D.C. United have selected Georgetown University midfielder Aidan Rocha with the 60th overall pick (Third Round) in the 2023 MLS Draft. Rocha is a MoCo native (Brookeville) and attended St. John’s College High School before heading to Georgetown. Rocha scored five goals and recorded six assists in 69 appearances (52 starts) for Georgetown University from 2019 to 2022. In 2022, he scored three goals and recorded three assists in 20 appearances.
In a press release tweeted by NBC Sports’ JP Finlay, attorney Seth Berenzweig has announced that the “originals HOGS”, a group that consists of Joe Jacoby, Mark May, John Riggins, Fred Dean, and Doc Walker, will be suing Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders. Additional information in the full press release below:
WHAT: Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders are trying to profit off the original HOGS legacy by taking that trademark and associated goodwill and brand equity of the original HOGS. The Commanders are using the original HOGS brand for commercial purposes with NO compensation to the men who’s blood & sweat equity built the original HOGS brand 40 years ago.
When Jay Glazer reported last month that the Washington Commanders were expected to sell for $7 billion, many thought it wouldn’t be possible for embattled owner to get bids that high. Forbes had previously valued the Commanders at $5.6 billion in August (excluding real estate), which put Washington as the sixth most valuable NFL franchise. With bids for the team due today, Forbes now reports that that Snyder has received bids “well north” of $7 billion, which would be a big return on the $800 million the team went for when Snyder bought the franchise in 1999.
Yesterday, JP Finlay of NBC Sports reported that “At least 5 and possibly as many as 7 bidders expected for the Commanders, per multiple sources. Bids due tomorrow 12/23. Price tag was believed to be at least $6 billion but after Suns sale that’s gone up. Market is brisk. Commanders have no comment.” When commenting on the Forbes report of bids “well north” of $7 billion, Al Galdi of the Al Galdi Show wrote, “…speaks to how much the team is viewed as a sleeping giant. …indicates selling only a minority stake isn’t much of an option. …is further reason to believe Dan is on his way out.” According to various reports, many feel the team will sell for the asking price and the Commanders will be under new ownership for the 2023 NFL season.
When the Washington Commanders take the field on Sunday night against the New York Giants, fans will be able to cheer on the home team knowing Metro will stay open an extra hour late to get them home after the game. The extended service, announced today by Metro and the Commanders, is being funded by the team to cover the $100,000 cost to run more trains, keep all 97 stations open, and other operational expenses.
Under the agreement, the Commanders will provide free fare for all customers that want to stay until the end of the game and use Metro during the additional hour of service. Extra Blue and Silver line train service will operate during the one-hour extended service in the direction of Ashburn and Franconia-Springfield. Fans and workers leaving the game will be able to enter only at the Morgan Boulevard and Downtown Largo stations. All other stations will be exit only during this time. On Sunday, December 18, the last trains will now depart as follows:
Caleb Williams, a Prince George’s County native who attended high school at Gonzaga College High in DC, has won the Heisman Trophy. He is the first player from the DMV to win the prestigious college football award, after leading the USC Trojans to an 11-2 record as a sophomore. Williams beat out C.J. Stroud of Ohio State, Stetson Bennett of the University of Georgia, and Max Duggan of TCU to win the Heisman Trophy
Williams threw 4,075 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions this year, while running for 10 more touchdowns. Williams enrolled at Oklahoma in the spring of 2021 after graduating a semester early from high school, and emerged as the Sooners’ starting quarterback by mid-season, proving to be one of the nation’s premier freshmen in 2021. He transferred to USC last year and earned the starting job.
Investigation Reveals Troubling Scope of Harassment and Misconduct at the Team, and NFL and Commanders’ Leadership Attempts to Cover It Up
Washington, D.C. (December 8, 2022)— Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, released a staff report entitled, Conduct Detrimental: How the NFL and Washington Commanders Covered Up Decades of Sexual Misconduct. The report presents the Committee’s findings from its year-long investigation into the Washington Commanders’ (Commanders) decades-long toxic workplace culture, the National Football League’s (NFL) handling of the investigation into this matter, and the NFL’s role and record in setting and enforcing workplace standards across the League.
