Joining the likes of Cedric Ogbuehi and Germain Ifedi, Nate Gerry signed a free agent deal in March only to be released in May. The Commanders cut ties with the veteran linebacker Tuesday.
The Gerry release will open a roster spot for recent XFL linebacker Ferrod Gardner. Playing for the D.C. Defenders in the XFL’s third go-round, Gardner saw action in 10 games. The Commanders are giving Gardner another chance, after the 2022 UDFA spent a few months with the team over the past year. The Commanders recently signed XFL O-lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith as well.
Gerry, 28, initially signed with the Commanders last summer. The former Eagles starter played a reserve role in Washington but was not a gameday roster regular. Failing to make the team out of training camp, Gerry rejoined the Commanders on a practice squad deal. He ended up playing in just four games with the team, regularly making the Saturday-afternoon climb from the P-squad to Washington’s active roster. When active, Gerry played exclusively on special teams for the Commanders.
Nevertheless, Washington brought the Nebraska alum back on a league-minimum deal in March. Gerry has 22 career starts on his resume. A converted safety, he was part of Philadelphia’s 2017 Super Bowl-winning team as a backup and special-teamer. After the Eagles cut costs at linebacker, moving on from Mychal Kendricks and Jordan Hicks, Gerry ascended to a starting position. He started 12 games for Philly’s 2019 division-winning team, totaling 78 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. With the Eagles parting ways with Nigel Bradham in 2020, Gerry started all seven games he played. He spent part of the 2021 season on the 49ers’ practice squad.
The Commanders made some changes at linebacker this offseason, letting Cole Holcomb walk in free agency and signing ex-Seahawk Cody Barton. Two years remain on former first-rounder Jamin Davis‘ contract, and the team re-signed David Mayo in February.
One of the key topics of conversation during the first day of the current league meetings was the sale of the Commanders. Despite the fact that a deal is in place for Josh Harris to replace Dan Snyder as owner, ratification from the league may not come for some time.
Harris and Snyder entered into a signed, exclusive agreement earlier this month. As a result of that deal, the franchise is on track to sell for a record-breaking $6.05 billion, though issues have arisen given the structure of the agreement. Specifically, the Harris group’s ability to stay under the league’s $1.1 billion debt limit to finance the purchase is a hurdle which has yet to be cleared.
As a result, no timeline is currently in place for the league’s finance committee to produce a recommended course of action, and, subsequently, for owners to vote on the sale. At least 24 owners would need to approve the deal, something which has long been considered a formality due in large part to the widespread desire to have Snyder’s tenure at the helm of the Commanders come to a conclusive end. Whether or not this process will be completed before the fall remains an open question, though.
When speaking on that point, Colts owner Jim Irsay said, via The Athletic’s Ben Standig, “we’d like to see it get done. But, we’re not there yet” (subscription required). Irsay added that “probably several more weeks of discussions” will be necessary to finalize the transfer of ownership to Harris, who has a controlling stake in the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and English Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Adding to the optimism that this deal will cross the finish line, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, “I would anticipate it being done. These are outstandingly qualified owners” (video link via Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports). Jones added that he does not foresee the agreement’s structure – which includes support from numerous investors, including NBA legend Magic Johnson – as being enough of an issue to prevent an ultimate approval.
“To have a new ownership group in there before the season opener, that would be a goal,” Irsay said. “It’s not an impossibility. There would be a special meeting after July 4 for something like that to happen. I know that the commissioner will continue to look and see what our schedule is going to be. But there’s work to be done.”
As the sale of the Broncos last offseason showed, a gap in time can exist between a winning bid emerging and final ratification taking place. Plenty of time remains for that to happen in this case, and the league will likely work with increased urgency to allow for Harris to be installed as owner in time for the regular season as the summer moves along.
“There are different layers of league policy that exist beyond just that acquisition and that sort of thing,” Irsay added. “So it’s just trying to make sure deals comply with that… In the end, we’re hopeful that we can work towards getting a deal done.”
Earlier this month, the prospect of tampering charges being levied against the Commanders for their potential interest in Andrew Luck in the 2022 offseason was raised. Now, however, no further action appears set to take place.
