The only three drafted quarterbacks by the team to win a playoff game are Sammy Baugh, Jay Schroeder and Mark Rypien. Baugh won two NFL titles after being the sixth overall pick in the 1937 draft. Rypien won Washington鈥檚 last Super Bowl in 1991.

The other Washington Super Bowls were quarterbacked by Billy Kilmer, who was drafted by San Francisco and played for New Orleans before being traded to Washington; Joe Theismann, who was selected by Miami, but played in the Canadian Football League before the Dolphins traded his rights to Washington; and Doug Williams, who got his NFL start at Tampa Bay.

Since Washington鈥檚 last Super Bowl appearance, the team has won just two playoff games with Brad Johnson and Mark Brunell calling signals.

Johnson got his pro start in Minnesota and led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl win two years after leaving Washington, while Brunell guided expansion Jacksonville to the AFC title game two of their first four years before donning the Burgundy and Gold.

Washington has had no luck acquiring veteran quarterbacks since Johnson and Brunell. The wreckage includes Jeff George, Tony Banks, Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman and John Beck.

The landscape is also littered with failed draft picks. Heath Shuler, Gus Frerotte, Patrick Ramsey, Jason Campbell, Robert Griffin III and Dwayne Haskins were all supposed to be franchise quarterbacks.

Kirk Cousins was never looked as the long-term solution by team officials 鈥� and doesn鈥檛 appear to be in Minnesota either 鈥� but since he left after the 2017 season, Washington has used seven quarterbacks in three seasons.

The team now puts its current hopes on a 36-year-old miracle worker with a rebuilt leg.

It鈥檚 a shame Alex Smith isn鈥檛 younger and healthier. He鈥檚 the only Washington quarterback with a winning record the last three years.

Coach Mike Shanahan and RG3 had a falling out, Jay Gruden was not a fan of Cousins and now Ron Rivera has gotten rid of Haskins.

Each coach has his own quarterback preference, ditching the choice of his predecessor 鈥� or were they owner Dan Snyder鈥檚 picks?

Now, it鈥檚 back to square one again. Rookie or veteran?

Washington can possibly go the Philadelphia route again. It worked well with Sonny Jurgensen, but not so well with McNabb.

If the Eagles make Carson Wentz available, should they make the trade? He鈥檚 soon to be 28.

If Rivera wants to win now, Wentz might be his best option.

Just don鈥檛 let the owner decide.

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They built a new ballpark, but unlike in “Field of Dreams,” no one came. The minor league baseball season was canceled.

“We鈥檝e been trying to build a new ballpark for more than a decade, and we鈥檝e built a new ballpark,” said Seth Silber, whose family has owned the P-Nats, now FredNats, since 1990. “It is beyond a dream for our family. We just need to be a little bit more patient to have affiliated baseball played on our field.鈥�

The Fredericksburg Nationals are the Nats’ Single-A affiliate.

The Bowie Baysox have been the Orioles’ Double-A affiliate since 1989. Brian Shallcross has been their general manager since 2003.

Even though he knew that news the minor league season was going to be canceled was coming, Shallcross said it still hit him hard.

鈥淭his is my life鈥檚 work as far as my career. So, on a personal level, when your life鈥檚 work is ripped from you, it has to hurt, and it certainly does,” he said.

Shallcross said he gets emotional because he had to lay off staff, and he thinks about all the families that have enjoyed experiences at Prince George鈥檚 Stadium.

鈥淚 often say that I work for smiles,” he said. “When you don鈥檛 see those smiles and all you see is an empty stadium, you really feel a little bit lost, like you鈥檙e not playing a role in the community that you鈥檙e supposed to play.鈥�

Most minor league teams are locally owned, and Silber said the bond goes both ways.听

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC: Minor League Baseball under threat of contraction

鈥淲e鈥檝e been reaching out to all our season ticket holders and sponsors, and the support has been overwhelming,” Silber said. “They鈥檙e just excited to show up next year and they鈥檒l all be here.鈥�

Silber said the Fredericksburg Nationals are a long-term family business with every generation from father to grandkids involved.

鈥淭his is a lifelong dream,” he said. “We take a long view of it. We feel so beyond fortunate to be in Fredericksburg. They鈥檝e welcomed us, they supported us.鈥�

He added emotionally, 鈥淲e鈥檒l get by a pandemic, we鈥檒l move on and we鈥檒l have a blast here for decades to come.鈥�

First, they have to survive this year.

Minor League President Pat O鈥機onner said minor league teams generate up to 90% of their revenue through game-day ticket sales, concessions and advertising.

Silber agreed.

鈥淭here isn鈥檛 big TV or radio rights in minor league baseball,” Silber said. “So, we rely on the fans and the local businesses to support us and the support here has been tremendous. We鈥檙e selling for 2021.鈥�

Shallcross added that there鈥檚 no way 鈥� from a business perspective 鈥� that they could have played without fans in the stands.

鈥淲e receive almost nothing from TV rights, and everything is about the experience at the ballpark,” Shallcross said.

Looking optimistically ahead, Silber said sponsorship and ticket sales, for the most part, will roll into next year.听

鈥淚n some ways, coming to this community at this time was the greatest thing to happen for us, to be in a place where the support really is that strong,” Silber said.

The Baysox have a similar bond with their fans.听 听

Shallcross said he is encouraged that people have reached out to him.

When he asks them to roll over their ticket plan, he said the response is often, 鈥溾�楤rian, we鈥檒l see you in 2021. Keep our money.鈥�听 听

Shallcross said that tells him that they鈥檝e been a good partner. 鈥�

“We鈥檙e a local business,” Shallcross said. “When you talk about the clich茅 of shopping local, there is nothing 鈥� I mean nothing 鈥� more local than shopping at a minor league baseball team.鈥�

After all, Bowie and Baltimore are just 27 miles apart.

鈥淲e look at ourselves as the breeding ground for Orioles fans,” Shallcross said. “Just like we take the young players to be up with the Orioles, we feel the same way about the fans. We鈥檙e cultivating the fan base.鈥�

While the minors provide family fun at an affordable price, they also prepare players for the Majors, and Silber takes great pride in that.

