The long national nightmare is over: The Washington Football Team will now be known as the Washington Commanders.

After 87 years with the “Redskins” moniker, the team played the last two seasons as the Washington Football Team.

The team also unveiled its new logo and uniforms—which keep the franchise’s iconic burgundy and gold color scheme.

Team officials say the Commanders nickname was chosen because it incorporates the military, which was the goal as the team hails from Washington, D.C.

“As an organization, we are excited to rally and rise together as one under our new identity while paying homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation’s capital,” team owner Dan Snyder said. “As we kick-off our 90th season, it is important for our organization and fans to pay tribute to our past traditions, history, legacy, and the greats that came before us. We continue to honor and represent the Burgundy & Gold while forging a pathway to a new era in Washington. Today may mark the first day for the Washington Commanders, but we are and always will be Washington.”

The team began mulling a name-change in July 2020 after many deemed it offensive.

Executive Director of the nonprofit IllumiNative Crystal Echo Hawk called Wednesday a “momentous moment” and said they can “put a horrible chapter to rest. There’s still a lot of healing that needs to happen, so I don’t think the team’s work in regards to reconciliation and healing is over.”

“The NFL is not done,” Crystal Echo Hawk added. “The [Kansas City] Chiefs have to step up and follow the lead and be on the right side of history. Washington has shown these rebrandings can be successful. This is a good thing. All eyes turn to the Chiefs.”

“They’ll no longer be subjected to such an offensive and harmful slur every Sunday during the football season,” said Ray Halbritter, the nation representative and CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises. “It’s a great moment for Washington fans. They want to support a team, to love a team, and now they won’t be put in position having to do that with a dictionary-defined slur as a name.”

Snyder had for years resisted changing the name, saying in 2013 that he wouldn’t change the name and to “put it in all caps.” Many close to him thought he would even rather sell the team than use a new name.

That, of course, changed in the summer of 2020. That June, a letter signed by 87 investors and shareholders worth a total of $620 billion was sent to sponsors FedEx, PepsiCo and Nike, asking them to stop doing business with the team until it changed its name. That was the catalyst for the change.

Another possible name choice was RedWolves, though trademark issues thwarted that.

Former players have mixed feelings about the switch.

“I don’t feel detached, and the reason why is because of the fans,” said former Washington QB Joe Theismann, part of the organization’s first Super Bowl triumph after the 1982 season. “Believe me, like anything else, you build it and they will come. You start winning, people will show up. If you don’t win, people get disillusioned.”

Former Washington defensive end Charles Mann, who played in three Super Bowls and won two with the franchise, said he will continue to associate with the team’s previous name.

“That’s what we were when we played,” Mann said. “But there’s a new era. New records will be broken. All of that to me is different and fresh and new. I don’t have anything to worry about us being lost or forgotten. We did some incredible things when we played.”

According to a team-created website WashingtonJourney.com, the Washington Football Team will have a new name.

“We’ve transitioned from our old name. Now it’s time to write a new legacy. The future of Washington Football arrives in 2022,” says the text at the top of the screen on the website.

The website also includes a timeline where fans can view the name-creation process and a place where fans can submit their own ideas for the next team name, design a uniform, design a logo and more. The website is currently displaying logos and names that have been suggested by fans so far.

Back in July, Washington opted to change their name from the Washington Redskins to the Washington Football team “in light of recent events around our country and feedback from our community,” according to a statement from the team. Team owner Dan Snyder formerly opposed the name change.

Last year, team president Jason Wright told Washington’s WJLA last October that, “[2021] is fast because of how the brand has to come together through uniforms, through approval processes through the league.” With this in mind, a rebrand in 2022 is not all that surprising.

“Next year is fast, There is a pretty good chance we will still be the Washington Football Team next season. We could get there quicker, it’s actually pretty hard to get there that quickly because of all the steps that need to happen.”

The NFL schedule has been released and with that, it means that fans can start buying tickets for the 2020 season. Over the course of the last few weeks, we here at uSports have been dissecting the regular season schedules of each NFL team, and telling you what games we think you are going to want to attend.

GET WASHINGTON REDSKINS TICKETS HERE!

