ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders are 7-2 and not only lead the NFC East Division midway through the season but are in contention to be the top team in the entire conference.
Currently tied in wins with the first-place Detroit Lions and with one more loss on their ledger, the Commanders aren’t off the pace by much, and that fact alone has some wondering if it is time the team goes from re-tooling to loading up for a playoff run.
The answer to that question has several layers, and besides the compensation it might take to bring a new member into the fold in Washington, there’s the expectation of how well the new guy would fold into what is going on.
“There’s a high standard that all of these guys have set for one another,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn says about his team. And in that sentence alone, the importance of bringing in the right man, not just the right player, is magnified.
So how will Quinn and Washington approach the next day as the trade deadline quickly approaches Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET? WUSA9’s Chick Hernandez asked the coach that question during his weekly sit-down at the team facility.
“No. 1, [general manager] Adam [Peters] and his team and staff, they’re just like anybody else that’s part of the organization, competition's the central theme of what we do,” Quinn responded. “So if there’s a spot to do it then we would… [but it] is not something we would force upon our team in any way. That’s just not how Adam and I roll."
“If there’s spots to do that, then the next step [is] you’re looking at the film and the evaluation, what does the compensation look like? So there’s a process that you go through step-by-step.”
Keeping the team the main thing is the key, according to Quinn.
That means not only understanding the standard he and his coaches - and more importantly the players - have established, but also protecting it.
If great footwork doesn’t come with a great desire to compete and a willingness to make the right play even when the light doesn’t shine down on your jersey number then it won’t be the right fit for Washington - and that player won’t be joining this locker room.
That approach is all part of this new Commanders franchise. One that isn’t just hungry for talent wherever it may come, but understands that this is a place where teammates are becoming brothers, and acceptance into that brotherhood requires more than your usual athletic measurables.