The Washington Football Team has won four games in a row to put them in the 6th (of 7) playoff spots in the NFC. A win today against the rival Dallas Cowboys would put them within a game of the division, but they’ll have to give it their best without their top 4 defensive ends.
Chase Young suffered a season ending injury earlier this year and Montez Sweat was dealing with a broken jaw that landed him on injured reserve. There was hope he’d be available to play prior to being placed on the Covid-19 list earlier this week.
James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill have filled in admirably, but both players have since been placed on the Covid-19 list; leaving them unable to play in today’s big game against the Cowboys.
This leaves Daniel Wise, Bunmi Rotimi, Shaka Toney, and William Bradley-King as the only defensive ends available for the Football Team.
The game will be played at Fed Ex Field in Landover at 1pm today and can be watched on Fox 5.
Springbrook Head Football Coach Dustin Jeter has been named the Washington Football Team’s High School Coach of the Week
The High School Coach of the Week program is a league-wide initiative designed to recognize area high school football coaches who continuously demonstrate hard work and dedication to their football programs, the health and safety of their players, and who make a difference in their communities. Each coach chosen throughout the high school football season will receive a $2,000 donation from the Washington Football Charitable Foundation to their football program.
“Coach Jeter leads with love. He demonstrates compassion and empathy while maintaining high-level expectations of players, both in preparation and in execution on the field. He celebrates successes loudly, and ensures players also see the side of him that’s human, offering advice and life experience to help them navigate their high school years.”
The award was announced by the Washington Football Team on social media last week.
No better way to spend #VictoryTuesday than by celebrating our Coach of the Week presented by @InovaHealth, Coach Dustin Jeter from Springbrook HS!@DustinJeter goes far beyond the scope of football to help grow young men, so they can impact the world.#WashingtonCoachOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/CXYlfIeLtf
— Washington Football Community Relations (@WasNFLCommunity) November 30, 2021
The Washington Football Team is on to its fourth kicker of the season, after signing MoCo native Brian Johnson off of the Chicago Bears practice squad.
In an unlikely sequence of events in Washington’s Monday Night Football victory, the Football Team saw kicker Joey Slye get his extra point blocked then suffer a hamstring injury while attempting to chase down Rasheem Green, who ended up returning it all the way to give Seattle 2 points before the half.
Man was cooking for a second pic.twitter.com/yFINyxmUOn
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 30, 2021
The injury left Washington unable to kick field goals or extra points in the second half of the game, but they were still able to put the Seahawks away after successfully going for two after their touchdown, intercepting Seattle’s late-game two point conversion attempt, and recovering an onside kick.
Tuesday morning the team was left looking for its fourth kicker of the season. They reached out to former Virginia Tech Hokies kicker Brian Johnson, who has had two stints on the Chicago Bears practice squad this year.
Johnson, who also graduated from Gonzaga in DC, grew up in Bethesda. In an interview with JP Finlay, Johnson stated that he grew up a Ravens fan, but has family that supports the Washington Football Team. The clip can be seen below:
New Washington kicker Brian Johnson grew up in Bethesda and went to high school in DC. But he grew up a Ravens fan!?!? pic.twitter.com/DspiaB1iRK
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 2, 2021
Earlier this year, The Washington Football Team named Kennedy High School’s Lenny Myers educator of the month. Last night, they recognized the MCPS P.E. teacher on the field.
Lenny Myers was awarded Educator of the Month by The Washington Football Team‘s Black Engagement Network earlier this year.
”Mr. Myers leads from the front. He is an amazing teacher in the classroom at John F. Kennedy High School and his students love and respect him.
His best work is in his community; Mr. Myers has a program for children looking to gain new basketball skills through his program, “Reach Beyond Basketball.” This program provides financial help to to children in the community with scholarships in order to take the burden off of struggling families.”
More on The Washington Football Team’s Black Engagement Network:
The Washington Football team has officially launched its own Black Engagement Network as part of the franchise’s efforts to strengthen its commitment to Black employees through professional development and career management.
“B.E.N. will work with organization executives and leadership to provide support, education and racial equality initiatives in communities across the Washington, D.C., metro area where our employees live and work,” head coach Ron Rivera announced June 10. “I am honored to work at an organization with so many people who want to change our society for the better.”
B.E.N, which was organized in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, is an NFL Employee Affinity Group established to develop, acquire, and retain Black talent at the NFL while also serving as an employee resource group for league leadership as needed. Rivera said the network hopes to create “an inclusive work environment and community outreach, while creating an inter-cultural understanding of Black employees.”
“I am saddened by how hurt the Black Community is by what has transpired,” Rivera said. “I am proud of everyone who is on the right side of this fight against social injustice. I am eager to help in any way I can in making a difference.”