鈥淔or the current Nats, 11 guys on the World Series roster played for us,” Silber said. “Seeing [Juan] Soto and [Ryan] Zimmerman and all these guys succeed, we take tremendous pride in that.鈥�

Shallcross said the Baysox also feel proud the first day one of their players gets called up.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e built the relationship not only with the player, but the family,” Shallcross said. “To be any part of that pure joy of making the Major Leagues, that鈥檚 what separates, I believe, baseball from other sports.

It鈥檚 that grind. Almost no player goes directly from college or high school to the Major Leagues. That鈥檚 why minor league baseball is so important in our sport.鈥�

However, losing a year of development may eventually end that dream for many.

鈥淚t certainly is going to be a setback,” Silber said. “Baseball is the hardest game to play and develop and get up to the Big Leagues and most people don鈥檛 realize how many years these guys spend in the minors. It鈥檚 two to five years for a lot of guys, and those are the guys who make it.鈥�

Even though there won鈥檛 be any baseball, the ballparks won鈥檛 remain idle. Owners are coming up with ideas on how to generate money.

Silber said the team is allowed to have 1,000 people inside the facility. So, they鈥檙e planning to hold movies and concerts. Stripes on the artificial turf will allow for social distancing.

鈥淲e can have people sit on the field,” Silber said.

The FredNats are also planning to have an ice-skating rink during the winter months.

The Baysox are going to rent out their field in one hour increments for a group of friends or family to participate in socially-distant batting practice.

They also want to host a drive-in movie theater and a drive-in fireworks show.

Still, the fields are made for baseball.

Shallcross became emotional when asked what he misses most.

鈥淚 miss the people,” he said. “I miss the families. A lot of these families have seen my family grow up. So, it鈥檚 been difficult.鈥�

In 2020, there is no joy in Mudville.

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It was also supposed to be the return of former manager Dusty Baker, now Houston’s manager.

Fans would have also had the opportunity to let the Astros know how they felt about their sign-stealing scandal.

Instead, there will be no games and no fans.

Half the season has already been wiped out, but Major League Baseball said if they can keep COVID-19 at bay, they’ll try and play 60 games.

With that hope in mind, Washington returned to the field at Nationals Park for the first time since the World Series in October.

They have three weeks to get ready for their first game of an abridged and different season.

You can call it Spring Training 2.0 or Summer Camp, but either way, manager Dave Martinez knows they don’t have much time to get ready.

Baseball activities return to Park. 鈦︹仼

鈥� jonwarner (@jonwarner草莓传媒)

“A lot of guys look good, really good,” Martinez said. “These guys are here, and they’re ready. They understand what we’re trying to do, and they understand that they have to do it quickly.

“It’s not something that you build up gradually. We have to come out, and we have to be ready to go,” Martinez said.

General manager Mike Rizzo said he liked what he saw from his veteran team in their first training day, considering the layoff from their last day in spring training.

“Tip of the hat to Davey and the coaches who stayed on the players,” Rizzo said. “We stayed in constant contact with all players that were considered in our 60-man roster.”

Conditioning is one thing, but observing safety protocols will eventually prove more important.

Before they started workouts, the whole team was tested, then quarantined for 48 hours until they were cleared.

However, Martinez said it is his players’ and staff’s actions after testing, practicing and game days that will be different as they adjust to new routines.

“You can’t just leave the ballpark and go to a restaurant and go out,” Martinez said. “You got to really focus on your teammates and what we’re trying to do here. And that’s to keep everybody safe.”

Rizzo also said that, in his opinion, the safest teams will end up becoming the best teams in this condensed season. It will be pressed upon the players to maintain their safety outside the stadium and that will be done as a team effort.

“If we want to win, we have to stay together,” Rizzo said. “No going out, stay as safe as you can in those hotels, and give ourselves the best chance to keep a safe roster, a healthy roster. If we do that, we’ll have as good a chance as anybody winning.”

It will be nine months since winning the World Series. Martinez said he cannot wait to defend their championship that he does not plan to be defeated by a virus and will try his best to be as safe as possible.

“I didn’t spend three months isolated on a farm to come here and get sick,” Martinez said. “I want to make sure I keep myself safe, so I can keep the coaching staff safe, the players safe, and everyone else around me.”

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Welcome to July, the start of the baseball season.

Later this month, “The Boys of Summer” may actually get to play this summer. At least that鈥檚 the plan, if the coronavirus pandemic can be contained. And that鈥檚 a big “if.”

If Major League Baseball does play, the usual 162-game marathon has been reduced to a 60-game sprint that represents the league’s shortest season since 1878.

The Nationals certainly can鈥檛 afford another 19-31 start like last year, when they were still six games under .500 at the 60-game mark. In 2020, there just wouldn鈥檛 be enough time to recover.

However, by missing nearly the first four months of this season, the Nats do have one thing in their favor: No World Series hangover.

Longtime Washington Post baseball writer Dave Sheinin believes a short season can actually help the Nats.

“It鈥檚 a veteran team that鈥檚 been through a long postseason,” he said.

“Last year, they were in what amounted to a postseason from the second half on. Every game was crucial to them, and that鈥檚 how this is gonna be this year. So, I think a team like the Nationals can benefit from that.”

However, Sheinin sees the teams in the two biggest markets that made the biggest offseason moves possibly reaching the World Series.

“It would be the same teams I would have thought at the beginning of the season,” he said.

“Certainly, the L.A. Dodgers bettered themselves as well as any team when they added Mookie Betts, and the Yankees added Gerrit Cole. That鈥檚 going to make them the best teams if they stay healthy. And, I don鈥檛 know if the reduced number of games matters that much.”

At the other end of the spectrum lie the Orioles, a team Sheinin covered for six losing years from 1999 to 2004 鈥� and he is not a fan of their current teardown and rebuild.

鈥淭hey know what they鈥檙e doing, based on what they did in Houston,” Sheinin said.

“It鈥檚 the same brain trust in Baltimore. I think teams like the A鈥檚 and the Rays show you that it does not have to happen this way.

You can still keep low payrolls and still compete and still win, even while semi-rebuilding. So, it didn鈥檛 have to be this way, but I also understand why they鈥檙e doing it.

It鈥檚 a choice the Orioles made. You just have to hope that at the end of these miserable years that there is gonna be a better day.”

