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USA Today
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
A.J. Brown again admits that Super Bowl glory still feels hollow
A.J. Brown again makes it clear. Super Bowl glory just simply wasn't enough Remember when the Seattle Seahawks outlasted the San Francisco 49ers in the 2013 NFC Championship game? Remember when Erin Andrews put that microphone in Richard Sherman's face a few minutes later and he bellowed something about Michael Crabtree being a "sorry receiver"? Some people didn't know how to take that, Philadelphia Eagles fans included. Can we be honest here? Buckle up because here's some brutal honesty. No one should have been upset at Sherman for what he said. Statements like his are what you will sometimes get when you shove a mic in someone's face for his opinion, especially when you do so a few seconds after he spent three hours playing an emotional game that ended as his did. Is it possible that, had he been allowed to calm down, maybe he would have provided a calmer answer? No, this is Richard Sherman. Maybe he wouldn't have, but you get the point. At least you should have. This is what happens when one clamors for continual insider access. Sometimes, you're going to get something you didn't think you asked for. What does this have to do with A.J. Brown? Thank you for the question. We're glad you asked! A.J. Brown reiterates his lack of fulfillment after Super Bowl glory Access... It's a powerful tool, but you have to use it wisely. If you open a social media account, there will be trolls, especially if you use your handle to express your opinions about subjects people care about deeply. They say drunk men tell no lies. That's true, but the statement needs to be amended. Recently, A.J. Brown was interviewed by NFL Network's Judy Batista and Colleen Wolfe after a training camp practice, and while opening up, he restated something he had mentioned months earlier. It didn't take very long for him to revisit the desire to get on the field and compete again. To Batista's question about how much time he took to celebrate and enjoy Super Bowl glory, he offered the following: "(I turned the page) two or three days afterwards. I was so excited to win and to try to fulfill that fulfillment, and it wasn't fulfilling to be honest. Days like these (training camp practices) are fulfilling. It's the process. It's coming out and going to work with your brothers in 95-degree heat, you know, and just really just playing the game, you know? Obviously, we want to win, and we're doing it to win. But, it's a part of the process and the everyday journey. It's the hunt for me." Honestly, can you find fault in anything he said? Guess what? People did. A.J. Brown shared the same sentiment just days after Super Bowl 59 in a now-viral Instagram post. He was criticized. Frankly, we still can't understand why, but that takes us back to the earlier statement about Richard Sherman's famous outburst. If you thirst for behind-the-scenes access and spend your time following people you find interesting, you're sometimes going to discover more than you bargained for. That doesn't make these athletes bad people. It doesn't make them selfish or self-centered. It makes them human. Philadelphia's star wide receiver is a great guy with a great heart. We've never felt anything to the contrary. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, but again, that doesn't have any bearing on his character. Here is how you should handle that if his emotions are a problem for you. Stop following him on X and Instagram because if his emotions make you that angry, that isn't an A.J. Brown problem. Remember... It's social media. It's supposed to be fun. Write that on the tablet of your hearts, and you won't be so irritated. That's just some free advice. Use it wisely. Let's get back to some football.
NBC Sports
21 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 Washington Commanders Fantasy Preview: Jayden Daniels can turn it up a notch with revamped roster
After an impressive rookie season, Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels comes in at No. 5 in Chris Simms' 2025 QB rankings, falling in the "Surgicality" tier with his great decision-making and ability to limit mistakes. No NFL team had a better turn around from 2023 to 2024 than the Washington Commanders. Going from a 4-13 record and having the number two overall draft pick (Jayden Daniels), to 12-5 and a trip all the way to the NFC Championship game is an elite jump. Look no further than the coach-quarterback duo of Dan Quinn and rising year-two quarterback Daniels. The Commanders found several ways to win nine (including playoffs) one score games which is something you have to do in the NFL to separate yourself from teams. Despite going deep into the playoffs, the Commanders rightfully attacked the offseason to improve in areas where they lacked. Their main focus was building more around their star quarterback by adding players like Laremy Tunsil, Deebo Samuel and Josh Conerly on the offensive side of the ball. To improve on their 18th ranked scoring defense, they added depth on the defensive line and defensive backfield with players like Von Miller and Will Harris. The Commanders should be in the mix again. 