With things up in the air regarding the Redskins’ team name, it will be interesting to see what they will ultimately go with. The Redskins have not been good for a long time. They made the playoffs twice in the last ten years, doing so in 2012 and 2015, but got bounced in the first round both times in games that were really not all that close. Last season was no different, as the Redskins went just 3-13, which earned them the second pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, where they selected Chase Young out of Ohio State. It seems that there is a new regime coming to the nation’s capital, with Young, quarterback Dwyane Haskins and wide receiver Terry McLaurin being the nice young faces of the franchise for this team. Ron Rivera, after all the success he had in Carolina, steps in as the new head coach of this team which I am really excited about. The offensive line did lose Trent Williams in a trade this offseason, but there are still some nice pieces on that unit with guys like Brando Scherrff and Morgan Moses. The running game is poor, and we hopefully will see if Derrius Guice can finally live up to all the hype. The Redskins’ success in 2020 will most likely come on the defensive side of the ball. In addition to Young, there is also Ryan Kerrigan, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Thomas Davis Sr., Reuben Foster, Kendall Fuller and Landon Collins. All of these guys are extremely talented and with a defensive minded coach like Rivera, he can take this group to new heights. Davis is also the old guy on this defense and played for Rivera in Carolina, which could prove to be good in terms of locker room culture. The thing for the Redskins is that they still have a long way to go. I don’t think Haskins is the quarterback of the future, and no one should expect this team to make the playoffs. They will probably finish last in the NFC East once again. For fans of the Redskins, here is what I will say, they are not building for 2021, they are building for sustained success from 2025-2030. Be patient with this team.

Full Redskins Schedule:

Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals

Week 3: at Cleveland Browns

Week 4: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Week 6: at New York Giants

Week 7: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: vs. New York Giants

Week 10: at Detroit Lions

Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 13: at. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 14: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 15: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 16: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles

Looking at the Redskins’ schedule for 2020, I am not very optimistic about how this team will do this season. I do think that the Redskins can surpass their win total from 2019, but not by much. Looking at the games prior to their Week 8 bye, the Redskins have some tough games against the Eagles, Cardinals, Browns, Ravens and Cowboys. I don’t see the Redskins winning any of those games barring something flukey. I can see them winning their games against the Rams and Giants, I wouldn’t bet on it. After their bye, there are definitely some more winnable games, including the Giants at home, as well as the Lions, Bengals, and Panthers. These will be great litmus tests for the Redskins and their future. If they get blown out in any of these four games, it will show that there is a lot more work left to do but if they win, it shows that they are on the right path. The Redskins will also play the Cowboys, Steelers, 49ers, Seahawks and Eagles, which will most likely not be wins, especially during that three week stretch from Week 12 to Week 14 where they will play all three of those games on the road. The opportunity is there for the Redskins to take steps forward for the future, but there are also opportunities for them to take steps backward.

I am going to be honest, I will not be flocking to a Redskins game in 2020 because I am not uber excited about this team. There are, however, some games on the schedule that catch my eye, and I will be paying attention to them. Here are the five Redskins games I think you should attend in 2020: 

• Week 1: Eagles at Redskins
• Week 5: Rams at Redskins
• Week 9: Giants at Redskins
• Week 12: Redskins at Cowboys
• Week 16: Panthers at Redskins

Starting with Week 1, the Redskins at Eagles always play competitively, and being that this is the first week of the year, this could be a game that the Redskins could steal from their division foes, especially since this game is at home. It will also be a nice litmus test for the Redskins to see how much they are buying into Rivera’s system. Week 5 against the Rams. I think the Redskins can win this game. Jared Goff I think will be flustered by the defense and I think that this could be a game where Guice, or whoever the Redskins running back is, can thrive especially since the Rams were toward the bottom of the pack in rushing yards allowed per game in 2019. The Giants in Week 9, another rivalry game and one the Redskins can definitely win. Young will get the opportunity to go up against Andrew Thomas, the Giants’ rookie offensive tackle. Last season, the Giants had four wins, two of which came against the Redskins. This game should be uber competitive and I am excited to see what happens. Week 12 against Dallas. This game will be played on Thanksgiving, and is one of the few national TV games the Redskins will have in 2020. Similar to the Eagles in Week 1, the Redskins could pull a fast one on the Cowboys and win this one and greatly impact the NFC playoff picture. This is also the start of that three week stretch of road games for the Redskins so it would be nice for them to get off to a good start with this game. Finally Week 16 against Carolina. Both of these teams are more likely going to be at the bottom of their divisions, instead of fighting for a playoff spot, so this game could greatly impact draft position, similar to the Redskins’ Week 16 matchup against the Giants last season. Also this game will feature some of the games bright young stars in Haskins and McLaurin for Washington and Christian McCaffery and DJ Moore for Carolina. 