Sheinin鈥檚 days of covering baseball will be harder this season, and probably in the foreseeable future. He knows access to players, coaches and managers will be very limited.

The media will have no clubhouse or personal access, as MLB tries to protect players from the coronavirus.

“So much of the art of reporting and being a beat writer is establishing relationships and establishing trust,” he said.

“It鈥檚 talking to players with your notebook in your back pocket and making a connection on a human level that benefits your reporting down the line.鈥�

Sheinin said reporters won鈥檛 be able to write in-depth on stories.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to hurt our industry and it鈥檚 going to hurt the fans. We鈥檙e the conduit to the fan,” he said.

Sheinin said good stories need a depth of humanity, 鈥渢hat you only get by establishing those relationships and putting the time in face-to-face. If that鈥檚 gone, the fans are going to suffer as well.鈥�

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A short season will be followed by a rocky one

The coronavirus pandemic stopped play before it could get started, and negotiations to get it up and running actually brought it to a standstill.

Commissioner Rob Manfred took the only action he had left: impose the number of games.

Sheinin sees that leaving a bad taste for the next labor negotiation after the 2021 season.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no way around it. This is a terrible time for this to happen,” he said.

“It would be a terrible time at any point, but coming off this completely devastated economic landscape, a free agency market this winter that could get really ugly.

Teams are coming off huge losses this year, and we still don鈥檛 know what it鈥檚 going to look like next year in terms of fans being back in the stadiums. So, 2021 sets up as an epic labor war.鈥�

Also, Sheinin has this warning: 鈥淲e鈥檙e not at the end of a phase here, we鈥檙e really at the beginning of a two-plus year labor war that is just getting started.鈥�

So, baseball is not only fighting a pandemic, but also itself.

Enjoy the season. It may be short, but hopefully, it鈥檚 sweet.

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Paulsen had to up his technology game at the Fairfax, Virginia, school, spending a lot of his time on video conference calls, as meeting with players in-person amid the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t option.

鈥淪ome people are going to come out of this better prepared for the future. I鈥檝e tried to use this time as a mini sabbatical to try and reevaluate everything that I do, that we do.鈥� Paulsen said.

He has been watching film of other programs and sitting-in on Zoom coaching clinics from all across the country.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a way for all of us to come out in the new normal with some skills at our disposal.鈥� Paulsen said.

The coach is putting those skills to work now, helping with his recruiting.

鈥淲ith a prospect, we can share some of our practice footage and some of the drills we do. It鈥檚 a way we can now access recruits videos, watch them share the screen and offer some feedback.鈥� Paulsen said.

Paulsen said he is never been home this long, but he still makes an effort to keep in touch with his players who are spread out all over the country.

One way is holding individual virtual meetings, which include film edits from the season.

Paulsen also conducts once-a-week team calls, while coaches check in daily with players to see whether they鈥檙e healthy and how they鈥檙e doing.

George Mason will have its starting five back next season, but will the fans be back? The season may go on, but there may be no fans in the stands.

鈥淚t would be weird. The excitement, the passion of college basketball makes it different and unique from professional basketball. Doc Nix and the Green Machine make Eagle Bank Arena rock. When we have a good crowd, that place is electric,” Paulsen said.

“So, no doubt about that, we want to play in front of our fans. But, if you told me we could play but with no fans for the first semester, I鈥檇 sign up for that in a second, if the alternative is not to play. I think all of our guys would feel the same way.”

The unusual circumstances have made him appreciate his job more than ever.

鈥淚鈥檓 never going to take for granted again just the privilege I have of doing a job I love with kids I love being around. At the core of why I coach and where guys play is not about how many fans are there, it鈥檚 about the joy of competing and the joy of becoming as good as you can become at something.鈥� Paulsen said.

The coach said he is trying to be good at something else.

Paulsen is enjoying his 鈥�.鈥�

He has developed an extensive coaching tree during his 26-years as a head coach. His former assistants hold positions in the NBA, NCAA and high school ball. They include the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Catholic University.

Unable to reconnect with them at the Final Four this year, Paulsen has taken their discussions to YouTube and Twitter.

They share coaching philosophy and hold a video coaching clinic.

鈥淭hey will kind of replace the old, corny coaches鈥� shows they used to show on TV. We鈥檒l just have meaningful discussions.鈥� Paulsen said.

And for a meaningful cause.

The Patriots coach makes a charity donation with each episode. Some recipients include D.C. Central Kitchen, Coaches vs. Cancer, and Coaches Coalition for Progress.

His guests also contribute to local charities in their area.

Source

It all comes down to money.

College football and basketball programs generate revenue, while just about everything else does not. So, when the spigot runs dry, funding does not trickle down.

In March, the NCAA canceled all winter and spring sports and if football does not return this fall, athletic departments will have no choice but to start cutting programs.

George Mason University athletic director Brad Edwards said they鈥檒l feel the hit with the cancellation of the Atlantic 10 and NCAA basketball tournaments.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been working on a lot of belt tightening in the conference office and how we can reduce expenses, use some of our other funds to supplement to the degree that we can.鈥� Edwards said.

Edwards believes it鈥檚 going to be a multiyear hit.

However, in just two months, Furman University discontinued its baseball and men鈥檚 lacrosse programs, the University of Akron is pulling the plug on men鈥檚 golf, women鈥檚 tennis and men鈥檚 cross country, the University of Alabama in Huntsville cut hockey and all tennis, the University of Cincinnati eliminated men鈥檚 soccer, wrestling is over at Old Dominion University, Bowling Green State University has thrown out baseball, Central Michigan University terminated men鈥檚 track and field, there鈥檚 no more tennis at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, while Florida International University trimmed men鈥檚 indoor track and field.

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Edwards saw how it affected his athletes when their seasons came to an abrupt end in March.

鈥淪ome of our women鈥檚 teams, lacrosse and softball and others, they were in tears. It literally tore me up, it really shook me.鈥� Edwards said.

Edwards said student-athletes understand the pandemic is much bigger than sports, but they put a lot of work and effort to get to this point in their college careers.

鈥淔or some of those sports, there is nowhere else to go after this level.鈥� Edwards said.

University of Maryland men鈥檚 lacrosse coach John Tillman is especially concerned with Furman dropping lacrosse.

