Commanders pushing apart outdoors distractions forward of primetime Eagles recreation

ASHBURN, Va. — Throwback Usher hits had been being performed loudly on the locker room speaker. Antonio Gibson, Jonathan Williams, Kendall Fuller and Jeremy Reaves assumed their typical spots subsequent to the cornhole boards in one other aggressive battle. The vitality was excessive within the Commanders’ locker room following Thursday’s follow, the primary actual session of the week.

Though Washington’s gamers gave their finest effort to make Thursday really feel as unusual as attainable, the day as a complete was removed from it.

The group is within the highlight, as soon as once more, for off-the-field points. D.C. Lawyer Normal Karl Racine introduced on Wednesday that his workplace was planning a press convention Thursday afternoon with a “main announcement” relating to the franchise.

Washington responded to Racine’s announcement later that night with a statement that introduced up the late-August taking pictures of rookie operating again Brian Robinson Jr., unprompted, for instance of the “uncontrolled, violent crime in D.C.”

The assertion obtained super backlash — Robinson Jr.’s agent even weighed in on Twitter — that led to Commanders group president Jason Wright releasing a second statement saying “the attorneys’ official frustration with the AG ought to have been separate and other than referencing the crime that affected our participant.”

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera — who stated he was in transit from California again to Ashburn on Wednesday following his mom’s funeral when each statements had been launched — spoke with Robinson Jr. each Wednesday night time and Thursday morning in regards to the state of affairs.

 

“Brian’s in an incredible spot. Brian did not perceive what the massive fuss was,” Rivera stated, sarcastically taking the rostrum concurrently Racine took the mic for his press conference in D.C., the place he filed a civil grievance Thursday in opposition to the Commanders, proprietor Dan Snyder, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. 

Robinson Jr. stated Thursday he had the possibility to talk with Rivera and “informed him how I felt about it.”

“I [didn’t] take note of it. … I simply put it previous me, truthfully,” Robinson Jr. stated. “It’s what it’s. I can not management that. I am simply going to proceed to do what I have been doing.”

A number of gamers in Washington’s locker room expressed frustration that the group introduced up Robinson Jr.’s taking pictures within the assertion Wednesday night, with captain Charles Leno among the many most vocal in regards to the state of affairs.

“In fact it is upsetting. He ought to have by no means been a part of that state of affairs, for my part,” Leno stated. “His emotions and what he is gone by needs to be a very separate deal.”

“On the finish of the day we have BRob’s again,” star receiver Terry McLaurin added. “On the finish of the day he is one among us … so we will have his again.”

Having been with the franchise since 2019, McLaurin has been compelled to cope with numerous off-the-field distractions from the group which have had nothing to do with him personally. The 27-year-old supplied some recommendation for Robinson Jr. and the remainder of the youthful Commanders gamers who’re first experiencing having to cope with the group’s non-football drama this 12 months.

“Once you’re an expert you [have] to have the ability to deal with the issues that go on off the sphere as nicely. That is a part of the job, sadly, whether or not it has one thing to do with you or not,” McLaurin stated. “I simply assume one of the best factor I attempt to do is encourage them simply to be a professional about your online business, the way you conduct your self … You simply need to carry your self in a approach that is consultant of your self and your teammates and the folks that help you.”

Earlier than Thursday’s follow, Rivera spoke to his group in regards to the statements made by the group. A number of gamers stated the pinnacle coach’s message was nicely obtained, which helped the group transfer previous it as a complete.

“We’re attempting to focus in on what’s on the sphere. We will not management that portion of it, once more,” Rivera informed reporters following follow. “What we management is the soccer facet of it, what our gamers do, what our group does on the soccer discipline. We’ll stay targeted on that.”

There’s by no means an opportune time for off-the-field distractions, however this week was particularly tough timing. On the sphere, the Commanders have a tall job forward. Washington travels to Philadelphia for a Monday Evening Soccer contest in opposition to the Eagles, the NFL’s final undefeated group.

 

It is no secret Washington might want to play its most full recreation of the season on Monday night time to upset the Eagles, a membership that already beat the Commanders by 16 factors earlier this 12 months. Even with all the skin noise, Washington’s gamers stay targeted on what they will management: getting ready for Philadelphia.

“We will solely management what we are able to management,” quarterback Taylor Heinicke stated. “That is simply going out working towards daily and specializing in Philly. That is all we are able to do. Each week it looks as if one thing pops up. However us gamers, I feel we do a great job of simply muting that out and specializing in ball. That is what’s most essential for us.”

“We will not let it have an effect on us,” Leno added. “It is at all times stuff round right here, however you have to maintain the primary factor the primary factor. We need to simply give attention to enjoying soccer. It is very robust to try this, however that is our job. We have got to go on the market and be professionals and eradicate the distractions one of the best we probably can.”