GET REDSKINS TICKETS HERE!

As the Washington Redskins of the NFL have received criticism of their team name and have just decided to change it, numerous other pro sports teams with names along similar lines have not received as much criticism. One team in Major League Baseball, however, spoke out over the weekend and stood strong in their team’s identity.

The Atlanta Braves and their management, according to Ken Rosenthal, have come out and said that they will not be changing the clubs name, although they will be reconsidering the famous “Tomahawk Chop,” something fans do during the course of the game. In a statement, the team said “The Atlanta Braves honor, support and value the Native American community. That will never change.”

The issue with the “Tomahawk Chop” came up last season during the playoffs when St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Ryan Helsley, who is a member of the Cherokee tribe, said that the chant made Native Americans seem like cavemen.

The Braves have been working with the National Congress of American Indians and organization CEO, Kevin Alis, said that their conversations are steps in the right direction. “NCAI is extremely encouraged by the efforts of athletic teams at the major league, college, and high school level that understand the harm to American Indians and their communities caused by mascots and team names,” Alis said. “Such imagery creates misperceptions and unfair stereotypes of the American Indian, tramples on sacred customs and traditions, and results in American Indians not being viewed as equals in our society. Painful disrespect is often seen when fans don themselves in ceremonial regalia, war paint, and shout made up chants with little or no understanding of the importance and stature of such within the American Indian communities across the country.We welcome and applaud the efforts to address this important issue by the Cleveland baseball team, and all other organizations in similar situations.”

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has been feeling pressure to change the name of his team for years now. He never gave in, going as far as saying a name change will “never” happen. But now, Snyder is relenting.

A press release from the team Friday stated that the Redskins name will go under review. This comes after FedEx CEO Frederick Smith requested a name change and Nike has wiped the Redskin logo off of its website. Smith has minority stake in the team and FedEx has the naming rights to the teams home stadium “FedEx Field.”

The press release from the Redskins stated that it will take input from its alumni, sponsors, the community and the entire NFL. Snyder now has opened the floor to debating the controversial team name.

In the team’s release, new head coach Ron Rivera, who is African-American, said he is looking forward to working with Snyder on a name change. “This issue is of personal importance to me and I look forward to working closely with Dan Snyder to make sure we continue the mission of honoring and supporting Native Americans and our military,” said Rivera.

This issue comes at a time after the killing of George Floyd which sparked nationwide protests to fight against racial injustice. So far, many statues have been taken down that are considered racially charged, including one of Washington’s first team owner George Preston Marshall.

Numerous NFL players have taken part in protests across the country in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. There have been talks of whether or not we will see protests by players while the national anthem is played at games this season. One NFL player has already come out and said that they will be protesting this season.

Washington Redskins’ running back Adrian Peterson, when asked by the Houston Chronicle if he will protest this year he said, “Yeah, without a doubt, without a doubt.”

Peterson’s reasoning goes back to Colin Kaepernick when he first knelt during the national anthem in 2017. “Just four years ago, you’re seeing Kaepernick taking a knee, and now we’re all getting ready to take a knee together going into this season, without a doubt,” he said.

The NFL and league commissioner Roger Goodell posted a video on social media Friday saying that the league will support its players who choose to protest peacefully.

Former Washington Redskins great Dexter Manley tested positive for the coronavirus back on May 2 and had been in the hospital since then. According to former teammate John Riggins, Manley’s condition is getting better.

Riggins made the announcement on his podcast, Riggo The Diesel, on Tuesday. “He is doing much better,” he said. “I’m not sure he was ever really that ill, but his oxygen levels were a little low, they put him on oxygen, he has never been on a ventilator. All of this stuff is improving as we speak. He’s still got a little ways to go.”