He told 草莓传媒鈥檚 Dave Preston: 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that the fallout isn鈥檛 bad and people can hang in there, but you are worried about that because we want our game to expand and not get smaller.鈥�

However, that could happen because schools aren鈥檛 all that anxious to start up sports if their campuses are not open for all students.

Patrick Rishe, director of the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis told ESPN that the upcoming football season will be played, even if it鈥檚 during the spring, because of 鈥渁stronomical financial implications鈥� for athletic departments if it鈥檚 canceled.

Most athletic departments were already not profitable before the coronavirus pandemic and many don鈥檛 have financial reserves in a study done by LEAD1, an association of athletic directors from 130 Division 1 football schools.

Navy opens its football season on Aug. 29 with a big money event in Ireland against Notre Dame.

The Naval Academy should be immune to budget cuts, but coach Ken Niumatalolo said they felt the effects on the field with the cancellation of spring practice and the spring game.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big part of what we do. You start to build your culture. You kind of get to see the work ethic, camaraderie and toughness of the group,鈥� Niumatalolo said.

Navy and Notre Dame are two exceptions, but college sports may have to become more regionalized to save money.

Conferences are now spread out all over the country and air travel has become the norm.

To save money, athletes may have to get back on the bus.

University of Maryland coach Cathy Reese didn鈥檛 get to defend the Terrapin women鈥檚 lacrosse national championship in 2020.

She was coming off her fourth title in six years, and yet she knows programs like hers depend on the big sports.

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 have college football in the fall, we鈥檙e already going off not having the NCAA Tournament and conference tournaments in basketball. There are more hits then we probably even realize nationwide.鈥� Reese said in an interview with 草莓传媒’s Dave Preston.

Canceling the NCAA men鈥檚 basketball tournament meant there was nearly $400 million dollars less to distribute to schools.

So, Reese believes it will be a nationwide challenge.

鈥淚t鈥檚 something obviously no one wants to see. No one wants to see sports cut, no one wants to see these athletes lose their opportunities that they have to compete collegiately, and coaches and programs lose jobs. We鈥檙e hanging on to the hope that we鈥檙e going to figure this out, get through it and push forward. It will definitely be different in different times.鈥�

Division 1 schools are required to carry at least 16 athletic programs. Five conferences requested NCAA President Mark Emmert relax that regulation.

However, it is not being considered by the NCAA Division 1 Council 鈥� at least for now.

But for George Mason University basketball coach Dave Paulsen, one thing is certain: 鈥淚鈥檓 never gonna take for granted just the privilege I have of doing a job I love with kids I love being around.”

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They were at their lowest point at exactly the same time last year.

On May 23, 2019, it looked like the Nationals were going nowhere with a 19-31 record — 10 games out of first place in the NL East and only a game and a half from falling into last place in the standings.

Manager Dave Martinez, though, was determined to remain positive, saying the team needed to focus on, and win, each day and not look ahead.

The players bought in and from that point on, the team posted the best record in baseball en route to their first World Series title.

Washington Post reporter Jesse Dougherty was in his first full season covering the Nats.听He didn鈥檛 believe all was lost once shortstop Trea Turner, third baseman Anthony Rendon, outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman returned from injuries.听

“When you pull four players out of any lineup across baseball, I don鈥檛 care if you鈥檙e the 1927 Yankees or 2019 Nats, you鈥檙e going to be hurting,” Dougherty told 草莓传媒. “You can鈥檛 really function without your regular guys, so once they came back and were healthy, I felt there was a chance they could go on some kind of run.鈥�

However, even that run somewhat surprised Dougherty.听

鈥淭hey were already in a deep hole, but it was also still early,” Dougherty said. “The sample size wasn鈥檛 great, but once the health came around, they obviously had a fighting chance and we saw what happened.鈥�

And once the Nationals started to put it together, Dougherty said he had a lot of fun.听

鈥淎s a reporter, the worst thing you can cover is a mediocre team,” Dougherty said. “There鈥檚 no intrigue. Occasionally, the really bad is interesting because the stories are good. The really good is more fun sometimes because guys are actually more willing to talk about it. 听

When you鈥檙e covering the really bad, it takes some more prying and digging. But covering that team from late May on was a complete joy.鈥�

Plus, there was also enough drama to keep it interesting.

鈥淭here were the injuries to Max Scherzer, Dave Martinez鈥檚 health scare in the middle of September and the trade deadline when everyone is questioning, ‘Is this what you need for the bullpen?'” Dougherty said. “There was always something with this team.鈥�

The bullpen drama and Scherzer鈥檚 injuries played out right through the postseason, during which the Nationals became the first team to win five elimination games in come-from-behind fashion.

It was certainly enough to fill a book. And that鈥檚 what Dougherty used to produce 鈥淏uzz Saw: The Improbable Story of How the Washington Nationals Won the World Series.鈥�

The title comes from something World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg said.

The night the Nationals advanced to the Fall Classic, Oct. 15, Strasburg was asked why this team finally broke through. Why did the talented ones in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017 come up short?听

His answer, according to Dougherty: 鈥淵ou have a great year and you run into a buzz saw, and maybe this year we鈥檙e the buzz saw.鈥�

Dougherty loved the quote.听

鈥淚 used it in my story and went on Twitter and everyone really took to it,” Dougherty said. “I just think that buzz saw quote became sort of the embodiment of the team. I ended up putting it on the cover of the book, so I was grateful he said that, for sure.鈥�

The Nationals were the oldest team in baseball last year, averaging 31.1 years old. However, despite being even older in 2020, there won鈥檛 be the grind of a full season this year. Dougherty anticipates a shorter season may actually benefit the team.

鈥淎pril promised to be hard because of how much guys had pitched into the fall last year,” Dougherty said. “Older pitching arms, for sure, you can kind of push yourselves in the way maybe you couldn鈥檛 over the course of an eight-month season.鈥�

And, a shorter season means the Nationals won鈥檛 have to dig themselves out of a 19-31 hole this summer.

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The Washington Mystics were supposed to raise their championship banner before their season opener last weekend. Now, it’s anyone’s guess as to when that will take place.

With the season on hold, Thibault is keeping it all in perspective.