Washington reportedly showed interest in the former Colts quarterback last offseason as part of their attempt to land a veteran passer, an effort which ultimately yielded a trade for Carson Wentz. With Luck still under contract to Indianapolis, though, they would need to be made aware of any conversations interested teams had in bringing the former No. 1 pick out of retirement.
The Colts began an investigation into the specifics of conversations Washington had regarding Luck, though it was reported almost immediately thereafter that no one from the Commanders made any direct contact with him. Despite a very public response from Colts owner Jim Irsay on the situation, it was thus expected that little (if anything) would come of the matter with respect to league discipline.
Indeed, Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post report that a lack of hard evidence tying the Commanders to Luck means this situation is likely to “fade away.” That represents a stark contrast to recent history on the tampering front; the Dolphins were docked a first- and third-round pick among other punishments last year for inappropriate negotiations with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, while the Cardinals and Eagles worked out a swap of draft picks to resolve the process by which Jonathan Gannon became Arizona’s head coach.
Despite the fact that the league “does not appear” to have investigated the Luck situation, per the Post, ESPN’s Stephen Holder notes that the Colts are now satisfied with the matter. Holder confirms that the Commanders “never spoke to Luck or anyone in his immediate circle,” meaning no violation of the league’s anti-tampering policy occurred.
With Luck still fully expected to remain retired, as he has been since 2019, this situation coming to a close without further incident will allow both teams to move forward in their chosen directions under center. With Wentz having been released, the Commanders have committed to 2022 fifth-rounder Sam Howellas their starter, while the Colts believe they have their long-term answer at the position in the form of Anthony Richardson, selected fourth overall in this year’s draft.
The Commanders running backs room has some exciting depth with a fully healthy Brian Robinson entering his sophomore season and sixth-round pick out of Kentucky Christopher Rodriguez coming in as the new rookie in the position room. While Robinson and Rodriguez elicit some excitement in the nation’s capital, head coach Ron Rivera is still excited about what fourth-year back Antonio Gibson brings to the room.
Gibson seems to often be forgotten despite a string of strong performances to open his career. As a rookie, Gibson shouldered the lead-back duties en route to 1,042 scrimmage yards (795 rushing, 247 receiving) and 11 rushing touchdowns. In his sophomore season, he showed improvement with 1,331 scrimmage yards (1,037 rushing, 294 receiving) and 10 total touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving). Last season, Gibson gracefully took a back seat, allowing Robinson to come into the lead-back role after recovering from his gunshot wound.
Gibson started the first five contests of the season until Robinson was ready to take the reins. Even after allowing Robinson to start taking more and more carries, Gibson stayed ready, rushing for double-digit carries when asked and continuing to perform as the team’s best receiving back. He was, in fact, one of the league’s best receiving backs, finishing below only 49ers star Christian McCaffrey in receiving rating for running backs, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Not only that, but Gibson even took on additional duties, returning kicks for the team from Week 6 on.
Gibson should continue in a third-down/passing-down role and should continue to contribute strongly off the bench. The coaches are still excited about what he can do, and Gibson should be motivated to continue making the most of his opportunities with free agency looming on the horizon of the season.
Here are a few more rumors coming out of Washington, D.C.:
Lost in all the recent conversations of a potential ownership change in Washington is its impact on other team leaders. Rivera has experienced a change of regimes before in Carolina, when the franchise changed hands from Jerry Richardson to David Tepper. Rivera told Matthew Paras of The Washington Times that, while Richardson was a bit more hands-off, Tepper required “constant feedback and attention to things.” Tepper’s need for involvement was not something for which Rivera had been prepared, but now, having had that experience, Rivera feels he knows what it will take to “mesh” with the team’s future ownership. “I’ve got to be very specific and very clear cut with what our vision is going forward,” Rivera told Paras. “And it has to mesh…When that opportunity comes, when I sit down (with new ownership) and go through the explanation, I’m going to be very concise.”
The Commanders made an addition to their training staff this month, rehiring assistant athletic trainerDoug Quon to his previous role, according to Nicki Jhabvala and Mark Maske of The Washington Post. Quon was placed on administrative leave a bit over 18 months ago during an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration into head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion. Quon was placed on leave shortly after Vermillion, but Quon was never charged and was never officially tied to the activities that got Vermillion suspended from working with any NFL team indefinitely. After being approved by both the NFL and the NFL Players Association, Quon officially rejoined the Commanders at rookie minicamps earlier this month.