2024 Washington Commanders Stats (Rank) Points per game: 28.5 (5th) Total yards per game: 369.6 (7th) Plays per game: 64.8 (5th) Dropbacks per game: 41.2 (11th) Dropback EPA per play: 0.21 (4th) Rush attempts per game: 30.9 (5th) Rush EPA per play: 0.03 (4th) Coaching Staff Over the course of his career, Dan Quinn has proven to be the ultimate players' coach who has a knack of getting the best out of his players. He's recently done so in Atlanta, Dallas (as a defensive coordinator) and now in Washington as the Commanders are coming off a season in which they shocked the world finishing in the NFC title game. How will the encore go? Well, he and the Commanders' have done everything in their power this offseason to make sure they stay afloat in a competitive NFC East. One thing's for certain, it starts with No. 5 at quarterback and he hit the jackpot there. Speaking of 'No. 5', the guy who will work with him the most will once again be Kliff Kingsbury who guided the Commanders' offense to being one of the best in the NFL in 2024. He'll continue to prioritize the spread/air raid offense with a mix of RPO's to keep defenses off balance. The Commanders will once again have one of the more fantasy-rich offenses in the NFL due to Kingsbury's uptempo style of play. An offensive mind like Kingsbury will always find ways to throw new wrinkles and evolve his scheme, but don't expect him to move away from the main thing. Passing Game QB: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota WR: Terry McLaurin, K.J. Osborn WR: Deebo Samuel, Jaylin Lane WR: Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey TE: Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott, John Bates Jayden Daniels was QB4 in terms of fantasy points per game last season. Many are calling for some type of 'regression' since he had such a great rookie season, but is throwing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns (with nine interceptions) really much of a ceiling? Eh I don't know about that one, I guess maybe if you add in the fact that he added another 891 yards and six touchdowns on ground. In this era of football though (with the above mentioned uptempo style offense), why can't those numbers be duplicated by an ascending talent? There's only two guys in drafting over Daniels and their names are Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Not only will Daniels be better, but the offense will be better around him. This starts with the addition of Deebo Samuel who will operate as their WR2 behind Terry McLaurin. Samuel will help out the offense in many ways starting with the fact that he can help alleviate attention off of McLaurin. He'll be someone Daniels can hit quickly in short areas of the field to use his RAC ability. While Samuel only finished as WR45 in 2024, he, along with his 49ers' teammates suffered a number of injuries. He should be drafted as a WR3 or WR4 on your fantasy teams. McLaurin on the other hand enjoyed his best season from touchdown standpoint hauling in 13 which was by far the best of his career. He ended last season as WR15 which was also the best of his career. With Deebo now on the fold, don't be shocked if McLaurin is second on the team in receptions yet still leading the team in receiving yards, touchdowns and fantasy points. Behind those two Noah Brown would get first dibs as the team's WR3, but don't count out rookie Jaylin Lane and second-year Luke McCaffrey. What we expected last season from the Commanders' tight ends isn't what we got. Ben Sinnott came in (and still is to be honest) last season as a versatile rookie tight end who could be used in a variety of ways. His season ended with a 5-28-1 stat line, but there is still hope. What we got was a resurgence from 34-year old, three-time Pro Bowler Zach Ertz who had his best season since 2021 (66-654-7). This made him the TE11 in fantasy last season and he'll likely be drafted in this range this season so long as he's attached to the Commanders' offense. Running Game RB: Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Jacory Croskey-Merritt OL (L-R): Laremy Tunsil, Brandon Coleman, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, Josh Conerly I would've loved to have seen the Commanders attack the running back position much earlier in the draft with a true game breaker as it would help the offense get closer to its ceiling. The Brian Robinson-Austin Ekeler duo was serviceable as last season RB24 and RB30 respectively. Jeremy McNichols also filled in nicely when called upon. What you see is what you get with this group. Robinson will continue to be the offenses battering ram who gets most of the carries near the goal line (59.5% of WAS carries inside the 5 last season) and short yardage situations, while Ekler be their main pass-catcher out of the backfield (53.8% of WAS RB receptions last season). 24-year-old rookie, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the obvious unknown in terms of how he can potentially fit in the offense. He's certainly the quickest and most explosive of this running back group (4.45 in 40-yard dash and 41 ½ inch vertical) and it's not an elite one he'll have to contend with. He brings skills that the other Commanders' backs lack so if he can find his footing in camp, perhaps he can integrate himself into this committee. Another part of why I don't like all of the Commander regression talk is because they attacked their offensive line needs with a vengeance. Trading for Laremy Tunsil while still at the top of his game is big for Daniels and this offense. Coming back in the draft and securing one of the better tackles in Josh Conerly in the first round tells you everything you need to know about how they felt about their line. This unit is now deeper with a good blend of young guys and veterans to help his Commanders' offense once again play at a top eight level. 2025 Washington Commanders Win Total Win Total (O/U 9.5) There's a lot of talk of 'regression' when it comes to the Commanders heading into 2025. To me it's a strawman conversation and easy to have when you're talking about a team who went from four wins (in 2023) to 12 and ended up in the NFC Championship game. In that case anything less than reaching that point would technically be 'regression', but let's be real, the Commanders will be in the mix and that doesn't mean they have to duplicate exactly what they did last season. In fact, I feel like this offseason the Commanders moved like a team who was still hungry acquiring players like Deebo Samuel, Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly in the first round. They also made efforts to improve their 13th ranked defense. This isn't some fluke team, they went and beat two quality teams (Buccaneers and Lions) on the road in the playoffs. As long as Jayden Daniels is driving the bus, this team will have a shot, give me the over.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How many Commanders landed on the 2025 'All-Fun' team?
