while Barkley set a franchise record with 279 yards from scrimmage, including a career-high 189 rushing and 90 receiving. The second-running back added two scores(one rushing, one receiving).
If you’re the Giants, you have to be excited about what you have in Jones and Barkley. These two look like the real deal. Jones, who many criticized New York for selecting over Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins(left the game in 3rd quarter due to ankle injury), has played well this season, and of course, Barkley, when healthy, is a special player.
Some Giants fans may have hated seeing their team defeat the Redskins on Sunday, but if you look at what your two young players did against Washington, you have to be excited about the future, which, even with this victory, will still include a very high pick in the 2020 draft.
On Sunday, Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins made his debut against the team that passed on him in this year’s draft, the New York Giants. While it’s still very early, maybe the Giants made the right choice by passing on Haskins and choosing Daniel Jones.
In his second start, Jones, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, completed 23 of 31 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, as the Giants defeated the Redskins 24-3 at MetLife Stadium. Jones moves to 2-0 as a starter.
Conversely, after replacing an ineffective Case Keenum in the second quarter, Haskins struggled. The 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, threw for 107 yards and three interceptions.
“I don’t wish ill-will on anybody. I wanted Case [Keenum] to do well I just knew that my time would be coming and when the day comes, that I’d be ready for it,” Haskins said after the game. “I didn’t execute the way I wanted to but, the good thing about it is that it hurts, and there [are] going to be brighter days tomorrow.”
At 0-4, there might not be many bright days for the Redskins this season, but according to Haskins, happy days will come.
“I want to win. I’m going to win.,” Haskins said. “Whatever it takes to win, we will do that. I don’t like losing. I never lost. I don’t like losing. So, we’re going to change that and win some games. I’ll be here for a while, so get used to seeing me smile up here.”
While things did not go as planned for the New Jersey native against the Giants today, Haskins is glad that he will have an opportunity to beat New York in the future.
“I have no hate towards the Giants,” he said. “Like I said, I’m from here. So now, if anything, it’s more motivation to beat them every year. I’m looking forward to that.”
Next week, the Redskins host the world champion New England Patriots, and at this point, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden has not decided who will start at quarterback, but based on what happened today, it does seem that Haskins could be the guy moving forward.
Josh Doctson has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced today. According to reports, it’s a one-year deal. The 26-year-old Doctson joined the Vikings after being released by Washington on Saturday.
The fourth-year pro has appeared in 33 career games with 26 starts, all with Washington, while posting 81 career receptions for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. Doctson was selected 22nd overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by Washington, where he was teammates with Vikings QB Kirk Cousins from 2016-17.
The Mansfield, Texas, native was teammates with Vikings practice squad T Aviante Collins at TCU from 2013-15.
The Washington Redskins have claimed RB Wendell Smallwood off waivers, the team announced today. Smallwood, who was waived by the Eagles on Saturday, spent the past three seasons with Philadelphia.
Smallwood, 25, rushed for 364 yards and three rushing touchdowns last season.
Washington also announced that they have waived RB Byron Marshall and placed LB Jordan Brailford and RB Shaun Wilson on IR.
Additionally, the Redskins have signed the following players to their practice squad:
CB Adonis Alexander, DE Ryan Bee, WR Jehu Chesson, TE J.P. Holtz, T Timon Parris, S Jeremy Reaves, RB Craig Reynolds, WR Cam Sims, LB Darrell Williams.
Ed Reed was an outstanding player, and in 13 NFL seasons, he made a lot of plays. Those plays were one reason that Reed was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past weekend in Canton, Ohio.
Game recognizes games, and when a Hall of Famer speaks, we should all listen. During his time at the University of Miami, Reed played with many great players, like RB Clinton Portis, WR Andre Johnson, TE Jeremy Shockey, WR Reggie Wayne, OT Bryant McKinnie, and many more.
During his time at Miami, one guy who Reed mentored is the late Sean Taylor, whose career and life was cut short after he was murdered in 2007. He was only 24. In four NFL seasons, Taylor was a two-time Pro Bowler(All-Pro in 2007) and established himself as one of the best safeties in the game.
Although Taylor only had a short time in the league, If it were up to Reed, Taylor would have a spot in the Hall of Fame.
“I had the privilege of mentoring him(Taylor),” Reed said at the Enshrinees’ Roundtable on Sunday. “I had some hands on that guy. being a great safety.”
While Taylor showed flashes of being a Hall of Famer, unfortunately, he probably did not have a long enough career to make the Hall. Sadly, all we can do is just imagine
Listen below as Reed discussed Sean Taylor and Steve Atwater’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and eighth-year veteran WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. agree on a one-year contact. To make room on the roster, the Jaguars waived Lyndon Johnson.
“He is an intelligent player. He is a former quarterback. He is very smart,” Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said of Pryor. “I think he has communicated well up until this point, which I’ve only had limited communication [with him]. I think that he is a big athlete with a good catch radius, and I think he will be in position to compete for a job, and I’m sure he hopes to get back to the season that he had a couple years ago where he really had a heck of a year.”
In 2016, Pryor, 29, played in all 16 games in Cleveland and totaled 77 receptions for 1,007 yards and five total TDs (four receiving, one rushing).
Last season, he played in two games for Buffalo and six contests for the New York Jets, making a combined 16 receptions for 252 yards and two TDs.Pryor 6-4, 228, has 115 career receptions for 1,563 yards and 11 total TDs in 51 NFL games during stints with Oakland, Seattle, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Washington, the New York Jets and Buffalo.
Pryor was originally selected in the third round of the 2011 Supplemental Draft by Oakland, where he played three seasons primarily at quarterback.
If Pryor can capture that magic he had in Cleveland, this will turn out to be a great signing for Jacksonville.