Manley had been running a temperature around 101-104 degrees and, as Riggins noted, had his oxygen levels lower than they should. According to Manley’s wife, Lydia Manley, which was said by Redskins radio personality Larry Michael, her husband is in good spirits and that “he hopes to be back talking smack real soon.”

During his career, Manley played in both the NFL and CFL, but had his best years with the Redskins from 1981-1989, where he won two Super Bowls with the team. Manley has also been inducted into the Redskins Ring of Fame.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

After starting 12 games for the Carolina Panthers last season, the Panthers have trade Kyle Allen to the Washington Redskins.

Allen was traded by to Washington for a fifth-round pick right after the Panthers signed the former XFL standout P.J. Walker. The third-year veteran played two seasons with Carolina playing 15 games with 13 starts. He completed 62.1% of his passes for 5,388 yards with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Allen, who compiled a 5-7 record as the Panthers’ starting quarterback in 2019, also rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries. Now the quarterback is going to play for the Redskins’ coach Ron Rivera and play back up for the former first-round pick  Dwayne Haskins. Haskins went 2-5 as a starter during his rookie season.

Allen replaced the Panthers franchise quarterback Cam Newton after the quarterback had to miss games due to injury. Allen enjoyed immediate success as a starter last season, throwing four touchdown passes in the Panthers’ Week 3 victory over Arizona. But after leading Carolina to five wins in his first six starts, Allen and the Panthers ended the season on an eight-game losing streak that ultimately led to Rivera being relieved of his duties with four games to go in the regular season.

Now with Allen out of Carolina’s crowded depth chart, and the Panthers still trying to trade or release Newton, there is more room for a starting quarterback spot for the second-year quarterback Will Grier and Panthers’ newly signed Teddy Bridgewater.

On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys were able to get back one of their star wideouts Amari Cooper, after the receiver also turned down a huge deal from the Washington Redskins.

Amari Cooper Contract

The Redskins attempted to try to steal from the NFC East rival during free agency. According to the Dallas Morning News, the Redskins put up more money than the Cowboys in talks. The offer from the Redskins would have put Cooper in competition with the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones for the highest-paid wideout in the NFL. Despite their efforts, Cooper stayed with the Cowboys for a five-year $100 million deal with $60 million guaranteed. This massive signing by Dallas allows them to keep the four-time Pro Bowl receiver until 2024. Cooper is also the second-highest-paid receiver in the NFL.

Amari Cooper Stats

The team avoids having used a first-round pick on what would’ve amounted to a 1.5-year rental. The 25-year-old was acquired in October 2018 via trade with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the  2019 first-round pick and jump-started a seemingly dead Cowboys offense in the process. Despite a list of injuries during his follow-up season, he was still able to produce a career-best season that saw him have 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns.

With Cooper on the field, it’s been statistically shown that the Cowboys are significantly better and that he also raises the game of Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. Dallas needed Cooper. Prescott — who the team retained via the exclusive franchise tag — levels up with the dynamic wideout on his team. His passer rating with Cooper in the lineup is 101.4. Without him, it’s 94.2.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is set to start Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, making at least one more home start. This comes after rookie quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a high ankle sprain and was put on limited capacity after returning to practice this week.

Jones took over for Manning after Week 2, but suffered the ankle injury in their Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

This will be Manning’s second straight start after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night in overtime. Manning, who is in the final year of his contract, is unsure of what the future holds. He was the Giants’ starter for the majority of 15 seasons and has a pair of Super Bowl victories.

The 39-year old is set to finish out this season despite questions of his future in New York or in the NFL. After the Dolphins, the Giants face Washington followed by Philadelphia. Depending on how quickly Jones heals, he could be back for the game against Washington or the last regular season game against the Eagles.

High ankle sprains can be unpredictable, so a future Jones start is hard to say. But if Jones does return quickly, this could be Manning’s final home start.

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula showed confidence in Manning by saying, “He looks good. He’s had a good week. He always has a good look in his eye. He’s been great for me as a coach to be around. I’ve learned a lot from him.”