Stromberg was brought in with the intention that he would compete for the starting center job with returning starter Chase Roullier and former Giant Nick Gates. The oft-injured Rouiller was released two weeks ago. Gates has spent most of his time in the NFL at the center position but has experience at both guard spots and right tackle, as well.
While Stromberg has a decent opportunity to earn a starting spot, Daniels will be competing with Cornelius Lucas for one of the top backup spots behind starting tackles Andrew Wylie and Charles Leno.
The prospect of next week’s owners meetings being the venue for a ratification vote on Josh Harris‘ Commanders purchase looked like a long-shot proposition. The NFL has since confirmed no vote will take place at the May 22-23 set of spring meetings in Minneapolis, according to the Associated Press.
Harris’ $6.05 billion exclusive sale agreement with Dan Snyder remains under standard review, and the deal’s complications will almost definitely drag this process out well into the summer. While Harris (and an expansive number of investors) are prepared to put up a record-shattering price for the Commanders, speedbumps have emerged.
Last year’s Broncos sale — a sweepstakes that featured Harris’ group finishing second — brought a two-month gap between Rob Walton‘s then-record-setting bid ($4.65 billion) to his August 9 ratification. As expected, the Walmart heir’s group encountered no turbulence. The league vetted Harris — who owns the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Premier League club Crystal Palace — during the run-up to Walton’s Broncos acquisition, but issues with the structure of his Commanders bid have caused concern among other owners, ESPN.com’s John Keim adds.
The sale must go through the NFL finance committee and then receive 24 votes from the other owners to be ratified. The number of partners in Harris’ group (north of 12) will lengthen the vetting timetable, especially with some of the investors based outside the country. Magic Johnson, billionaire Mitchell Rales and David Blitzer, who is part of Harris’ Devils and 76ers ownership groups, are among the investors.
Matters pertaining to the NFL’s debt limit, with league rules stipulating buyers of teams being able to borrow up to $1.1 billion secured against the franchise, also serve as barriers en route to Harris’ purchase. The finance committee considers the Harris deal well above the debt limit, per Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. No red tape regarding financial construction would have likely emerged had Amazon founder Jeff Bezos submitted a bid, but the longtime Snyder nemesis did not do so. Bezos bowing out immediately preceded Harris moving into pole position.
These hurdles have led to rumors that this Harris bid would not be approved were it not for owners’ desire to see Snyder’s scandal-ridden ownership tenure end. That said, Harris’ group contends, per Keim, the NFL has not voiced concerns about the sale agreement to this point. That chapter may be in store, but for now, the league continues its examination stage regarding Snyder’s exit.
ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and John Keim recently reported on a prospectus drafted by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and its advisers. The “Harris” of that group is in reference to 76ers co-owner and potential buyer of the Commanders, Josh Harris. Harris and company drafted the 43-page document, titled “Commanders Investment Opportunity” and marked as “Privileged & Confidential,” to help pitch potential limited partners to buy into the deal with Harris.
The reason this seems unfamiliar is because, in the past, buyers of franchises have historically been able to afford the purchase without the help of limited partners. As franchise prices continue to skyrocket, though, it should be expected that what has become known as an unnecessarily complicated financial agreement will be become the new norm.
In the document, Harris paints the picture of a future for the Commanders that includes boosted attendance, increased ticket sales and sponsorship revenue, and even a new stadium. There are almost certainly specific plans to address these assignments, but the report focuses on Harris’s assertion that the mere removal of current ownership should greatly assist in propelling the franchise towards those end goals.
Harris argues that the recent spiraling in attendance, ticket sales, and sponsorship revenue are all direct consequences of “allegations against current ownership.” He points out that the franchise has, historically, ranked among the best in the league for local revenue metrics and attendance, and that, with new ownership, opportunities will arise to help restimulate and drive local revenue. Harris predicts that the potential new ownership will more than double this year’s local revenue ($173MM) by the 2031-32 season, quoting estimates of $380MM or $466MM if the team were to build a new stadium.