“It鈥檚 an understanding of where we are in the world as a whole. Everybody would love to be playing, but I鈥檇 like to see a lot of people healthy and would like to see the general population go back to work. We play a kids game, we get paid, it鈥檚 our job, it鈥檚 our profession, but we鈥檙e also entertainment and I think we鈥檝e all seen sitting at home how much we miss entertainment, too. You know, there鈥檚 frustration, but there鈥檚 an understanding that there鈥檚 a lot bigger picture and our place in it is what it is.”

When the season does start, Thibault isn鈥檛 sure how long it will be and in what form it will take. He said the WNBA is considering multiple possibilities.

鈥淚n D.C. we have a stay-at-home order till June 8, and I think every city across the league has different standards, so the league is trying to find a way to take all of that into account.鈥�

The WNBA built a five-week break into its schedule for the Tokyo Olympics. However, with the summer games now postponed until next year, the WNBA could use that time to make up games.

鈥淗opefully in the next few weeks, we鈥檒l have a better idea where the country is,鈥� Thibault said.

After that, he said it comes down to how available testing for the coronavirus is 鈥渢o make sure that our players, coaches, staff, workers and fans are all healthy when we go through this. We鈥檙e not going to jeopardize the health of anyone just to play games right now.鈥�

The Mystics last played on Oct. 10, when they beat the Connecticut Sun in the decisive game of the WNBA Finals. Seven players then headed overseas to continue playing.

While those players have since returned, Thibault said most don鈥檛 have access to basketball hoops.

“Most of these guys are so used to being able to go to their own team鈥檚 workout facility or local gym that they haven鈥檛 had a need as adults to get their own baskets,” Thibault said. “Most of them are just doing what they can with the basketball with ball handling and running in the park.鈥�

When leagues are given the green light to resume play, it’s going to be a crowded sports calendar. Thibault, though, is prepared.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have that glut of baseball, NBA, MLS and hockey,” Thibault said. “The good part for us is that our league had planned to go into October no matter what with playoffs. So, we have a longer window of time to get done playing than those other leagues other than baseball, maybe.鈥�

There鈥檚 usually a surge in demand for tickets in the year following a championship. That proved to be the case for the Mystics. The team’s season ticket plans were sold out. Now, when the games return, it will likely be in an empty arena.

鈥淚 feel bad that it could be that way, but that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e dealing with,” Thibault said.

How鈥檚 he, at least, personally dealing with all the extra time at home? He laughed when asked if there was some sort of silver lining to it all.

Still, he is making the most of it. Thibault has prioritized his workouts, nutrition and diet. He makes sure to take an hour walk every day and it has helped him lose about 15 pounds. 听 听 听 听

He has also connected with old friends and binge-watched most of the shows he wanted to catch up on.

Plus, he has grown a goatee.听 听

The spare time has also given him the opportunity to draw up more plays for former MVP Tina Charles. The Mystics acquired her just before the draft last month.

No WNBA team has repeated as champion in 18 years. But, with Charles, Thibault believes the Mystics are an even better team than they were last season.

Now, he just needs the chance to prove it.

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Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here:听听|听听|听

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Malcolm Perry will watch this week鈥檚 NFL Draft from his family home in Clarksville, Tennessee, hoping to hear his name called.

After setting an NCAA single-season rushing record for a quarterback with 2,017 yards during his senior year at Navy, Perry will try to reinvent himself to start a pro career as a slot receiver.

Perry caught 22 passes in his Midshipmen career, but said, 鈥淚 feel that鈥檚 where I transition best with my size and ability, and with a little work I can transition to it smoothly. Catching a ball comes naturally to me, but definitely needs some work.鈥�

At the NFL combine in late February, Perry ran a 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds, and said he learned what he needs to work on.

鈥淐oming out of the whole combine experience, I think I got what I needed out of it, and I also had a great time and had a chance to meet a lot of cool people,” he said.

Perry feels a couple of teams are interested, including the New England Patriots and New York Giants. Patriots coach Bill Belichick, an Annapolis High School graduate, maintains a very strong connection to the Naval Academy, where his father was a longtime assistant football coach.

Belichick鈥檚 former receivers and special teams coach, Joe Judge, is now the new head coach of the Giants.

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, whom both coaches obviously know, may have set the path for Perry. Edelman was a quarterback at Kent State, but switched to receiver, becoming a key target for Tom Brady in helping the Patriots win three Super Bowls.

Edelman was even named Super Bowl MVP two years ago against the Rams. Like Edelman, Perry is 5-foot-9.

Despite Perry鈥檚 small size, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is high on his chances to make it in the NFL.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a great slot receiver; he鈥檚 got really good hands,鈥� Niumatalolo said, adding that Perry 鈥渨ould be awesome as a return guy. He鈥檚 had a ton of long runs against really good football teams.鈥�

Perry sprinted for a 52-yard touchdown run the only time he touched the ball in January鈥檚 East-West Shrine Bowl, an annual all-star game featuring prospects for the NFL draft.

鈥淚 think seeing his body of work against high-level competition should bode well for him,” Niumatalolo said. “I know teams that have met him, have come to realize he鈥檚 a special human being. With his drive and desire to succeed, I think his chances are really great.鈥�

Quarterback Roger Staubach and running back Napoleon McCallum are the two most notable Navy graduates to play in the NFL, while long snapper Joe Cardona is still on the gridiron, winning two Super Bowls with the Patriots.

Perry would like to continue his playing days before beginning his naval career as a second lieutenant.

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Festooned in red team gear from caps, to team jerseys, Washington Nationals fans enjoyed a springlike day at the ballpark, Saturday, getting autographs and posing for pictures with their baseball heroes 鈥� the World Series Champion Washington Nationals.

The team’s annual Winterfest, returned to Nationals Park for a second straight year, following previous presentations at the Washington Convention Center.

Many families with children were among the die-hard fans who turned out.

“I think it’s amazing. I’ve loved the Nats forever, there’s video of me when I was 5 years old screaming about how I love the Nats and it’s great being here,” said Bridget McNally, 13, of Leesburg, Va.

