NFL
By: Ryan Cooley
In case you haven’t seen it on social media, my time at NBS Media is coming to a close. But, I will save the goodbyes for the end. With this being my last article, I wanted to focus on the future of the Commanders organization and where I believe they are headed.
Before looking ahead, let’s look at the past couple of decades.
Being a fan of this organization has not been easy, but I don’t need to tell anyone that. I started watching football in 2007 when I was 8 years old. I have only witnessed four winning seasons in 17 years. One coming in 2007, so I don’t remember much of it. In their four playoff appearances, they of course have not won a single game.
I won’t go into more detail about the lack of success because everyone is well aware of it. The biggest issue with the Washington franchise was Dan Snyder. His toxicity flowed through every facet of the organization. From endless scandals to meddling in player personnel, Washington never had a chance to be successful.
It didn’t matter how many different starting QBs or head coaches were brought in; none could overcome the cancer that was Dan Snyder. When the news broke that he was looking to sell the team, it felt as if Washington had just won the Super Bowl.
Now that Snyder is gone, there is more optimism surrounding this organization than ever. Josh Harris has done a tremendous job of turning things around in just one year. For the first time in my life, you can tell that the owner actually cares about the team and fanbase while truly wanting to bring this organization back to glory.
The hiring of Adam Peters was the first step in fixing the issues on the field. The last regime had so much of an old-school mentality that it was nearly impossible for them to build a winning roster. It was a breath of fresh air seeing how Peters handled his first free agency and draft.
Bringing in Dan Quinn also seems to be a great move. Many, including myself, were caught up in the hype of Ben Johnson. This led to disappointment when Quinn ended up landing in D.C. However, he is highly respected among not only his peers but also players. There is not much risk/uncertainty surrounding Quinn, as he is already a proven head coach who has led a team to a Super Bowl.
Quinn and Peters seemed to have a great working relationship in their first offseason. If a team can get the GM, head coach, and QB right, they are setting themselves up for a ton of success for many years. While nothing is guaranteed, I believe there is a chance they end up going 3 for 3 here.
Expectations for the 2024 season are high for some, but I think they are getting ahead of themselves. The roster is still a work in progress. I do believe they will be much more competitive this season, but expecting a winning record or finishing 1st in the division isn’t fair. The best approach this year is to sit back and enjoy the ride.
I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Washington. If there is an organization and fan base that deserves sustained success, it’s the Commanders. The only downside to their bright future is that I won’t be able to write about it.
And with that, I will be taking my leave from the writing world for a while. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my articles. I also want to thank Joe Cardoso for giving me my first opportunity in the world of sports. I have truly enjoyed my time with NBS Media and all of the people I have met and built relationships with.
And if you’re reading this and are interested in writing, I highly encourage you to reach out to Joe Cardoso. It doesn’t matter if you have little to no experience writing. I started here during my 2nd year of college and had no writing experience whatsoever outside of essays I had to write for school. NBS Media is a great company with even better people who can give you a platform to showcase your work.
I am very excited to enter the next chapter of my life (which I will be announcing in the coming weeks), but I will never forget the last five years I have spent here. So, for the last time, a huge thank you to everyone, and goodbye.