On that front, Harris offers both the idea of auctioning off naming writes as an instant opportunity for cash as well as hope that FedEx Field may soon be vacant. Soon is a relative term, as the prospectus offers 2031 as a moving date, much later than recent executive rumors of 2027-28, when the team’s current contract expires. It mentions that the new stadium could be built on its current site or at the site of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium near the Capitol but proposes that Virginia may offer the best incentives. A stadium bill had been passed in the Virginia House and Senate before the infamous allegations killed the bill before it could get to the governor.
The prospectus did its job of helping Harris to pool together multiple limited partners and make his bid, but the complications of the situation do not stop there:
It’s been reported plenty that the NFL finance committee has several points of contention with the current Harris-Commanders deal. One of the reported issues, according to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, is a reported “earnout” incentive in the deal. The “earnout” is reportedly a structure that would provide the seller, Dan Snyder, with “a deferred payment of an amount contingent on the franchise reaching specified financial benchmarks.” Its inclusion has been tabbed as one of many markers of an unusually complex agreement.
The Commanders face further turbulence as the sale continues to stall. Jhabvala and Maske report that the team has been fined $425K by the District of Columbia and required to “refund more than $200K in deposits to D.C. ticket holders.” This punishment is reportedly part of a settlement reached with the office of D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb. Schwalb told The Post that the team “improperly held on to security deposits that it was required to return…misused those moneys…knowingly used the security deposit for purposes it wasn’t supposed to use the money for…(and) knowingly made it unnecessarily difficult for fans to get their money back.” Despite agreeing to the settlement, the team denies all the allegations listed above by Schwalb, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Lastly, in a bit of an older report from Maske and Jhabvala, legal representatives of more than 40 former Washington employees have urged for an added stipulation to the sale. The attorneys have asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s team owners to prohibit Snyder “from suing his accusers who participated in the investigations as a provision of the sale of the franchise.” In a letter sent to Goodell, the attorneys requested that Goodell and company include “a contractual provision that forbids Mr. Snyder from initiating litigation against any of the individuals who participated in the various investigations into the team, including but not limited to” the 40-plus clients they represent. Due to Snyder’s “well-earned reputation for being vindictive and litigious,” the group fears retaliation for their clients’ participation.
Although several starter-caliber veterans remain unsigned, NFL teams have largely taken their big swings this offseason. Be it through free agency, the trade market or the draft, franchises have updated their rosters in hopes of improving in 2023.
Any conversation of 2023 improvement efforts probably needs to start with the Jets. Thanks to the Sacramento Kings’ playoff advancement, the Jets hold major North American sports’ longest postseason drought — at 12 years. After missing on a few rookie-contract QBs in the time since their last playoff run, the Jets now haveAaron Rodgers. The six nationally televised games on Gang Green’s docket illustrate Rodgers’ impact on the team’s perception, and although the four-time MVP will turn 40 before year’s end, he has made the Jets a free agency destination of sorts. The team added ex-Rodgers Packer wideouts Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, with those moves coming after the addition of safety Chuck Clark via trade.
As the Jets stands to be a factor in the one of the deepest conferences in recent memory, the Dolphins added Jalen Ramsey via trade and will pay Vic Fangio upwards of $4.5MM to run their defense. Miami will bank on Tua Tagovailoa health and showed faith in the oft-scrutinized passer by picking up his fifth-year option two months early.
Making Nathaniel Hackett just the third HC since the 1970 merger to be fired before his first season ended, the Broncos paid up — both in terms of draft capital and salary — to add Sean Payton. They also spent heavily to better protect Russell Wilson, signing Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey. The latter will be Denver’s 11th Week 1 right tackle in 11 years. The Raiders added Tyree Wilson in Round 1, but the team’s Derek Carr-to-Jimmy Garoppolo transition injects considerably more injury risk into their equation.
Carolina stopped its QB carousel with the Young move, and Frank Reich will be tasked with developing the atypical prospect. The Panthers also lured Ejiro Evero from the Broncos, despite Denver’s interest in retaining its DC. Though, the team’s receiving situation — now featuring Adam Thielen and DJ Chark — may take multiple years to fix post-Moore. The rest of the NFC South will also include new Week 1 starting QBs. The Saints made the second-most notable veteran quarterback addition this year — in giving Carr what amounts to a three-year, $100MM deal — and will hope this brings the QB stability Drew Brees‘ retirement stripped away two years ago.
