There’s confidence in Washington. There’s excitement, too. But beneath it all, there’s something much more real.
Fear.
Not the Hollywood-esque, “skies are falling” fear that dominated this franchise for so long. This is a fear about something that matters to the organization and the entire fanbase.
And for the Washington Commanders, that fear is Jayden Daniels.
Most fans, when Daniels was recently featured at a celebrity flag football game, took it for what it was. A non-contact, easy-breezy event, designed for a young, talented signal-caller to have some fun, engage with the community, and generally work on his off-field brand as a visible personality. However, there is one person who was concerned after watching Jayden Daniels.
Adam Peters was Concerned Watching Jayden Daniels
That wasn’t the way Commanders GM Adam Peters saw it.
“Obviously, you’re concerned,” Peters said, “I think all of us were probably concerned about that, not just me. Probably me the most. But understanding that it was something that was important to him and just talking about the risk and the risk versus reward and all of that, and then he’s got to make the decision on his own.”
“But we supported whatever he wanted to do, and the thing about Jayden is he loves football,” Peters stated. “He loves playing, he loves competing, and so I think that was something that was important to him. So I’m glad he did it, and I’m glad he came out healthy.”
The “What If” Scenarios are Real
As with any general manager or owner seeing their star player moving, the “what if’s” start to kick in for what the worst-case scenario could be, even if nobody is explicitly stating it.
What if?
What if he takes a weird step or if he twists something? Imagine if the one guy this entire rebuild is centered around isn’t there due to a misstep in a celebrity flag football game.
This thought alone tells you more about where Washington is than any press conference ever could. This isn’t the same organization that turned their quarterback position into some sort of rotational practice for rookie signal-callers, or the same team that simply tried to cobble something together year after year.
Daniels is a Proven Commodity
They finally have a guy.
And Daniels, beyond being just another talented prospect at a position with so many variables in the NFL, has already made enough flashes to merit the importance they’re placing on him. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season, throwing for nearly 3,900 yards and 25 touchdowns despite missing time due to injury and an overall tumultuous season for the Commanders. He also battled injuries again in year two.
Seeing Daniels playing a non-contact sport may have triggered Peters. However, it should make Commanders fans feel secure in the fact that their front office is treating their franchise quarterback like an actual precious commodity, instead of something to be thrown out into the world without regard for the damage that can be done to them. The fact that he is even visible at these events and hasn’t been immediately taken off the field as a liability speaks to a much better thought process within the organization.
Peters Has Provided Good Balance
Peters didn’t come out and tell Daniels not to be at the game; in fact, he supported Daniels because he knew it was important to him.
This balance is truly the part that stands out, though. They want Daniels to be in the public eye and be one of the many faces of the NFL. But at the same time, they understand that his long-term health is paramount to the entire future of this franchise.
Washington is walking a very fine line currently. Nobody wants to sacrifice the entire rebuild and the team’s direction. Every bit of hope they have for the upcoming season truly relies on Number 5 not getting injured and being under center for the Commanders in the fall.