Two years ago, the Washington Commanders were rudderless and hopeless and appeared to be going nowhere for years to come. While owner Daniel Snyder had put the team up for sale, no one actually believed he would sell the team. He did, partly because the NFL pressured him into it, along with some cajoling from Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs.
Josh Harris and his ownership group took over in July 2023, and everything began to change. While the 2023 season was a mess, it allowed the Commanders the chance to reset with completely new leadership in 2024. Also, they lost enough to be in position for franchise-changing quarterback Jayden Daniels.
We know what happened in 2024.
With Washington on the right track, the Dallas Cowboys are the NFC East’s most dysfunctional franchise. The New York Giants are close, but Dallas owner Jerry Jones has the Cowboys in the lead.
On Thursday, more drama out of “Big D.” Longtime former Cowboys defense end DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence spoke about leaving Dallas for the Seattle Seahawks after spending the first 11 seasons with the Cowboys. One quote made headlines.
Lawrence appeared to be speaking honestly and not out of malice. Indeed, he probably wishes the franchise he’d devoted 11 years to would’ve re-signed him, allowing him to finish his career there, but he didn’t appear to be taking a shot.
Dallas star linebacker Micah Parsons felt differently, taking issue with Lawrence’s comments.
Not only did Parsons respond, but Lawrence also responded with a savage takedown.
Meanwhile, the Commanders are coming off an NFC championship game appearance and improving their roster in hopes of chasing down the Philadelphia Eagles. While Dallas still has a solid roster, there appears to be more focus on what’s happening off the field than on the field.
Boy, how times have changed. Good leadership makes a difference. From Harris to general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders are well-positioned on the field for years to come. Even better, there’s no silly drama involving the owner. He’s long gone.
For years, Snyder was the NFL’s whipping boy—deservedly so. He was a terrible owner, treating people poorly and even suing season ticketholders. Not anymore.
Jones liked Snyder. He often defended him until even he couldn’t defend him anymore. Perhaps, Snyder was good for Jones, because as long as Snyder was around, he’d hold the title of “NFL’s worst owner.”
You won’t find any Washington fans feeling sorry for the Dallas Cowboys. For years, the other three NFC East franchises and their fans laughed at Washington every chance they got. It had come to a point where the Commanders were so insignificant that even their harshest critics had run out of things to say.
Times have indeed changed.