While the 49ers lost another coordinator (DeMeco Ryans) to a head coaching job, they gave new DC Steve Wilks superior D-line talent via Hargrave’s $20MM-AAV deal. With the Colts taking Richardson at No. 4, the Seahawks doubled down on the recently re-signed Geno Smith by beginning this year’s receiver run with Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20. Seattle also zagged from its Pete Carroll–John Schneider M.O. by taking cornerbackDevon Witherspoonat 5. This and the Dre’Mont Jones contract headlined a big year for Seahawks defensive investments.
What other teams deserve mention here? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
The Raiders have made four new additions to their coaching staff for the offseason, naming their Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellows. On offense, Las Vegas will be mentoring Torrey Gill. On defense, Jamie Sharper and Troy Vincent Jr. will be joining the staff. Lastly, Matt Willis was hired with a focus on special teams.
Gill is currently an offensive graduate assistant at Oregon State. He’s previously coached wide receivers at New Mexico State and Whittier College after playing the position at Itawamba Community College and NAIA Tabor College.
Sharper is former Super Bowl champion linebacker for the Ravens who spent time with the Texans and Seahawks, as well. He just finished the 2022 XFL season where he worked as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for the DC Defenders. He previously worked as a scouting intern for Houston before serving as linebackers and defensive line coach for Georgetown.
Vincent is the son of NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent. His career has thus far consisted mainly of roles in Georgia high school football.
Willis is a former NFL wide receiver who spent time with the Ravens, Broncos, and Lions. He’s had two other stints with the fellowship, working with the Bears in 2017 and 2018.
Here are a few other rumors from around the NFL:
The Commanders have made some minor adjustments to their offensive staff, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. Juan Castillo, who was hired to coach tight ends despite his wealth of experience with the offensive line, has been working more with the offensive line at camp recently. They expect that he will be “toggling between the two positions” under the new title of run-game coordinator. The current assistant offensive line coach, Travelle Wharton, is expected to be promoted to offensive line coach, while Todd Storm will remove the “assistant” from his title to become tight ends coach.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen has added a new assistant to his staff, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59/CBS4 Sports. The staff now rosters Charlie Gelman, who will serve as game manager.
The first of this year’s spring leagues to debut, the XFL’s third effort, finished its season Saturday. XFL players are now free to sign NFL contracts, and several agreed to terms Monday. Here are those agreements, along with the other transactions from around the league:
After seeing the pandemic nix its second effort in 2020, the XFL concluded its season Saturday. The Broncos signed the league’s second-leading rusher, in Patrick, while the Browns and Cowboys offered Barqoo contracts, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Barqoo, who played for the Jaguars in 2020 and XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas this year, opted for the Steelers’ offer. Patrick, whom the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson notes passed a Broncos physical Monday, finished with 443 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He joins XFL passing leader Ben DiNucci as a Broncos May addition.
Seeing time for the St. Louis BattleHawks, Jones-Smith played in three games apiece with Raiders and Ravens, respectively, from 2020-21. Thompson will join the Dolphins after a spring tour of duty with the Seattle Sea Dragons, while fellow XFL alum Brewer played in two games for the Bills last year. Heflin played five games for the Packers in 2021; the new Saint spent the XFL season with the Houston Roughnecks.
The Raiders gave Johnson a reserve/futures deal in January. The young wideout collected a ring with the 2020 Buccaneers and totaled 360 receiving yards for Tampa Bay’s 2021 iteration. While the Texans claimed him on waivers ahead of last season, he played in just two games with the team.
Jackson suited up for national championship-winning Georgia last season. The new Titans wideout finished with 514 receiving yards in 2020 and totaled 320 for last season’s Bulldogs edition. A Division II Quincy alum, Wilson received an East-West Shrine Bowl invite but tore an Achilles tendon late last season.
The Gerry release will open a roster spot for recent XFL linebacker Ferrod Gardner. Playing for the D.C. Defenders in the XFL’s third go-round, Gardner saw action in 10 games. The Commanders are giving Gardner another chance, after the 2022 UDFA spent a few months with the team over the past year. The Commanders recently signed XFL O-lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith as well.
