Former Washington star lauds Commanders' newfound bond under Dan Quinn

Brotherhood. There's been a lot made of that word this season within the Washington Commanders, but if you've followed head coach Dan Quinn's journey, you'd understand that is what he has always wanted his teams to epitomize.

When he was with the Atlanta Falcons, Quinn said the team was more like a "neighborhood" but he wanted to establish a "brotherhood." From a sign that said, "I Will Play For My Brother" to caps that said "The Hood," which was short for brotherhood, he wanted the team to personify togetherness.

That mentality was one of the reasons that the Falcons were able to attract veteran players like Dwight Freeney. It was also why the team was able to make it to the Super Bowl in Quinn's second season.

The Commanders have benefitted from that mindset in Quinn's first year, which is a welcome change for the veterans on the team as well as the fanbase. After being marred by mediocre coaches and untenable ownership throughout much of Dan Snyder's tenure, the organization's leadership from the top down has been a breath of fresh air.

It's hard to argue with the results, despite the two-game losing streak. Losses will happen, but if the mindset stays in place, the team should be able to overcome the adversities.

Vernon Davis lauds newfound belief within the Commanders under Dan Quinn

Former Washington tight end Vernon Davis, who played alongside Terry McLaurin in his rookie year, says the team has a completely different feel from when he donned the famous Burgundy and Gold.

""I think the one thing that they've been doing great is being one, right? The love that that team has for each other, the love that the ownership is giving them, the way they're working together, the ownership, the coaches, the team, it's like, you can feel it. You can tell that there's a different kind of energy going on. We didn't have that when we were under Dan Snyder, at the time, we didn't have it...So, they just have to keep that going.""

- Vernon Davis

That love and brotherhood is personified throughout the roster.

You saw it when Johnny Newton jumped offsides late in the game on fourth down against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That play ended any shot the Commanders had of coming back, but the veterans on the team consoled him on the sidelines and rallied around the rookie defensive lineman in the locker room.

Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Austin Ekeler, who led the team in receiving, dropped a crucial third-down pass and was mad at himself on the sidelines. Brian Robinson Jr. and Bobby Wagner got the running back's mind on the job quickly.

Mistakes happen. Bad games happen. A mature teammate will go out of their way to encourage you. This is the mentality developing in Washington.

Davis believes a lot of that is due to the veteran influences on the team with leaders like Ekeler, Wagner, Zach Ertz, Dante Fowler Jr., and Frankie Luvu among others.

""There's a lot of different ways to handle situations when someone makes a mistake,. You can yell at him, you can get in his face, you can make an example out of that player, but I think what we have [with the 2024 Commanders] is we have teammates who have the spirit of a coach...It's just like, ‘Come on, let's get yourself going. We can do better. We're gonna do better. We got you, don't worry about it.' You know it’s one of those things, and I love it. I think it's awesome. It shows maturity. It shows leadership. It shows that they have guys who are all about togetherness. I love it.”"

- Vernon Davis

Now, it's up to the players to step up to the challenge. They must overcome the first major adversity this team has faced thus far in the season.

The veterans on the team get it. After the Eagles loss, McLaurin said it's easy to preach brotherhood when everything's good, but "this is definitely the time we need to stand up for that." Ekeler also understands this is a pivotal moment for this team's development.

With a home game against the rival Dallas Cowboys after a 10-day break, we'll get a chance to see what this team is made of.

Vernon Davis was speaking to Riggo's Rag to promote his latest film, Christian Sesma’s crime pic 72 Hours, which was released last Friday on various streaming platforms and select theaters. Vernon also wrote and recorded a song -- "What's Good Brodie" -- for the movie's soundtrack.

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