By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

News Junction

Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    How to achieve a lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine? | Russia-Ukraine war
    How to achieve a lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine? | Russia-Ukraine war
    May 18, 2025
    Anti-Russia sanctions are a ‘plague’ – EU nation’s PM — RT World News
    Anti-Russia sanctions are a ‘plague’ – EU nation’s PM — RT World News
    May 18, 2025
    Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ after retailer warned it will raise prices
    Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ after retailer warned it will raise prices
    May 18, 2025
    Could the Vatican host Russia-Ukraine talks? What Marco Rubio said – National
    Could the Vatican host Russia-Ukraine talks? What Marco Rubio said – National
    May 17, 2025
    Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine talks, Rubio says, after pope renews an offer to help
    Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine talks, Rubio says, after pope renews an offer to help
    May 17, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    Ukraine blows up bridges to consolidate its positions in Russia
    August 18, 2024
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    Commentary: AI phones from Google and Apple will erode trust in everything
    August 18, 2024
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    The most famous Indian Dishes – Insights Success
    August 18, 2024
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist
    August 18, 2024
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    UK inflation rises to 2.2%
    August 18, 2024
  • Cryptocurrency
    CryptocurrencyShow More
    Bitfinex Bitcoin longs total .8B while shorts stand at M — Time for BTC to rally?
    Bitfinex Bitcoin longs total $6.8B while shorts stand at $25M — Time for BTC to rally?
    May 18, 2025
    The Public internet is a bottleneck for blockchain — DoubleZero CEO
    The Public internet is a bottleneck for blockchain — DoubleZero CEO
    May 18, 2025
    Everstake defends non-custodial staking as SEC weighs industry input
    Everstake defends non-custodial staking as SEC weighs industry input
    May 18, 2025
    UK confirms crypto tax data rules under CARF; first deadline set for May 2027
    UK confirms crypto tax data rules under CARF; first deadline set for May 2027
    May 17, 2025
    Ripple’s XRP may enable BRICS to ditch dollar and settle trade in gold
    Ripple’s XRP may enable BRICS to ditch dollar and settle trade in gold
    May 17, 2025
  • Technology
    TechnologyShow More
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    How to Improve Your Spotify Recommendations
    August 18, 2024
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    X says it’s closing operations in Brazil
    August 18, 2024
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    Supermoon set to rise: Top tips for amateur photographers | Science & Tech News
    August 18, 2024
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    Scientists Want to See Videos of Your Cat for a New Study
    August 18, 2024
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    OpenAI’s new voice mode let me talk with my phone, not to it
    August 18, 2024
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Reading: For Sam Howell and the Commanders, the future is now
Share
Font ResizerAa

News Junction

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Trend
  • Entertainment
Search
  • Recent Headlines in Entertainment, World News, and Cryptocurrency – NewsJunction
  • World News
  • Business
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • People
  • Trend
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
News Junction > Blog > Sports News > For Sam Howell and the Commanders, the future is now
For Sam Howell and the Commanders, the future is now
Sports News

For Sam Howell and the Commanders, the future is now

Published August 20, 2023
Share
9 Min Read
SHARE

Contents
Nick’s NFL Tiers entering training campCommanders players ‘concerned’ with Eric Bieniemy’s coaching style

Ralph Vacchiano

NFC East Reporter

Ron Rivera’s future in Washington is definitely uncertain. The same is true for general manager Martin Mayhew, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and everyone else in the Commanders’ organization. There’s only one thing any of them can do to try to convince new owner Josh Harris to keep them around for next season.

They have to win. They have to win now.

And they have to do it with a 22-year-old, fifth-round quarterback at the helm.

So while Rivera’s decision to officially name young Sam Howell his starting quarterback on Friday morning wasn’t surprising, it remains as bold as it was when the Commanders affirmed their commitment to him by sailing through the offseason without making a big, bolder quarterback move. They only added veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett, who was clearly signed as Howell insurance.

Since the end of last season, it’s been clear that Rivera has been willing to risk everything and put this season and his own NFL future in Howell’s young hands.

“I feel confident and comfortable enough to say Sam’s our guy,” Rivera said on Friday morning. “There’s still more growth to go. He’ll continue to get better. We believe that.”

They have to believe that. And honestly, there wasn’t much of a choice here with three weeks to go before the regular season opener. When Rivera named Howell his “QB1” heading into training camp it was clear, as Rivera said Friday, “It was Sam’s to lose and he did nothing to lose it.” He’s been impressive in camp, went 9 of 12 for 77 yards and a touchdown in the preseason opener in Cleveland, had a very strong couple of days of joint practices this week against the Baltimore Ravens, and according to the coaches he has a strong-enough grasp of Bieniemy’s new offense, too.

“This is what I was anticipating,” Rivera said. “It’s what we all were looking for.”

That’s true because the choice of the starting quarterback was really made back in the spring. The $6.05 billion sale of the Commanders from the embattled Dan Snyder to Harris’ group was imminent and Rivera and company knew what that meant for them. New bosses often want to bring in their own people, especially when the old people have a 22-27-1 record over the last three years.

The impact of Rivera and Mayhew on the Commanders does go beyond the poor record, but that’s still their reality nonetheless. And knowing they had to win now they could have gone for another quick fix at the most important position to have a better shot at saving their jobs. They could have jumped head-first into the bidding for Derek Carr, or tried to out-maneuver the Jets for Aaron Rodgers. Or they could have even gone for a lesser — but still bigger — move to sign Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield.

