Washington Commanders DT Jonathan Allen Not Interested in ‘Another Rebuild’
The Washington Commanders (4-9) were an ownership change away from being respectable, even competitive, again.
Alas, the exit of one owner for another group led by Josh Harris has not solved the on-field woes for the Commanders, and at this point, more fans are interested in the 2024 NFL Draft and free agency than they are in the last four games of the current season.
And one Washington leader, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, is drawing the line on his own involvement in the franchise’s future.
“I do want to win,” Allen said while talking with The Sports Junkies on Monday. “I’m not in the business of going through another rebuild.”
Allen made waves ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline earlier this season when he angrily expressed his frustration in an NSFW locker room conversation, and it led to some speculation the team captain may be traded midseason.
While Allen wasn’t traded by the Commanders he did see teammates Montez Sweat and Chase Young shipped out as the team decided to cut ties with the two talented defensive ends.
Now, it may be time for Allen to do some thinking about whether or not his future is tied to Washington, something he told the Junkies he’s thought about in the past.
“One thousand percent. I mean, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t,” Allen said when asked if he’s thought about leaving the franchise in the past. “I play this game to win, and I would love to win here for sure, but I want to win first and foremost…That’s always going to be at the front and center of my mind.”
Allen followed up saying he’s focused on the final four games of the season and clarified his comments are not intended as an announcement he’ll be leaving after it’s over.
It’s hard not to understand where Allen is coming from, and as he moves even deeper into his career the opportunities to experience consistent winning in the NFL are starting to thin.
And that reality, combined with the complete implosion of what was once thought to be a defense close to being the best in the league, has just about everyone involved engaged in taking hard looks at themselves and their futures.