“We might not have him running the ball like we did with Daniel on the 1-[yard line], but other than that, really nothing”, Shula added. “Eli obviously knows our offense so well, and Daniel…We’ve given him probably more than we’ve given any other rookie as far as volume, putting things on his shoulders more so than other rookie quarterbacks.”

As the Giants look towards Sunday, it is safe to say the future of Jones’ injury remains unknown, as well as Manning’s future in the NFL.

After leading a 19-16 comeback win over the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins’ quarterback Dwayne Haskins undoubtedly had reasons to celebrate. After all, this was not only his first-ever win as an NFL starter, but he also went 6-9 passing for 68 yards on his last two drives to seal the deal for the Redskins.

However, when the Washington offense trotted out onto the field to assemble their victory formation and take a knee to end the game, Haskins was nowhere to be found; This meant that veteran Case Keenum was needed to go out to take the final snap of the game.

Haskins was busy taking a selfie with a fan on the sidelines.

“I was so hyped, I broke a water bottle,” Haskins said. “I look up and we’re in victory [formation]. I thought the game was over with already, but I’ll get it next time.”

On the other hand, Redskins’ interim coach, Bill Callahan, was less amused with the final play of the game.

“No, I don’t laugh at it,” Callahan said. “I’m happy we won. We’ll address that. I’m just pleased we won the game. I just have to find out.”

Some, such as former Washington QB Joe Theismann, were much more discontent with the fact that Haskins was off taking a selfie as opposed to finishing off his first victory. Theismann said in a tweet following the game:

“How do miss the last snap of a game because ur taking selfies. That’s unprofessional & wrong.”

Right tackle Morgan Moses commented after the game on Haskins play instead, especially how the young quarterback stepped up in the final two drives when needed.

“It’s big. Obviously he comes from a big program; he’s not used to losing. It’s a sour taste in his mouth,” Moses said. “We all know he has big-play potential. This is about composure.”

No matter your stance on Haskins missing the final snap of the game, the point remains that the Redskins grabbed a clutch come-from-behind win against the Lions to grab just their second win on the year.

They will travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers next week.

Any NFL fans who have been wondering how Alex Smith has been doing since his gruesome leg injury last year got their answer on Monday.

The Redskins quarterback’s wife Elizabeth posted an Instagram video on the one-year anniversary of Smith’s devastating fibia and tibia injury, which came in his first season with the Redskins in a matchup against the Houston Texans and sidelined him for the rest of the season. The short clip showed photos and videos of the QB’s rehabilitation from the injury, including his progress with walking and training.

“November 18th… 1 Year and so much to be grateful for,” Elizabeth Smith captioned the video, adding the praying/thankful hands emoji.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

According to For The Win, Alex Smith has undergone 17 surgeries over the last year, so his recovery process is especially admirable for that reason alone.

Many NFL pundits and fans compared Smith’s injury from last year — which occurred after he was sacked by Kareem Jackson — to one former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann sustained in 1985 when former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor sacked him. In June, Smith told NFL.com he felt confident he could still play despite his injury.

“That’s the plan,” the former first-round draft pick said at the time. “That’s the plan. Steps. I’ve got to conquer some more steps before I get there. Learn to run again. That’s a big one. I’m already throwing. I already feel like throwing is not a problem. I feel like I can throw. But dropping, moving around, all that kind of stuff, change of direction.”

Redskins fans will surely love to see Smith back in action, as the team has struggled this season. Washington is 1-9 and fourth in the NFC East, and saw head coach Jay Gruden fired after an 0-5 start. The Redskins have also seen ineffective performances from veteran quarterbacks Case Keenum and Colt McCoy and rookie Dwayne Haskins, a first-round draft pick out of Ohio State.

After earning a estimated $100,000 over his career, Adrian Peterson‘s lawyer announced this week that the former league MVP and multi–year rushing champ is in serious debt after “trusting the wrong people.”

Peterson apparently owes DeAngelo Vehicle Sales a whopping $6.6 million after failing to complete several payments since taking out a loan while still playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2016. Peterson’s lawyer, Chase Carlson, offered little other information as he stated, “Because of ongoing legal matters, I am unable to go into detail, but I will say this is yet another situation of an athlete trusting the wrong people and being taken advantage of by those he trusted. Adrian and his family look forward to sharing further details when appropriate.”

