Daily Slop – 28 Jul 24 – Reported progress towards a return to the RFK site; focus on Coleman, Lucas & Mathis

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WUSA9

Commanders will honor creator of team’s former logo as family members consider withdrawing opposition to RFK Bill

A Montana senator said he will not advance RFK bill out of subcommittee if the family of Blackie Wetzel does not give approval.

“It’s really an exciting step forward,” said Ryan Wetzel, a member of the Native American Blackfeet Nation in Montana. “And again, I’m going to remain hopeful that we can figure something out in celebration of this wonderful franchise, and the logo.”

Friday, Ryan Wetzel said as part of ongoing negotiations with the Commanders, the team has invited him and a number of his family members to the team’s home opener on Sept. 15.

Wetzel said the details are still being ironed out, but it is his understanding his grandfather will be honored during that visit.

“This is the first step. This isn’t the end all be all, I want that known,” Wetzel said. “This is something that is going to be continuing. This is a nice first step in a healthy direction, it’s a positive for the Commander’s organization and the NFL.”

Wetzel would not say with certainty what the team needed to do to satisfy his family’s desire to have the logo, and his grandfather, honored. He did acknowledge the clock is ticking on getting RFK legislation approved in Congress.

“I wanted it at RFK,” Wetzel said of a new Washington Commanders stadium. “You know, my grandfather was friends with Robert F. Kennedy. And so, it only makes sense to have it there. That’s the home base. That’s where it all started.

“So, my hope is that, in the conversations that I am having with the Commanders and in our family, that you know, it happens sooner than later. And I’m going to remain hopeful. I feel like there’s positives in on the horizon.

“And in DC, just hang in there, because I see a positive coming down the pipe.”

In a statement, a Commanders spokesperson told WUSA9:

The Commanders organization is grateful to Ryan Wetzel, the Wetzel Family and members of the Blackfeet Nation as we work to honor the historic contributions made to the team by the legendary Blackie Wetzel. Our conversations are progressing positively and official plans to honor Blackie’s legacy will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Sports Illustrated

Commanders Brandon Coleman Staying Ready for Training Camp Opportunities

After getting his first reps of training camp with the first team offense, we spoke to the Washington Commanders rookie.

“My philosophy always was even in college, to be ready wherever you play at. I’ve been kind of practicing that in off-season, in college, working in all spots – other than center – and coach threw me out there and… being able to be out there and be comfortable is what I try to stay ready for.”

Switching sides of the line isn’t as unusual as it once was in the NFL. For a long time trying to move a right tackle to the left, or left to right, was considered taboo and something akin to ‘wiping your butt with the opposite hand,’ which certainly sounds difficult.

Today though, players know that to be truly valuable they have to be versatile. So for Coleman, it’s not important whether he’s asked to play right or left, it’s important that when he’s asked to do it, he’s capable of it.

“Obviously everybody wants to play. Everyone wants to get on the field,” Coleman said. “But right now, especially now and leading up to the season, we’re just about getting on the field, being able to get my reps and get around the guys. I’m just trying to help out the team (as much as) I can. If it’s a starter, if it’s just coming in on jumbo, if it’s whatever it is, I’m just trying to help the team out and that’s kind of my mindset and what I do.”

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Washington Post (paywall)

Years after his dad drowned, this Commanders starter is teaching kids to swim

Cornelius Lucas, in line to be Washington’s left tackle this year, was shaped by his father’s death when he was 7. Only recently, he has come into his own.

“At the age of 7, I was out of having a dad, out of having my best bud, my best friend, my greatest — my best teacher, you know what I’m saying? Like, the guy that was put in this world to give me all the game that I’ve been searching for since then.”

In 2020, he signed a two-year deal with the Commanders, and in 2022, he signed another. Last summer, he felt as if he finally “filled myself up enough to pour into others.”

And he had an idea how: swim camp. Every summer, NFL players host youth football camps across the country, and while he saw the value in them, he wanted to do something more personal. He attended pool parties growing up, even after his father’s death, but he still had never gone in a pool deeper than his height.

So he partnered with Son of a Saint, a nonprofit organization for fatherless boys in New Orleans, and figured he could show boys like him how to be a man and teach them a potentially lifesaving skill.

This year, at his second camp, the only boy scared of the water was too big for anyone but Lucas to hold while learning to doggy paddle. Lucas encouraged him to go into the pool, urging him to fight their fear together.

“Trust me,” Lucas said. “I won’t let you drown.”

