Doc Walker and Lynnell Willingham were in for Grant & Danny on Friday, Doc got to chat with one of his former brothers, ex-Redskins fullback Mike Sellers, who called in to talk Commanders.
And it was an emotional connection when the two discussed the change in ownership from Dan Snyder to Josh Harris, the former being the man who bought the team in the middle of Sellers’ first three-season stint in DC.
“Since the change, there is a vibe everywhere, and seeing everyone today…it took me to a whole different level,” Doc said. “We’ve had other homecomings, but this is different; we’re turning a page on the history of the club.”
“You have Coach Bieniemy – I played against him, and have nithing but the utmost respect for him and what they did in KC. He will have this offense where it needs to be,” Sellers replied. “When it comes to bringing back the richness of the Redskins, that cloud is gone. We didn’t speak any names, but we felt the cloud that hovered over us all these years is gone. I played under that guy and I’m fortunate I lasted as long as I did – but it’s a new day and age.”
Sellers hadn’t been back since 2017, saying he didn’t feel alumni were appreciated the way they should’ve been, and that’s why many have chosen to stay away.
“Nobody wanted to be around that negativity and type of atmosphere – but one of the main reasons I came back it because it changed,” Sellers said, before breaking down on air: “I sacrificed a lot. I played through a death of my child because I owed it to the team, but you never got that reciprocation back from ownership. I know we had a job, but at the end of the day, we never felt appreciated. Now, the tide has turned and he’s gone, and I feel like a weight has been lifted.”
Doc got to see the excitement in Sellers and all the other fellow DC alumni at camp this week, and Sellers is hopeful the alumni relations are back on the right path.
“The old Redskins way, you felt it start to come back,” Sellers said. “We need to get our alumni back, and take care of our alumni like other teams do. Nobody wants to come back around, but now that we have new management, I hope it’s taken care of.”
Lynnell even felt the difference around the facility, even though he’s just a fan and radio host and not an alumni…but it literally is all just from the ownership change.
“It’s a whole different atmosphere just from one change…that’s crazy!” Sellers said. “It was awesome being there today! It was great. I haven’t been back since 2017, and when I came back today, it was different, especially with the people at Commanders Park. If there’s anything I can do to hep brin back alumni and help these young cats any way I can, that’s what I will do. It’s time to guide these guys so they can go out and win another championship.
Actions speak louder than words, and that’s what’s going to bring the people back.”
Lynnell agreed, explaining how the addition of bleachers and event staff and other small improvements even made him “feel a type of energy I’ve never felt around this team.”
“The fan interaction, that’s a big part of it. Back in the day, they had just the little string fence, and I thought that was a little more personable,” Sellers said. “The way it was set up, it was beautiful and it was flowing. And with the people we have here, we have a great chance…I haven’t been this excited in a long time, because there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
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