Nick Gates came back from a near-career ending leg injury suffered with the Giants in 2021 and looks to be the Commanders’ starting center in 2023.
He and his teammates resume OTAs this week, so he’s got to get used to the DC traffic heading out to Commanders Park in Ashburn – and while you’d think he’d be used to it coming from New York, the reality is not so much.
“There were like two or three guys that lived in the City, it was too much traffic to go back and forth,” Gates said. “Most guys lived in north Jersey; I lived right in Lyndhurst, five minutes away from the facility, and I could see it from my balcony.”
Gates came to DC because “they always had a good team on paper and played (the Giants) tough,” but they could have four new starters on the offensive line next to Charles Leno Jr., so there’s a lot of work to be done.
“We’re all starting to settle in with each other and figure things out, and today was one of our better practices,” Gates said. “It takes a while for everyone to get used to each other, but it’s going good so far. It’s a good young team and I’m excited to get going and playing with these guys.”
New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is breaking in a new offense and doing so slowly, much more so than Gates saw in New York, but “he brings a great energy and I can’t wait to play for him.”
And, he’s enjoying being on the other side of the line once again from Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and the rest of the Commanders defensive line he had to block in real games for years.
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“I’ve gone against these guys for a few years and they were always tough – the front four was always our main focus, and not letting them wreck games,” Gates said. “I always liked playing Washington because they have great moves, work hard, and aren’t lazy. Payne has a plethora of moves and attacks your weaknesses, he always has a good plan.”
And, he’s loving playing for Ron Rivera so far.
“He’s a good coach; everyone around the building likes him and you don’t have to walk on eggshells around him – he’s just a genuine person who wonders how you are as a person, not just as a football player and chess piece,” Gates said. “And, he hires a lot of guys who have played in the NFL, which I haven’t been around; a lot of coaches I had maybe got to college if they were lucky, but it’s a different atmosphere being around people who understand what you’ve gone through. When it’s tough times and you’re around them, they understand it’s hard and we understand we have to turn it on.”
As always, Grant & Danny also got to know Nick Gates the man – he’s a big sushi guy, one of several NFL players from Bishop Gorman HS in Vegas, and wanted to be an MLB pitcher? He also survived a bad combine and a rough college career at Nebraska to become an NFL starter – take a listen to it all above!
Follow Grant & Danny on Twitter: @granthpaulsen & @funnydanny
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