草莓传媒/Dick Uliano

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草莓传媒/Dick Uliano

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The balmy 70 degree weather in D.C. was similar to West Palm Beach, Florida, where the Nationals start Spring Training in less than five weeks. San Diego native Stephen Strasburg, who has a home in Northern Virginia, now appreciates the huge impact their victory has had on the DMV.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people who鈥檝e approached me in random places and just wanted to shake my hand and say thank you. It鈥檚 a team effort and a great accomplishment to win a World Series, but I think especially doing it in a city like this is extra special,” Strasburg said.

The last time we saw Max Scherzer, he was gutting out five innings in Game 7 against the Astros, while dealing with a stiff neck. He said he鈥檚 feeling really good right now, throwing, running and doing everything he needs to while training in Florida.

“Coming back up here, this is the reason why we play the game, to win the World Series. Getting to relive it with all the fans and all the emotions, that just gives you the motivation to go back down there and keep training,” Scherzer said.

Fans had the chance to tour the clubhouse and hit in batting cages. There were also numerous photo opportunities with players.

A long line of fans stretched along the concourse from center field to left field to pose for pictures with center fielder Victor Robles, Juan Soto, who plays left field and a large replica of the Commissioner’s Trophy.

“It was really cool to be able to take a picture with him today,” said Mark Altman, 17, a senior at Potomac Falls High School, about his photo op with Juan Soto. “Ever since he came here, I’ve been a fan of his,” Altman said.

Speaking of Juan Soto, he even took to the mound to pitch a few heaters for his younger brother, Elian Soto, who had no problem hitting them deep.

World Series champion Juan Soto took the mound to face his little brother Elian.

Not only did Elian do the Soto Shuffle…

…LITTLE BRO WENT DEEP. //

鈥� Washington Nationals (@Nationals)

Nationals players and fans said it would be nice to have 鈥淭he Z-Man鈥� return.

Ryan Zimmerman is the only player unsigned, but GM Mike Rizzo seemed to indicate that situation may be resolved soon.

鈥淚 had a great conversation with Zim. He was in my office earlier this week and we talked for about an hour and a half and love him,” he said.

Does that mean he鈥檚 going to sign him?

Rizzo adds 鈥渨e鈥檙e not going to discuss it, but someday there will be a statue with his likeness on it here in centerfield and we鈥檇 love for him to end his career here in Washington.鈥�

However, Trea Turner hopes it鈥檚 not anytime soon. He can鈥檛 fathom the team without Zimmerman.

鈥淲e lost Bryce (Harper), we lost Tony (Rendon), we lost J-Dub (Jayson Werth). Quite a few people since I鈥檝e been here that are kind of cornerstone guys that we鈥檝e moved on without which isn鈥檛 always fun. But, Zim is Mr. National, The President and all the nicknames, just a great person and a great human being. So, hopefully he signs soon. That would be great. But, sometimes it鈥檚 a business.鈥�

Concession venues were open including Ben’s Chili Bowl and La Casita Pupuseria and fans could be seen having lunch at picnic tables overlooking left field.

Saturday’s Winterfest was sold out. On Sunday, the gates to Winterfest will open at 10 a.m. for Nats Plus members and at noon for the general public. The event is scheduled to run until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

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‘Skins guard Brandon Scherff and punter Tress Way were both selected to appear in the Pro Bowl. The game is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2020.

It’s the third time Scherff has been selected for the game; however, he will be sitting it out after being placed on injured reserve on Tuesday with elbow and shoulder injuries. He will not play for the remainder of the season.

Way was the only Washington player selected as a starter on the 2020 NFC roster. Way currently leads all NFC punters in net yards and has left opposing teams inside the 20-yard line 24 times this season.

The Baltimore Ravens had a staggering 12 players selected for the Pro Bowl. They join the 2007 Dallas Cowboys and 1973 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to have 12 or more players selected to play in the Pro Bowl since 1970.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is among those selected as starters for the game.

Teammates joining Jackson in starting will be tackle Ronnie Stanley, guard Marshal Yanda, fullback Patrick Ricard, kicker Justin Tucker and long snapper Morgan Cox. This is the eighth time Yanda has been selected for the Pro Bowl.

Ravens free safety Earl Thomas has also been selected for the AFC roster, marking the seventh time he has been selected to play in a Pro Bowl.

The roster will likely shift as the game gets closer, as some players will undoubtedly have to skip the game due to injuries, while others will be bound for the Super Bowl and be unable to attend.

The New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins were the only teams not to have any players selected to play in the game.

See the full 2020 Pro Bowl roster by position below. Starters are denoted in bold.

AFC PRO BOWL ROSTER BY POSITION

OFFENSE

• Wide receiver: DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans; Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers; Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
• Tackle: Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens; Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans; Trent Brown, Oakland Raiders
• Guard: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens; Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts; David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Center: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers; Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders
• Tight end: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs; Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
• Quarterback: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens; Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
• Running back: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns; Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans; Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens
• Fullback: Patrick Ricard, Baltimore Ravens

DEFENSE

• Defensive end: Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers; Frank Clark, Kansas City Chiefs; Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Interior lineman: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers; Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs; Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
• Outside linebacker: Von Miller, Denver Broncos; T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers; Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens
• Inside linebacker: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts; Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots
• Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots; Tre’Davious White, Buffallo Bills; Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens; Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
• Free safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers; Earl Thomas, Baltimore Ravens
• Strong safety: Jamal Adams, New York Jets

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Kicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
• Long snapper: Morgan Cox, Baltimore Ravens
• Punter: Brett Kern, Tennessee Titans
• Return specialist: Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs
• Special teamer: Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

NFC PRO BOWL ROSTER BY POSITION

OFFENSE

• Wide receiver: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons; Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tackle: David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers; Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys; Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints;
• Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys; Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles; Brandon Scherff, Washington Redskins
• Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles; Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys
• Tight end: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers; Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
• Quarterback: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks; Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
• Running back: Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings; Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers; Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
• Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers

DEFENSE

• Defensive end: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints; Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
• Interior lineman: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles; Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons
• Outside linebacker: Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals; Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears; Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Inside linebacker: Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks; Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
• Cornerback: Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints; Richard Sherman, San Francisco 49ers; Darius Slay, Detroit Lions; Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
• Free safety: Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals; Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears
• Strong safety: Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Kicker: Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints
• Long snapper: Rick Lovato, Philadelphia Eagles
• Punter: Tress Way, Washington Redskins
• Return specialist: Deonte Harris, New Orleans Saints
• Special teamer: Cordarrelle Patterson, Chicago Bears

The Associated Press Contributed to this report.