The Washington Football Team announced today that D.C. native, Grammy nominated rapper, and longtime supporter of the Washington Football Team, Wale, will perform his 2020 hit song, “Sue Me” at halftime of the team’s “Inspire Change”- themed Monday Night Football game on November 29th against the Seattle Seahawks.
Wale attended Quince Orchard High School and The Mark Twain School, and graduated from Quince Orchard in 2002. He remains tied to the area with his appearances at many local sporting events (Redskins, Wizards, etc.).
Per the Washington Football Team:
Monday night’s game will help bring visibility to the NFL’s 2021 “Inspire Change” initiative, which showcases how players, teams, and the league are joining forces to ensure access to opportunity is a reality to all and create progress in police-community relations, criminal justice reform, and education and economic advancement.
Born and raised in D.C., the self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Rap for the Capital” transcended his status as a local sensation to a national rap contender through go-go inspired hip-hop. Through the decades he has had multiple chart-topping albums and singles including “The Gifted,” “The Album About Nothing,” “Wow…That’s Crazy,” “The Imperfect Storm” and “Folarin II,” as well as mixtapes featuring the likes of Waka Flocka Flame, J. Cole, and Rick Ross. With Wale’s latest album release, Folarin II, he pays homage by “giving flowers” to those who have paved the way and who have supported him.
“I am honored to perform for my home team on such an important night – Monday Night Football and Inspire Change – with such a needed message about supporting the Black community. I am dedicating this performance to the Black community of the DMV. I want to show my appreciation and give flowers to those who supported me from the very beginning of my career,” said Wale of the performance.
Alongside its acclaimed video, “Sue Me” delivers a message of support for the Black community. During the performance, Wale will be accompanied by Y’Anna Crawley, D.C. native and 2009 Season II winner of BET’s Sunday Best, who will be performing background vocals. Y’Anna has performed background vocals for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Angie Stone, and more. An inspirational video and photo montage also will be displayed live on the stadium HD boards, celebrating the African American community across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV).
In addition to Wale’s headlining halftime performance, the team will feature a variety of pregame and in-game activations in support of the Inspire Change initiative. The full schedule of gameday activations will be released closer to the game and will build on Washington’s year-round efforts to support local communities, lead on social justice matters, and increase access to opportunity for all across the DMV.
Featured photo courtesy of Emilee Fails/Washington Football Team
The Washington Football Team out together the type of performance our area has been waiting, beating Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-19.
In a rematch of last year’s playoffs, where the Football Team gave the Bucs their toughest game of the playoffs, Washington started off hot and never gave up the lead.
New kicker Joey Slye went 3/3 on field goals, including a 46 yard kick, and nailed both extra points.
Taylor Heinicke went 26 for 32 for 256 yards and a touchdown while Antonio Gibson ran for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
Playing without starting defensive end Montez Sweat, who is out for a few weeks with a broken jaw, the team was expected to relay heavily on second year player Chase Young. Young, who has been dealing with criticism about his play this season after a strong rookie year, suffered a no-contact knee injury in the first half. Unfortunately, the injury is feared to be a torn ACL which would end his season.
The Washington Football Team travels to Charlotte to take on head coach Ron Rivera’s former team, the Carolina Panthers at 1pm on Sunday.
The Washington Football Team released Chris Blewitt after three of his five field goal attempts were blocked in his two weeks as the team’s kicker.
Blewitt was signed after Washington released longtime kicker Dustin Hopkins after an inconsistent start to the year.
Joey Slye, possibly known for his physique as much as he is for his kicking, has been signed. Slye was initially signed by Ron Rivera in Carolina back in 2019. He was the Panthers’ kicker for two seasons, making 54 of 68 field goals in his time there.
This season, Slye has played for the Texans and the 49ers (three games per team). He made 11 of 13 field goals and 9 of 12 extra points.
Chairs Seek Commitment to Allow Witnesses to Speak Out Without Fear of Retaliation
Full Press Release Below:
Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2021)—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, called on the National Football League and the Washington Football Team to commit to complete transparency on the NFL’s handling of the WFT’s hostile workplace culture.
Following Commissioner Goodell’s October 26, 2021, statements that the NFL will “be cooperative” with Congress, and that witnesses “are welcome to be public if they wish to,” the Chairs are calling on the NFL to honor these commitments by producing all requested documents, and by releasing all individuals from any non-disclosure agreement that prevents them from speaking out about Dan Snyder and the Washington Football Team’s toxic work environment.