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Commanders Wire

New coaching staff having an impact on some young Commanders

“I’ve really been impressed by [defensive tackle] Phil [Mathis],” Quinn said Thursday. “He is just somebody that’s not going to miss this opportunity. I’m sure you guys saw some of the flight stuff. He was going to have a hard time getting in on time, and he wasn’t having it.”

It may seem like a small thing, but it impressed Quinn and the coaching staff. The coaching hasn’t only reenergized stars like Terry McLaurin and Jonathan Allen but other young players looking to turn their careers around, like Mathis.

Earlier this week, Mathis was scheduled to return to Ashburn from his native Louisiana for the start of training camp. However, a global IT outage canceled flights throughout the country, and Mathis was among those impacted. Instead of using it as an excuse, Mathis took it upon himself to rearrange his travel plans in order to be at camp on time.

“I just had to get here on time,” he said, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “I didn’t want to be late on the first day.”

A big reason for Mathis’ motivation is the new coaching staff.

“I just really feel like this is what a lot of guys needed, especially myself,” he said. “Just a new coaching staff that really just pushes us, man. I think they bring it all out of us. They make it exciting to be here every day. You can tell there’s a new standard around here.”

Washington’s players want to be coached. There’s a greater emphasis on teaching and technique at every position. Health aside, the coaching change could be what saves Mathis’ career in Washington. He’s not the only former Commanders’ draft pick trying to turn things around.

Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes is off to a strong start in camp. The staff wanted Forbes to add weight in the offseason, which he did. Through the first few days of camp, Forbes has looked like a different player. There’s still a long way for him to go, but the new staff has already impacted him.

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CBS Sports

50 under-the-radar players who could shape the 2024 season

Tyler Biadasz (C), Commanders

Dan Quinn brought several former Cowboys with him to the Commanders, but Biadasz has the chance to be the most impactful. Biadasz is dependable (16+ starts each of the last three seasons) and talented (2022 Pro Bowl), and he’ll play a big role in No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels’ development. While Washington’s quarterback carousel gets the most attention, center (six different players in the past two seasons) has been a big issue, too.

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Podcasts & videos

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Beltway Football: Training Camp Day 3 – Jayden Daniels Progression, Rookie Standouts, and Is the Salary Cap Real?

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Pro Football Rumors

Giants Have Not Considered Trading WR Darius Slayton

The veteran receiver stayed away from New York during the spring as part of an effort to land a new deal.

Slayton agreed to return to practice with new incentives being added to his pact, one which expires after this campaign. The 27-year-old has led the team in receiving during four of his five seasons, but recent draft additions – particularly Malik Nabers – threaten to cut into his role on the Giants’ offense moving forward.

Against the backdrop of a reduced target share, Slayton recently made it clear he would have welcomed a trade sending him elsewhere ahead of his walk year. No such move will be taking place, however, as general manager Joe Schoen confirmed. The pair had a discussion on the matter, and both sides are prepared for at least one more year together.

“When he came in, we had a conversation, and [a trade] was never an option,” Schoen said (via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News). “He was a free agent two years ago, and 32 teams had a chance to get his services, and he came back here. And I believe we gave him the best deal at the time, and it was a two-year deal. And we had a good conversation, and he understood where we were, and I understood where he was coming from. And we put it to bed when he showed up in the spring.”

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ESPN

NFL training camp 2024 live updates: Latest on roster battles

Philadelphia Eagles

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been highly efficient through three training camp practices. He has yet to throw an interception and has been largely accurate and on time with his throws. “Jalen has been really smooth the first couple days,” said offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. “He’s been excellent, just his operation. You can tell he’s just in command, he’s in control.” The highlight Saturday was a deep pass down the left seam from Hurts to receiver DeVonta Smith, who elevated to make the catch over corner Kelee Ringo. — Tim McManus

(Last update: July 27)

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Pro Football Talk

Cowboys give CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott new contract offers

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Saturday the Cowboys sent a new offer to receiver CeeDee Lamb’s representation Friday. The team also recently sent a new offer to Dak Prescott’s agent.

Talks are progressing for both players, and the Cowboys seem optimistic they can get both signed by the start of the regular season.

France, Prescott’s agent, is in talks with the Cowboys about a third contract for the quarterback. It took two years for Prescott to get his second contract, a four-year, $160 million deal that expires at the end of this season.

Prescott has all the leverage, with no-trade and no-tag clauses, so he is in control of whether he becomes a free agent in March.

“We’re talking. Make no mistake about it. We’re talking,” Owner Jerry Jones said Saturday.

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