Peterson apparently struck the conflicting deal with DeAngelo Vehicle Sales to relieve a $3.2 million debt to Thrivest Specialty Funding and a $1.34 million debt to Crown Bank. The financial complications for Peterson arose after the Vikings cut him following his knee injury and denied him a hefty $18 million, which Peterson most likely intended to pay off his initial debts with. These initial debts occurred due to some unfavorable moves from the bad investors who allegedly took advantage of Peterson. Unable to gather enough funds following his departure from Minnesota, Peterson finds himself severely behind payments to both Crown Bank as well as DeAngelo Vehicle Sales.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

This summer, Peterson inked a two–year, $5 million deal with to remain with the Washington Redskins. The once universally acclaimed best running back across the NFL spectrum continues to move into his career’s twilight years. Still illustrating his effectiveness at an older age, however, Peterson last year ran for an admirable 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns.

Peterson intended to see a judge this Monday, although a conflict of interest involving Peterson’s lawyer postponed the hearing until a later, unknown date.

Let’s get this out of the way early. Yes, while playing for the New York Jets in 2012, Mark Sanchez indeed infamously ran directly into one of his own linemen’s rear end and proceeded to then fumble the ball away to the New England Patriots, berthing the universally named worst play in NFL history. Ending the opportunity to add other “butt fumbles” to his resume, Sanchez called it a career earlier this week by accepting a “high-profile” job as a college football analyst for ESPN.

Sanchez expressed his excitement going forward by posting a tweet and while also thanking ESPN for opportunity. Sanchez reportedly awaits a multi–show role once beginning his new career path.

Sanchez played ten seasons as an NFL quarterback, even reaching the AFC Championship with the Jets twice before enjoying stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins. Over that period, Sanchez racked up over 15,000 yards while tossing 86 touchdowns, paired with 89 interceptions. In his final start last year for the Redskins following Alex Smith’s injury, Sanchez completed six passes on fourteen attempts for 38 yards, while also throwing two interceptions.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – IN MEMORIAM SLIDESHOW 

Although lasting 10 years as an NFL player remains a modest accomplishment for the former No. 5 overall pick, Sanchez enjoyed greater success at the colligate level. While playing at USC, Sanchez earned a Rose Bowl MVP and first team All–Pac-10 honors during his 2008 season.

Although he put his career on the line, likely causing the Washington Redskins front office to sweat quite a bit, All–Pro cornerback Josh Norman checked another box off his bucket list this week, as he ran with the bulls in Spain. While Norman often spends his offseason traveling the world and venturing out with alternative activities, this fiasco surely tops them all.

SLIDESHOW: 30 BEST SPORTS INSTAGRAMS

Videos quickly exploded across the internet from bystanders and even Norman himself illustrating the event, including one specific shot which displayed Norman running at and then jumping clear over a bull. Five people have been gored since the event commenced Sunday, as certain health risks clearly accompany the fun and exhilaration that the celebration brings forth. Although Norman’s involvement drew some criticisms other across the internet from people criticizing Norman for undergoing such risks, Norman exclaimed only unapologetic excitement and gratitude following the event through social media.

Norman later commented, “I had to face the bull straight on. It was fun. It was worth it. It was really worth it. This is a great experience.” As Norman “prepares” for next year’s season, he remains an important key to Washington’s success. The Redskins went 7–9 last year, missing the playoffs once more. However, after adding players such as rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins and resigning Adrian Peterson, the team appears moving forward positively. The Skins also added star safety Landon Collins, who when eventually paired with Norman poises to give quarterbacks trouble as a top air defensive unit.

Barring any potential injuries before the celebration ends this Monday, Norman and the Redskins stand ready to take the league by the horns next year when their season begins with week one matchup against their divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, September 8.

Last NFL season, Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith had a gruesome leg injury halfway through the season that has sidelined him for the time being. With Smith questionable to ever play again, the 35-year-old thinks he still can play.

