Allen and Lombardi Must Be Smiling in Football Heaven

The hallowed ghosts of George Allen and Vince Lombardi, the last Washington Head Coaches to win in their first years, must be pleased as punch with the work thus far of one Adam Peters, newly anointed General Manager of the Washington NFL Franchise.

Lombardi made a point of returning Sam Huff to the fold. George Allen signed the Ramskins, a cadre of over-30s who had won with Allen in L.A. 

Allen must be doing three cheers for the Redskins in football heaven over the signing of linebacking great Bobby Wagner, quarterback of the Dan Quinn defense that destroyed Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Wagner, perennial All-Pro, is 33 with plenty left in the tank. Vintage George Allen demographics. It is hard to imagine the Commander Defense being out of position, as it was to an embarrassing degree in Coach Rivera's last season, with Bobby Wagner on the field. 

Some people poo-pooh the importance of Free Agency. But it is the only modality whereby you as a coach who has experienced success can bring in people who went for that successful ride with you and can translate your vision of football onto the field. Adam Peters has done that for Dan Quinn in signing the Cowmanders, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and now former Seahawk Wagner, who will undoubtedly be like a coach on the field for Washington.

Fowler has been with Quinn for years. 

Adam Peters was obviously bluffing when he said the Commanders wouldn't do much in Free Agency. His work so far has been stunning.

So much so perhaps we should not put past him finding a way to pry QB Caleb Williams from the Bears in the Draft. as a means of servicing the account of his Offensive Coordinator. Without injuring prospects for other positions.

Given the historical examples of Lombardi and Allen and the activity of Adam Peters, it would not surprise me to see the Commanders post a winning record in Dan Quinn's first season at the helm in Washington.

It is almost as if . . . Washington is back in the NFL again.