With the defense the Commanders have — one that finished ranked third in the NFL last season — and offensive weapons like receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and running back Brian Robinson, a true upgrade at quarterback could have made all the difference. They were 8-8-1 last season in the best division in football, despite some awful quarterback play from Taylor Heinicke and Carson Wentz. Adding even Carr or Garoppolo could have made them contenders right now.

But instead of a short-term fix for a long-term problem, Rivera did something that tends to be unusual in sports: He did what was best for the franchise, not for himself.

That could bite him in the end, for sure, no matter how good Howell turns out to be. It’s just an unavoidable fact in the NFL that young quarterbacks struggle. Even for the best ones — future Hall of Famers — it’s often a roller-coaster ride early in their careers. And in a division that had three teams make the playoffs last season, with three accomplished, $160 million-plus quarterbacks, the road in front of Howell is all very uphill.

Nick’s NFL Tiers entering training camp

Nick's NFL Tiers entering training camp

The Commanders believe in his talent, though. They think they saw it in the regular season finale last season when he completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in a 26-6 win over Dallas and ran five times for 35 yards and a touchdown, too. He gave them a reason to believe he’ll have a bright future — eventually.

Still, this isn’t a blue-chip prospect being given the keys to the franchise. There were reasons Howell slipped all the way to the fifth round. There were questions among scouts and executives about his accuracy, the timing on his throws, and his ability read defenses. He undoubtedly came with a big arm and talent, but nobody thought he was ready to step right into a big role.

Is he ready now? The best reason to hope is that neither Rivera nor Bieniemy were going to put their futures in the hands of someone who couldn’t play. That’s particularly true of Bieniemy, who left the cushy, ring-filled world of Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City to try to revive his future head-coaching prospects in Washington.

He knew what he was getting into. He knew he had to work wonders in this job. And he knew his quarterback would be Howell. Yet he still believed Washington was the right place for him to be.

It is a risk, though, and there’s no way around that. Because if they’re wrong, they’re gone. Even though Rivera and Mayhew steadied the franchise through the most tumultuous years of the Snyder Error and built a strong base of young talent, they know Harris needs to see results — and probably right now. There may be sweeping changes coming in the offseason anyway. But if Howell can’t lead them all to the playoffs, big changes are assured.

Commanders players ‘concerned’ with Eric Bieniemy’s coaching style

Commanders players 'concerned' with Eric Bieniemy's coaching style

That’s why nobody would’ve blamed Rivera if he had gone the other route and took a shot at a better quarterback who could help keep his career alive. But he knew that the best interests of the franchise would be served by finding a long-term answer for their most vexing problem. He knew the best thing for the Commanders would be to give Howell a shot.

That was selfless and bold and definitely a risky bet. Rivera is literally putting his job on the line with this decision. He’s putting many jobs on the line.

Still, he insists that he believes — or at least hopes — that it’s a bet that will ultimately pay off.

“He’s in a really good spot,” Rivera said. “He’s now more than a serviceable quarterback. He’s a guy that’s growing.

“He’s a guy that can win.”

Ralph Vacchiano is the NFC East reporter for FOX Sports, covering the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience
National Football League

National Football League

Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders

Sam Howell

Sam Howell


National Football League

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more


#Sam #Howell #Commanders #future

- Advertisement -
TAGGED:CommandersfutureHowellSam
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article 8 Biggest Challenges How To Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Remake Must Overcome 8 Biggest Challenges How To Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Remake Must Overcome
Next Article High-Performance Sports Car Models : 2024 Ford Mustang GTD High-Performance Sports Car Models : 2024 Ford Mustang GTD
- Advertisement -

Latest Post

How to achieve a lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine? | Russia-Ukraine war
How to achieve a lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine? | Russia-Ukraine war
World News
Bitfinex Bitcoin longs total .8B while shorts stand at M — Time for BTC to rally?
Bitfinex Bitcoin longs total $6.8B while shorts stand at $25M — Time for BTC to rally?
Cryptocurrency
Anti-Russia sanctions are a ‘plague’ – EU nation’s PM — RT World News
Anti-Russia sanctions are a ‘plague’ – EU nation’s PM — RT World News
World News
The Public internet is a bottleneck for blockchain — DoubleZero CEO
The Public internet is a bottleneck for blockchain — DoubleZero CEO
Cryptocurrency
Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ after retailer warned it will raise prices
Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ after retailer warned it will raise prices
World News
Everstake defends non-custodial staking as SEC weighs industry input
Everstake defends non-custodial staking as SEC weighs industry input
Cryptocurrency
- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like

Joey Meneses homers, drives in three runs as Nationals rally past the Brewers 5-3
Sports News

Joey Meneses homers, drives in three runs as Nationals rally past the Brewers 5-3

August 1, 2023
Shohei Ohtani buzz dominates MLB trade deadline, even if smaller deals are more likely
Sports News

Shohei Ohtani buzz dominates MLB trade deadline, even if smaller deals are more likely

July 26, 2023
What’s next in conference realignment as Pac-4 search for solutions and conferences weigh options?
Sports News

What’s next in conference realignment as Pac-4 search for solutions and conferences weigh options?

August 13, 2023
In what world does Taylor Swift not belong at the Super Bowl?
Sports News

In what world does Taylor Swift not belong at the Super Bowl?

February 1, 2024

About Us

NEWS JUNCTION (NewsJunction.xyz) Your trusted destination for global news. Stay informed with our timely and accurate reporting on diverse topics, including politics, technology, science, entertainment, sports, and more. Count on us for unbiased and reliable updates at your fingertips.

Quick Link

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact

Top Categories

  • World News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Sports News
  • Trend
  • People

Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    © 2023 News Junction.
    • Blog
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    Welcome Back!

    Sign in to your account

    Username or Email Address
    Password

    Lost your password?