Hogs Haven
A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders
written by Jeremy Reaves, S Washington Commanders
You know how sometimes something happens in life, and you’re fully in that moment, and then, out of nowhere, a big realization just hits you, clear as day?
That happened to me this past October.
Northwest Stadium. Our place. Against the Bears.
I’m sitting on the bench. Dejected. A few seconds left in the game. Down 3, with the ball, but on the wrong side of the field. And I’m pissed off. Our special teams unit hadn’t played up to our standard. So I’m sitting there replaying a bunch of moments in my head, fuming. Just lost in thought about all the things we’d messed up.
I didn’t even see the final play.
Didn’t see Jayden scramble around for what seemed like forever, didn’t see the ball in the air, or the ricochet. Nothing.
I just heard the crowd. The roar. Probably the loudest sound I’ve ever heard in my life.
Next thing I know, everyone’s running onto the field. So, without even really knowing what went down, I run out there, too.
We won? What? Howwww? Jayden did what? We’re 6–2?
Part of me didn’t even believe it. Like: Did this just really happen?
But then, after that, no lie, my mind immediately went to....
This changes everything.
And after being around this organization for seven years, I knew exactly how special it was, the meaning of it all. It was something people who love this team have been waiting for, dreaming of, for a very long time.
It felt important.
I remember I was the last person to leave the locker room that night. Last man out. Because I wanted to fully savor what had just gone down. Appreciate it.
It felt like Christmas morning.
We know the whole world doubted us in these playoffs, and that they still doubt us now. We’re fine with that. I mean, shoot ... I’ve been doubted my entire life. So odds don’t bother me. I’m comfortable being doubted. We all are at this point. We know all about what it takes to prove people wrong.
Playing for you guys, after all that we’ve been through together, I can’t even tell you what an honor it is. I’m honestly happier right now for all of our fans than I am for myself. I mean, I’ve only been through a small portion of what some of you guys have been through. So many people have spent their entire lives cheering for this team, and have experienced more than their fair share of heartbreak. So when I run out there on the field, I’m not just playing for myself. I’m playing for all of our fans who have backed this team for 20-plus years, 50 years, even longer in some cases. We’re...
