Hogs Haven
ESPN
The Ducks honored Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota during Saturday’s game against USC, as Oregon players and coaches on the sidelines wore sweatshirts emblazoned with “Ohana” in honor of his Hawaiian heritage.
Mariota, who now plays for the Washington Commanders, was in Eugene to be recognized for his induction into Oregon’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was also the celebrity guest picker for ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and unsurprisingly picked the Ducks.
Mariota won the Heisman in 2014, his final year at Oregon. He set a Pac-12 conference record for most touchdowns in a season with 58; 42 passing, 15 rushing. He also set the conference’s mark for career touchdowns with 136.
He threw at least one touchdown pass in all 41 college games he played in at Oregon, starting every one of his appearances.
Fans at Autzen stood and gave Mariota a rousing ovation when he was honored midway through the first quarter of the game. The Ducks’ former quarterback held his hand to his heart with a broad smile. His sweatshirt also read “Ohana” in bright green letters, for family.
Commanders Wire
[L]istening to Washington, D.C. radio this past week and hearing differing fans and talk show hosts discuss Jayden Daniels playing this year, I understand there is no easy answer. The season’s context, the team’s place this season, provides a different context, and that context determines the answer to the question.
Should Daniels play again this season? Well, if he had only been injured once and the team still had a shot at the playoffs, then there would be no debate. He absolutely should be playing.
If the context were that he was injured three different times this season, and there are only one or two games left, and you are eliminated from the playoffs, then, no, why would you risk putting him back out there for only that one or two games, when your team is not going anywhere?
However, the context for this 2025 season is that there are still six games remaining on the schedule. Yes, he has been injured three times, thus missing games due to three different injuries. But are the Commanders‘ coaches going to ask many other guys on the team to play these last six games when many of them have sore knees, ankles, a stiff back, and sore shoulders? They are not 100 percent, and you are gonna tell them to get out there for six games, but then you are gonna tell them you are protecting Jayden all six games?
[I]t is not an individual sport. There are others involved, 52 others. Football is the ultimate team game. I’ve gone back and forth on this because I am a big believer in weighing the risk vs. the reward. But with six games remaining, I’m afraid the Commanders are going to...