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About 2,800 Nationals fans gathered at The Anthem on The Wharf in Southwest D.C. to view the premiere of the World Series documentary and have their pictures taken with The Commissioner鈥檚 Trophy.

Dressed in Nationals gear, they cheered, they booed and they laughed. And in the end, some did the Baby Shark.

Christopher from Reston, Virginia, said he attended the premiere 鈥渢o celebrate the Nats’ victory, relive all the great moments.鈥�

Justin, from Burke, grew up in the area.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to first see the Caps, then the Mystics and the Nats win finally. I鈥檓 celebrating with my friends. For a while, I was one of those believers in the D.C. Curse, so it was great to see the curse broken, and now we鈥檙e the District of Champions,鈥� he said.

The engineer of the Nationals’ championship was General Manager Mike Rizzo. He feels what it has meant to the nation’s capital, following on the heels of the Capitals’ and Mystics’ titles.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been quite a ride for the last couple of years after a real drought of winning sports here. So, I think it鈥檚 very emotional to a lot of people,鈥� Rizzo said.

鈥淚 get stopped along the street all the time to snap a photo or to sign an autograph, or someone just shaking my hand. It鈥檚 really incredible what the District has done for us. They鈥檝e really embraced this thing and it鈥檚 the greatest moment of my sports career.鈥�

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman echoed those feelings. He鈥檚 been a part of all 15 Nationals seasons, for better and worse, so he鈥檚 certainly enjoying the moment.

鈥淥bviously being here as long as I have, going through some of the bad times, it鈥檚 a special group of guys, so much fun to do it with that group and what we went through,” Zimmerman said.

“It was a hell of a year.鈥�

It has meant so much to Nationals Principal Owner Mark Lerner that he admits he鈥檚 still absorbing it all, and watches YouTube videos to believe it.

“It matches every dream I had, except the Nats didn鈥檛 clinch at home,鈥� Lerner said.

Both Lerner and Rizzo admit they get emotional when they think how important it was to win the World Series for their fathers, both in their nineties.

Lerner says clinching the National League Pennant on Ted Lerner鈥檚 94th birthday meant more to him than almost anything.

Rizzo admits it all hasn鈥檛 fully sunk in yet.

鈥淚t kind of sinks in periodically and then you go about your daily business. We have the business of the 2020 season ahead of us. We dove into it two days after the World Series,” Rizzo said.

“They don鈥檛 give you a whole lot of time on the baseball calendar to sit on your laurels. Every so often, though, when you see a commercial or see some highlights, you get a little tear in your eye.”

Nats fans will certainly get some chills when they view the World Series documentary. It includes lots of behind-the-scenes footage, different camera angles, player insight, reaction to key plays, plus great close-ups of the drama and intensity.

Some memorable moments:

• Howie Kendrick calling his homer in Game 7 鈥渁wesome.鈥�
• Sean Doolittle describing Max Scherzer鈥檚 look 鈥渁ngry鈥� before the decisive game.
• The big group hug of Stephen Strasburg after pitching a gem in Game 6 to tie the series.

The .

Before the documentary played, there was an onstage Q&A.

Zimmerman said he saw Eric Church at The Anthem last week and now knows what it feels like to be Eric Church.

No disrespect to Church, but Church will never know what it feels like to be Zimmerman — not only the face of the franchise, but now a world champion.

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I鈥檝e had a lot of history with this franchise.

I was there at the beginning, the very first Expos game on April 8, 1969. They opened against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Growing up in North Jersey, I persuaded my friend to skip school and experience the first Expos game, while also ushering in a new season for our favorite team.

Former Dodgers great Maury Wills, a D.C. native (how ironic is that), became the first batter in Expos history. With the likes of Rusty Staub and Coco Laboy, they scored four runs off Tom Seaver in five innings and went on to beat the Mets 11-10.

However, my friend and I missed an almost miraculous comeback by New York in what turned out to be the year of the Miracle Mets. We left in the ninth inning to beat the crowd to the subway, only to hear a roar as we climbed the steps beyond the center field wall. Catcher Duffy Dyer hit a three-run pinch hit homer. We watched the end of the game from the top of the steps as the Mets scored four runs and got two runners on base before their rally fell short.

Twelve years later, in 1981, the Expos made it to the postseason for the first and only time. And again, I was there.

It was early in my career as a radio sportscaster in Wilmington, Delaware. I covered a lot of Philadelphia sports. Around that time, all Philly teams were either winning championships or playing in championship games. The Phillies had claimed their first World Series the year before and were in first place when the players strike began on June 12. Major League Baseball split the season in two halves when play resumed on Aug. 10. The Phils played the second-half champs, Montreal, in the first round of the playoffs. It was the first time a Division Series had been played, and it was the only playoff series ever won by the Expos, who shocked the defending champs and their fans.

The Expos then went on to lose their only NLCS to the Dodgers, on a ninth-inning home run by Rick Monday. It took another 38 years, but that Los Angeles playoff defeat was finally avenged, as the Washington Nationals won their first playoff series on a grand slam by Howie Kendrick.

But way before that, I was back in Philadelphia when the Nationals made their 2005 debut in an 8-4 loss. However, they bounced back to win the next game 7-3, with Brad Wilkerson becoming the first Nats player to hit for the cycle.

Livan Hernandez started that first game on Apr. 4 at Citizens Bank Park, and he was also on the mound 10 days later when baseball returned to the Nation鈥檚 Capital after a 33-year absence. RFK Stadium was electric that night. President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch and the Arizona Diamondbacks played their role perfectly.

The first batter Livo faced was Craig Counsell, the current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. The first pitch was immediately taken out of play, destined for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Third baseman Vinny Castilla had a double, triple and homer, driving in four runs and the Nationals defeated the Diamondbacks 5-3. 鈥淭he Chief,鈥� Chad Cordero, got the save in the third victory of an early-season, five-game winning streak.

The first half of that first season in D.C. was magical for the Nationals, leading their division with a 50-31 record. However, they reversed that mark the second half, finishing with an even 81-81 mark. They were in the pennant race till the final weeks of the season.