Everyone who watches and follows football, or any sport for that matter, does it because it's fun. It's entertaining, it's a show, and it's a competition. Humans love competition; we love to prove that we are the best at whatever we are doing. But, the ultimate goal is always to have fun while you're competing, even when you lose. Remembering that this is supposed to be a fun game, CBS Sports recently created the NFL's 2025 All-Fun team, which is focused not on just the best players in the league, but the ones with the most personality. Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu has a big personality, making him a perfect selection at linebacker. Tenacity is the key at the off-ball linebacker spot, and Luvu might have more than anyone this side of Fred Warner and Roquan Smith, longtime staples of the position. After an underrated rise as a blitzing linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, Luvu successfully transitioned to the Washington Commanders in 2024, with his energy helping lift the team all the way to the NFC title game. Luvu certainly brought the fire against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game, and his tenacity and spirit certainly make him a fit for this roster. He wasn't the only one considered, though. Jayden Daniels was considered at quarterback, and Tress Was was considered at punter. Ultimately, Lamar Jackson and Johnny Hekker were the selections at those positions. With three players considered out of all the players in the NFL, it shows what kind of team the Commanders are building. They desire to win more than anything, and they certainly want to have fun while they do it.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Commanders' Deebo Samuel Drops Confident Statement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A fresh start is in the cards for Deebo Samuel this year. After wrapping up a tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, Samuel looks forward to contributing to a championship-hopeful Washington Commanders team. The Commanders' front office invested in a lot of seasoned veterans this season. They wanted postseason experience, and got it around Jayden Daniels by adding the versatile weapon that is Samuel. But coming off a down year statistically, Samuel is facing a lot of scrutiny. That much was evident back in the spring, when videos of Samuel running routes went viral, as fans suggested he looked out of shape. As the Commanders battle through their first week of training camp this summer, Samuel is motivated to silence the critics. "I still got a lot in the tank," he told reporters. "My goal every day is to come out here and just get better, take all the coaching and just own my job. ... I just go out here and get better every day. Whatever position they put me at to go out here and make plays, I'm going to do the best of my ability." Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. Deebo Samuel Sr. #1 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 10, 2024 in Seattle, has been a dual-threat since landing in the NFL as a second-round pick out of South Carolina in 2019. The San Francisco 49ers saw him put together an 800-yard receiving campaign in his first season, before he dealt with injury concerns in year two. By year three, Samuel exploded for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, while taking on 59 carries for 365 rushing yards, and eight rushing touchdowns. Since then, Samuel was up and down for the 49ers. After last year's 670-yard campaign with three touchdowns, the 49ers decided to move Samuel to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Commanders hope that Samuel is another weapon to help boost the sophomore passer, Jayden Daniels, who put together a spectacular first season in the NFL. At this point, Samuel has 4,792 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in 81 games. He has also rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 51 touchdowns on 202 attempts. Samuel brings 12 games of postseason experience to the table. He caught 46 passes in the postseason for 638 yards and two touchdowns. After making an unexpected run to the NFC Championship last year, the Commanders are confident they'll be right back in championship contention. For more Washington Commanders and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What are expectations for Vikings' J.J. McCarthy heading into the preseason in 2025?
What can we expect from J.J. McCarthy in his second season after he missed his entire rookie campaign? Of the six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy is the only one with nothing to build upon in 2025. He's a complete unknown, even if his head coach and supporting cast are upper-echelon. Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report believes that because he didn't play in 2024, McCarthy's 2025 season should be treated as his rookie season. McCarthy is ranked last among the six quarterbacks in expected improvement because of his lost rookie year. Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy can't improve upon his rookie season when he didn't even play thanks to an MCL tear he experienced during preseason. He has yet to establish a baseline. For all intents and purposes, McCarthy is entering his rookie campaign. The Vikings didn't skip a beat without last year's 10th overall pick in the lineup. Sam Darnold experienced a career revival during his one season in Minnesota, while the team finished with a 14-3 record. Darnold left in free agency to join the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. Meanwhile, the Vikings are handing McCarthy the keys to the offense. That doesn't mean that Sobleski doesn't believe McCarthy can be a capable starter, though. He believes that his time spent with Kevin O'Connell will help. McCarthy just has to put it together with his physical abilities to become the complete quarterback Minnesota envisions. Despite not playing as a rookie, head coach Kevin O'Connell did what he could to help in the quarterback's development. "I just wanted to give him a platform with me," O'Connell told ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "Maybe it was football one day. Maybe it was no football. My time is very hard to find during the season, but I just wanted to make sure that we got together. "The one thing I learned about him in those meetings is he had great questions, and that validated that he was receiving and getting something out of that time. And as I've told him, it doesn't really guarantee you anything, but once you're fighting the fight on a daily basis of growing within the system, he would be able to rely on some of what we did together."It's now time for McCarthy to translate all of the mental reps he took as a rookie and translate them to the field. That, and a roster that should include an improved run game, have given fans hope that the Vikings can advance further in the playoffs than they did in 2024. And being viewed as a "rookie" shouldn't disqualify the Vikings from NFC Championship aspirations, as Jayden Daniels led the Washington Commanders that far last year.