The Washington Commanders are 7-5, having won 6 of their last 7 games, and would be the last team in the playoffs (NFC) as records stand going into today’s games. The Giants started off hot, going 6-1 in their first 7 games before losing 3 of their last 4. They’re now 7-4 and a half game ahead of the Commanders in the NFC East. The two teams meat in East Rutherford at 1pm today to battle it out. As of Sunday morning, all NFC East teams would be in the playoffs.
Washington is led by its rushing attack, going for over 170 yards on the ground last week, with rookie Brian Robinson eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career. Robinson has 467 yards rushing in 8 games this year after missing the start of the season due to being shot twice in an armed robbery attempt. Antonio Gibson leads the team in rushing with 476 yards, but also has 30 receptions for 306 yards on the season. The Giants are led on the ground by Saquon Barkley who has bounced back this season to run for 992 yards with 7 touchdowns on the ground.
The Commanders Song: Who are we? The Commanders (videos below) by OH Goody featuring Big57 has taken Commanders social media by storm this year, with the song receiving over 160k plays on YouTube, and clips of it receiving millions of views across various social media platforms. Now, the creators of the song will get to perform it live in front of thousands of fans at Fed Ex Field at the next two home games, the duo announced.
Commanders superfan Lucas Georgiou said “At first we kind of did it as a joke, but now it’s the jam every time we win.” While the song itself has been widely criticized on a musical level, the overall theme of support for the home team and catchy hook has been used by many to celebrate Washington Commanders big plays, wins, and more. Check out the popular clip and full song below:
The Atlanta Falcons are coming to town to try to slow down the surging Washington Commanders, who have won five of their last six games. Head Coach Arthur Smith is being credited for being a part of making a Falcons team that was expected to be one of the worst in the league play competitive football and remain in the playoff hunt in the NFC. Smith is a graduate of Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda). Two of his players, Arnold Ebitekie (Einstein High School) and defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo of the practice squad (Bullis High School) also have strong MoCo ties.
Arthur Smith played a big role in the development of Derrick Henry as one of the best running backs in the NFL, turning the Tennessee Titans offense around, and helping the team make the playoffs in consecutive years before earning the head coaching job in Atlanta. Smith, who graduated from Georgetown Prep in 2001, guided the Little Hoyas to an undefeated season and an IAC championship as a senior. He was inducted into the Georgetown Prep Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017, just two years before being promoted to offensive coordinator for the Titans. Smith started his NFL coaching career when he was named the defensive quality control coach for Washington back in 2007. You may have also heard of his father’s company–Arthur Smith’s father, Frederick W. Smith, is the founder, chairman, president, and CEO of FedEx (the sponsor of Washington’s stadium).
The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed 28 modern-era semifinalists for the Class of 2023 on Tuesday, which includes two former Washington players– Linebacker London Fletcher and Wide Receiver Henry Ellard.
London Fletcher played in Washington longer than he played for any other team (7 seasons), having also played in St. Louis (4 seasons) seasons and Buffalo (5 seasons). He played in 256 games and recorded 2,039 tackles, 39 sacks, 109 tackles for loss, 19 forced fumbles, 23 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries and three touchdowns. He appeared in four Pro Bowls and was a two-time second-team All-Pro (all with Washington).
Maryland-natives John Auville (Cakes), Eric Bickel (EB), Jason Bishop (Lurch/Bish) and John-Paul Flaim (JP) will remain on WJFK-FM (106.7 The Fan) Washington, DC, weekdays from 5-10am for at least another four years, the group announced last week.
Auville, Bickel, and Flaim grew up as friends in Bowie, Maryland. Bishop and Bickel became friends when they both attended DeMatha in high school. The longtime friends have worked together on the show since 1995 when the group began with a 30-minute public access television show in Bowie, before moving to radio. Auville, Bickel, and Flaim are all currently residents of Montgomery County, with Bishop living in Virginia.