Hernandez, though, felt he let the team down. On Sept. 20, he was on the mound in a 4-3 loss to the Giants. He served up an upper deck blast to Barry Bonds, in what he angrily told me was probably the longest homer he ever gave up.

Over the next 14 years, I was fortunate to witness a lot of Nationals historical moments.

On June 18, 2006, on a very hot Father鈥檚 Day, a friend and I had second row seats behind the Yankees dugout as Ryan Zimmerman delivered his first of his many career walk-off home runs.

Two years later, Zim did it again, to christen the first game at Nationals Park on March 30, 2008, as the Nationals beat the Braves 3-2.

The crowd roar at RFK was loud, but it was goose bump level on opening night at Nats Park.

Still, it reached a new level during Stephen Strasburg鈥檚 MLB debut against the Pirates on June 8, 2010. The pregame buzz felt like a playoff game. The press box was packed and Strasburg exceeded expectations with a franchise-record 14 strikeouts. Hall-of-Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez guided him through the game.

In 2012, the Nationals started having regular season success as a team. It was great to see the joy on the faces of Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, and owners Ted and Mark Lerner as they clinched their first division title on Oct. 1.

The Nationals split the first two games of the NLDS in St. Louis and faced elimination after losing game three at home. That鈥檚 when Werth provided the biggest moment in Nats history with a ninth-inning walk-off homer to tie the series 2-2.

But that ecstatic finish only made the next day鈥檚 letdown even worse.

The Nationals built an early 6-0 advantage, Zimmerman contributing with a homer, but they couldn鈥檛 hold the lead. Afterward, Werth ripped down the protective plastic in the clubhouse.听听 There would be no champagne celebration. Instead, you could hear the hollering coming from the Cardinals clubhouse.

The Nationals returned to the playoffs in 2014, but had one final regular season game to play. It turned out to be Jordan Zimmerman鈥檚 no-hitter, the first in Nats history, when Stephen Souza, Jr. made a diving catch in left-center field. Afterward, a joyous Zimmerman said he鈥檇 buy Souza whatever he wanted.

Unfortunately, Zimmerman never got to finish Game 2 of the playoff series against the Giants.听听 Drew Storen, who blew the save against the Cardinals two years earlier, couldn鈥檛 hold the lead again. Zimmerman was pulled by manager Matt Williams with two outs in the ninth after issuing his only walk. San Francisco followed with two hits to tie the score and nine innings later, in the 18^th, Brandon Belt homered off Tanner Roark and the Giants pulled out a 2-1 win for a 2-0 series lead. They finished it off in San Francisco. That 18-inning game took 6 hours, 23 minutes 鈥� postseason records in both length and time. I was a miserable night with the concession stands closed for hours, so cold that a number of people in the press box warmed their hands over the empty, heated hot dog rollers.

In 2016, the Nationals won their third division title, but again could not win a playoff series, even after leading the Dodgers 2-1 with the final game at home. Clayton Kershaw came out of the bullpen to save the decisive game.

The final game of the 2017 Division Series against the Cubs may be the craziest game I ever saw. The fifth inning featured a passed ball, a catchers鈥� interference and a hit batsmen, leading to four runs off Max Scherzer, who had come on in relief with the Nats leading 4-3. The next inning, Jayson Werth misplayed a fly ball in left for another run.

As deflating as the other playoff disappointments were, the one against Chicago was a kick to the stomach. It was the quietest clubhouse I鈥檝e ever been in. Nats players had no answers, and couldn鈥檛 believe they lost in such stunning fashion.

So, with that 0-for-4 playoff history, what could we expect this year, one in which the Nationals had to play a Wild Card Game for the first time?

Well, they weren鈥檛 daunted at all. In fact, closer Sean Doolittle said they were weirdly calm. After all, the Nats had rebounded from a slow start to their year, and just reaching the postseason was a huge accomplishment. It culminated in as satisfying a champagne celebration has they had in previous years.

Then, the oldest team in the Majors showed the importance of experience.

They rallied late to beat the Brewers in the Wild Card game.

They followed that up by winning the final two games to knock off the Dodgers, claiming their first-ever series victory against the team that had handed the franchise its first postseason loss back in 1981. In the process, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto homered in succession off Kershaw to tie the decisive Game 5.

In the Championship Series, the Nationals swept out a Cardinals team that had handed them their first postseason loss seven years earlier. Game Four started with a seven-run first inning and the clinching party was on. The crowd got a little uneasy when St. Louis came back with four to make it close, but the Nats finished it off.

They鈥檝e updated their mantra from 鈥淪tay in the Fight.鈥� Now, against the Astros, will they 鈥淔inish The Fight?鈥�

It will certainly be one.

Both teams are built on starting pitching. Combined, they have five of the Top 10 strikeout pitchers in the majors.

To complete this full-circle season, the Nationals now finish up against the team they started against, who hit their own low point just as the Nationals rose to contenders, their spring training partners. I call this the West Palm World Series.

When it鈥檚 over, after all these years, it would be nice to finally call the Washington Nationals World Series Champions.

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The Tigers trounced Alabama 44-16, handing the Crimson Tide their first loss of the season.

True freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence passed for 347 yards and three touchdowns and running back Travis Etienne scored three TD鈥檚.

Clemson set the tone early by intercepting Bama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa just 1:40 into the game and returning it for 44-yards for a touchdown.

Tua, who was second in the Heisman Trophy balloting, was intercepted twice and the Crimson Tide offense was denied three times in the red zone.

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are saying that he鈥檒l return as head coach next season.

Gruden has been on the job for five years with one playoff appearance.

Washington just finished up their second straight 7-9 season and is nine games under .500 during his tenure.

Jay Gruden has officially been told he鈥檚 back as Redskins coach for 2019, per source. This has been expectation among many for weeks.

鈥� JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS)

Numerous injuries the past two years have certainly played a part, including losing two quarterbacks in three weeks. Most recently, quarterback Alex Smith broke two bones in his leg and underwent surgery in November, and backup听Colt McCoy broke a leg in December.

Gruden has two years left on his contract, receiving an extension in 2017. It’s the first time owner Dan Snyder has given a head coach an extension.

Some changes are expected on Gruden’s staff next season. that some assistant coaches are not expected back, and team President Bruce Allen might have changes in duties.

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