“That’s the plan,” Smith said, according to NFL.com “That’s the plan. Steps. I’ve got to conquer some more steps before I get there. Learn to run again. That’s a big one. I’m already throwing. I already feel like throwing is not a problem. I feel like I can throw. But dropping, moving around, all that kind of stuff, change of direction.”

With Smith having around $54 million in guaranteed money from the Skins, its unsure what they’re plan is regarding the veteran. If you don’t know, Dan Snyder went out and bought Case Keenum, Colt McCoy also coming off an injury and drafted Dwayne Haskins with their 15th pick. In Snyder’s perspective, he’s done with Smith. The Skins weren’t going to draft Haskins to be a backup, and Keenum started for the Denver Broncos last year. The Redskins are in a bit of a crisis mode in terms of quarterbacks, but its than having no QBs. Haskins seems to be the obvious favorite for who will win the starting job for the time being.

“Oh, for sure,” head coach Jay Gruden said about Haskins starting, according to CBS Sport. “I’d be silly not to. He’s put enough out there on tape to say he deserves a shot, without a doubt.”

Smith could be used as an asset for their overloaded QB room, the 6-foot-4 veteran has thrown 193 touchdowns in his career, along with over 34,000 yards.

“The steps I’m at now are lifestyle steps,” Smith said, according to FOX News. “I’m still working on playing basketball with my kids and running around after my daughter. Those are things I have to conquer anyway until I get to the point where I’m walking on the field. I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited about that challenge. The stronger I get every week, the more I do, the more hopeful I am that that’s a real possibility.”

Smith still has three years left on his four-year, $94 million deal he made with Washington in 2018.

Safety Landon Collins signed a 6-year, $84 million free agency deal with Washington on Monday, and Redskins cornerback Josh Norman quickly took the opportunity to take a jab at New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman. 

Josh Norman Pokes Fun At Dave Gettleman

Norman mocked Gettleman in a tweet Monday afternoon after the Giants lost Collins to the Redskins, writing: “In ‘Gettleman’ WE Trust (All-DBs) securing the [money emojis],” using ‘DB’ to refer to defensive backs, a position similar to safety.

Gettleman infamously rescinded Norman’s franchise tag in April 2016 when he was the GM for the Carolina Panthers and the cornerback played for that team. After four seasons with the Panthers, Pro Bowler Norman inked a five-year, $75 million contract with the Redskins in 2016.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Norman switching teams three years ago ultimately seems to have benefited Washington more than Carolina. In early 2016, the cornerback was coming off a stellar season in which he was named first-team All-Pro and helped lead the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance against the Denver Broncos, who eventually won the title game. Norman, 31, has logged six interceptions in three seasons with the Redskins.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Collins — who has spent the past four seasons with the Giants — will likely add depth to Washington’s secondary defense. The former second-round pick out of Alabama is a three-time Pro Bowler who is also a former first-team All-Pro.

Norman has famously had a tense relationship with NFC East rival Odell Beckham of the Giants. Thus, Collins joining the Redskins will likely make the games between the two teams next season all the more interesting.

Collins, who has made several key tackles and interceptions for the Giants over the years, has been called a “box safety” by some fans who argue he is not a strong player in terms of wide-ranging coverage. Other fans countered by highlighting his strengths.

The Washington Redskins traded for Case Keenum last week. Keenum will now vie for the starting quarterback role against Colt McCoy. Alex Smith, who the Redskins traded for before the 2018 season, will most likely miss the 2019 season after missing a handful of games this year due to an absolutely gruesome leg injury. For just a sixth-round pick, the Redskins feel confident that they’ve found a stopgap under center. Washington will also now receive a seventh-round pick from the Denver Broncos as part of the deal.

Case Keenum Lands With Washington

Keenum was originally slated to carry a $21 million cap hit this year. However, he reworked his contract and will be on a one-year deal in Washington. The 31-year-old has a base salary of $18 million this season but only $7 million of it is guaranteed, and this is expected to be split evenly by both teams.

Had the Broncos just cut Keenum, they would’ve had $10 million in “dead money” cap hits. Instead, they’ll pay out only $3.5 million as well as a $500,000 restructuring bonus.