“Commissioner Goodell said the NFL will cooperate with Congress, and we expect him to make good on that promise by producing the documents requested,” Chairwoman Maloney said. “In the spirit of transparency, I am calling on the NFL and Washington Football Team to honor the Commissioner’s public statement that witnesses to the team’s hostile workplace culture are ‘welcome’ to come forward. Congress has a responsibility to combat harassment and discrimination in the workplace. If the NFL shares our commitment to address these issues, it will be fully transparent about the findings of the internal review and will allow all individuals to speak freely without fear of retaliation.”
“While Commissioner Roger Goodell has told the press that victims and witnesses are free to take their story public, he should know many of them do not have that option,” Chairman Krishnamoorthi said. “Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington Football Team, has saddled them with gag orders, preventing them from coming forward due to fear of retaliation. If the NFL and the WFT are serious about addressing, among other things, sexual harassment within their organizations, they must allow these individuals to speak freely. “The NFL has committed to producing documents. We look forward to seeing them.”
On October 21, 2021, the Chairs sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and launched an investigation into the WFT’s workplace culture and how the NFL responded when it uncovered serious issues of harassment and discrimination within the organization.
The letter followed the NFL’s July 1, 2021, announcement on the outcome of the WFT investigation conducted by an outside law firm. The announcement described vague and conclusory findings, including that “the workplace environment … particularly for women, was highly unprofessional,” that “[b]ullying and intimidation frequently took place,” and that “senior executives engaged in inappropriate conduct themselves.” Unlike past investigations into potential misconduct, the NFL did not disclose the full results of the investigation.
Roger Goodell said, at a press conference from the owners meetings in New York onTuesday night, that he does not have any plans to release a report on the Washington Football Team’s reported workplace misconduct, but says that Washington owner Dan Snyder has been “held accountable.”
That questioning at the press conference came after former Washington Football Team employees delivered a letter, which was signed by 12 former employees, to the NFL’s Social Justice Working Group, in an attempt to make the findings of the league’s investigation into the team public.
The NFL decided against releasing the results of Beth Wilkinson’s investigation into Washington’s toxic workplace culture. Earlier this month, however, several emails from former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden to former Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen were leaked and deemed offensive, costing Gruden his job.
The NFL fined the Washington Football Team $10 million and Dan Snyder ceded daily functions to his wife, Tanya Snyder.
“I do think he’s been held accountable for, I think the organization has been held accountable,” Goodell said.
“And I think we’ve given an unprecedented fine. Dan Snyder has not been involved with the franchise for now almost four months. We, obviously, have focused more on making sure that the policies that they had, many of which they put into place prior to this investigation, but also coming out of it, were put into place and that they will be maintained, and that we can ensure that that will happen at this organization.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked if Dan Snyder has been held accountable for the findings of the investigation into the WFT’s workplace environment: pic.twitter.com/bz3fj9YVEs
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 26, 2021
Roger Goodell
Many in the area watched the Washington Football Team beat the New York Giants in a back and forth game on Thursday night, but the action has eyes across the world on the gam, bringing in the highest viewership of any Thursday Night Football game since week 3 of the 2018 season.
Per the NFL:
Total viewership for Thursday night’s Thursday Night Football game featuring the Washington Football Team’s 30-29 win over the New York Giants was 7.9 million viewers (TV + Digital) – making it NFL Network’s most-watched exclusive Thursday Night Footballgame since 2018 (New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns, 2018 Week 3).
The 7.9 million viewers for Giants-Washington on TV and Digital is up +25% vs. the 2020 NFL Network exclusive Thursday Night Football three-game average (6.3 million P2+) and up +9% versus last year’s Week 2 Thursday Night Football matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns (7.2 million). Giants-Washington was television’s most-watched telecast of the day.
Digital streaming across NFL digital platforms, Giants and Washington mobile properties, and Yahoo Sports mobile properties delivered an average minute audience of 532K – the highest digital average minute audience ever for an NFL Network exclusive Thursday Night Football game.
The defending NFC East champion Washington Football Team will head to Buffalo to take on the Bills in week 3.
Yesterday, NBCSports Washington reporter JP Finlay tweeted a statement released by Washington Football Team Co-CEO and owner Tanya Snyder.
In her statement, she references comments that were selectively quoted out of context regarding recent issues within the organization.
The appearance by Tanya Snyder on NFL insider Adam Schefter’s podcast also led to some confusion regarding the new name of the team earlier in the week.
During her appearance, it seemed as though Snyder announced the 8 remaining names in contention for the Washington Football Team’s new nickname.
This came a couple weeks after Team President Jason Wright announced that the team had narrowed it down to 3 potential names.
The day after the podcast Adam Schefter tweeted clarification on Tanya Snyder’s comments, stating that a Washington Football Team spokesperson said the list of eight names she mentioned were a selection of names that were highlighted in the WFT’s Making the Brand Video, and not a final list of potential name candidates.