After a season in which he led the Minnesota Vikings to an NFC Championship Game appearance, Keenum signed a two-year, $36 million dollar deal with the Broncos. He was not able to replicate his success in Denver. The team went 6-10, head coach Vance Joseph was fired and Vic Fangio was ultimately brought in to replace him.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The trade shows that neither team seems to have a successful plan for the future. The Redskins are tethering a mid-level team to quarterback play that won’t bring it over the top as it ages. The Broncos shipped off Keenum to bet on Joe Flacco. As the 2019 quarterback class continues to emerge as a viable option to find a starter, the Redskins turned away completely.

“That’s hard; this is new to everybody,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said of Smith’s absence and the team’s current quarterback situation. “This is an injury that’s tough to overcome, but you also don’t know Alex and what he can do with his mind and what he can overcome. Will he be ready next year or the year after? I don’t know. We’ll play it by ear.”

When three-time Super Bowl champ John Elway traded for former Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco last week, everyone thought he was crazy.

Joe Flacco Was Wanted By Redskins

Elway is noted for his love of tall, strong-armed quarterbacks and this seemed very in character. Most of those players haven’t panned out during his time as the general manager of the Denver Broncos. Why would trading for a subpar 34-year-old quarterback finishing up a 6 year, $120.6 million contract help a team that already sunk $36 million into a veteran during the last offseason? That’s not to mention Elway’s gambles on Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian, all of whom failed throughout their NFL careers.

But it appears that there’s a reason why the February 13 trade for Flacco came to be as quick as it did. They had competition for him. According to Sports Illustrated, the Washington Redskins were hoping to plug in Flacco until Alex Smith returned from the gruesome leg injury he suffered this November — if he ever does return.

Smith has undergone multiple surgeries since suffering the season-ending compound leg fracture in Week 11. Although there’s been a lack of update on his health status, he’s been seen with a huge leg brace on and is reportedly battling infections in the leg.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Most of Smith’s teammates don’t expect him to be back for the 2019 season. “You know, we’ve still got time; we haven’t really gotten into free agency yet,” Redskins senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams said.

After striking out on Flacco, the Redskins could potentially sign Nick Foles or Teddy Bridgewater and hope that they could hold down the fort. There’s even the possibility that they could contact Elway regarding Case Keenum‘s availability. After Smith’s injury, the Reskins went 1-5.

The 2018 NFL regular season is nearing its end: we are entering the penultimate week and two big games are set for Saturday.

Titans Host Redskins, Chargers Host Ravens For Week 16

First, the Washington Redskins (7-7) will visit the Tennessee Titans (8-6) and then the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) will visit the Los Angeles Chargers (11-3). Here is what you need to know for each game (Both games will air on NFL Network).

The Redskins and Titans will face off at 4:30 p.m. EST. Washington is third in the NFC East and holds the same record as second-place Philadelphia. The Titans and Redskins are tied 6-6 in their series of last 12 games. In their previous matchup, Washington defeated Tennessee 19-17 in October 2014.

Tennessee, which is also third in its division, is coming off a 17-0 rout of the hopeless New York Giants (5-9) on Sunday, while the Redskins topped the Jaguars 16-13 in Jacksonville. Veteran running back Adrian Peterson has 923 yards rushing.

Washington is currently ranked 18th in the league in overall defense, rushing defense and passing defense. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s defense is ranked seventh overall, 12th in rushing and sixth in passing. The Titans’ rushing offense (fifth) is also powerful, and the team is 5-1 at home this season.

Neither of these teams seems likely to reach the playoffs — or at least to get very far in the playoffs if they make the cut — but it could be an interesting matchup nonetheless.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The Ravens and Chargers will play at 8:20 p.m. EST. The Chargers are second in the AFC West and are coming off a giant come-from-behind 29-28 victory over Kansas City, which is also 11-3. The team is virtually certain to reach the postseason without any major difficulties, and was even picked as a Super Bowl favorite earlier this year.

Baltimore is second in its division behind Pittsburgh, and quarterback Lamar Jackson has demonstrated he is a competent player. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner has compiled five touchdowns, 818 yards and just three interceptions on 124 pass attempts. A first-round (No. 32) pick this year out of Louisville, Jackson has also amassed 427 rushing yards after only five starts — the most for any QB in league history.