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Commanders hire Bob Myers. Can ex-Warriors GM help Magic Johnson turn franchise around?

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Commanders hire Bob Myers. Can ex-Warriors GM help Magic Johnson turn franchise around?

Josh Harris and his investment partners coughed up $6.05 billion to purchase the Washington Commanders last summer. The purchase price was a record for a North American sports franchise and the sale was approved by a unanimous vote of NFL owners desperate to rid their exclusive fraternity of the villainous Dan Snyder.

Harris stayed in the shadows while the Commanders stumbled to a 4-13 record and last-place finish in the NFC East. One day after the season ended, however, he pounced, firing coach Ron Rivera on Monday.

He also brought on two new advisors, one of whom seems odd at first blush but makes perfect sense upon examination: Bob Myers.

UCLA’s Bob Myers reaches for a rebound against Oregon State during a game on Feb. 2, 1996. Myers was hired Monday as an advisor to the Washington Commanders.

(Patrick Downs / Los Angeles Times)

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Yes, the same Bob Myers who as general manager built the Golden State Warriors into an NBA juggernaut. The same Bob Myers who worked as a sports agent under Arn Tellem. The same Bob Myers who played basketball at UCLA in the 1990s and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated when he lifted teammate Tyus Edney into the air after the point guard’s legendary baseline-to-baseline basket beat Missouri in the 1995 NCAA tournament.

Myers isn’t the first executive with a basketball background to have Harris’ ear — Magic Johnson is part of the Commanders’ ownership group. Clearly, Harris — who also is co-owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils — recognizes that qualities that make a coach or executive successful transcend any particular sport.

Myers and former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman will serve on a committee with Harris, Johnson and two other Commanders co-owners that will “make the best decisions for the franchise,” Harris said in a statement. Top of the agenda will be hiring a general manager and a head coach.

Myers, who is in his first year as an NBA analyst at ESPN after 12 years as Warriors general manager, is a longtime friend of Harris, who according to Bloomberg has a net worth of $8.42 billion.

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“In speaking with Josh and his team, it is clear they will do everything it takes to build out a world-class organization — one that can win on the field and make a positive mark in the [D.C., Maryland and Virginia] community,” Myers said in a statement. “This is the type of opportunity that truly inspires me.”

Myers, 48, has long recognized opportunity. He walked on to the UCLA basketball team after a chance meeting on campus with then-assistant coach Steve Lavin. Although he didn’t score a point until the last regular-season game during the championship season, Myers enjoyed the limelight along with the team’s stars, meeting President Clinton, appearing on the “Tonight” show, and parading down Main Street at Disneyland.

By his senior year he was an important cog on the team, and went on to graduate from Loyola Law School while working his way up in Tellem’s SFX agency. He moved to the Wasserman Media Group a decade later and eventually negotiated contracts worth close to $600 million.

After only one year as an assistant general manager with the Warriors, he was promoted to the top job, and by the 2014-15 season he was named NBA executive of the year. The Warriors won their first of four NBA championships under Myers that season.

Now he’ll turn his attention to the NFL, helping Harris attempt to turn around a franchise marred by Snyder’s disastrous ownership and Rivera’s poor record (26-40-1) and the team missing the playoffs for the third straight season.

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Myers should align well with Johnson, who explained why he joined the Commanders’ ownership team in an exclusive interview with The Times: “As soon as the Commanders went up for sale, I got that call from Josh. The first thing I said to him, just like I said to Mark Walter of the Dodgers, ‘Do you want to win?’ That’s my No. 1 question to everybody. I want to win. He said yes. And what I love about him is he said he wants me to have a major role.”

The head coaching search has already begun. Washington has requested permission to interview Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and Baltimore Ravens associate head coach Anthony Weaver, according to ESPN and the NFL Network.

“In my experience, championship infrastructure begins with a strong ownership group that prioritizes culture and invests in the industry’s most talented and innovative leaders,” Myers said.

No doubt Myers is one of those leaders in the eyes of Harris.

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Josh Allen reflects on growth he’s made since joining Bills and becoming expectant father

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Josh Allen reflects on growth he’s made since joining Bills and becoming expectant father

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has had a terrific 2025.

He and his wife, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, got married in June and last week he announced the two were expecting their first child together. Not to mention, he started the year being awarded the NFL MVP trophy.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Allen expressed some appreciation for how he’s grown as a person since he arrived in Buffalo in 2018 as his life took him from a small town in California to Wyoming to the NFL and on the brink of leading a championship-starved city to a Super Bowl appearance.

“Yeah, I guess it’s like the evolution of life,” he said Wednesday. “I consider this place my home. It’s where I’ve done a lot of growing up. And it’s a place that I’ll raise a family. It’s really cool.”

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As his work-life balance becomes more rigid, The Associated Press noted a curious comment he made in October during “Monday Night Football.” He was asked what Steinfeld has taught him during their relationship. He responded, “Maybe I am more than a football player.”

Allen confirmed to The Associated Press that Steinfeld’s pregnancy factored into his response.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

“Overjoyed, absolutely overjoyed,” he said, while confirming that he knew he was going to be a dad before the ESPN interview occurred.

Allen is a three-time Pro Bowler and coming off an MVP season. While he’s done more than enough to warrant talk of back-to-back MVPs, Allen shook that notion off going into Week 16.

“I’m just trying to do my job, just trying to find a way to get in the playoffs here,” he said.

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Beating the New England Patriots last week after being down 21 points was a good first step. Buffalo has had ups and downs all season long but the team seems to be hitting its stride now with four wins in their last five games.

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Buffalo will go up against the Cleveland Browns on the road on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL Week 16 picks: Rams defeat Seahawks; Broncos edge Jaguars

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NFL Week 16 picks: Rams defeat Seahawks; Broncos edge Jaguars

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Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: CBS, Paramount+.

Line: Bills by 10½. O/U: 41½.

After an amazing comeback against a really strong New England team last Sunday, the Bills are emboldened and Josh Allen is on an MVP pace. Cleveland relies on its stout defense, but that unit didn’t show up in Week 15 against Chicago, surrendering 31 points. Buffalo, which is 7-2 outside the division, wins this going away.

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Pick: Bills 27, Browns 16

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Heisman Trophy voter blasts Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia for F-bomb remark in fiery column: ‘Punk move’

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Heisman Trophy voter blasts Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia for F-bomb remark in fiery column: ‘Punk move’

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One Heisman Trophy voter isn’t staying silent after seeing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s message about finishing second over the weekend to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News, who has a Heisman vote, wrote a piece this week about Pavia saying “F— all the voters” after finishing a distant second behind Mendoza. Pavia wrote it in the caption of an Instagram story post with a picture of his Commodores teammates.

While Pavia apologized for his initial response to the loss in New York City, Goodbread wasn’t impressed by what Pavia had to say.

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Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy before the 2025 Heisman Trophy presentation at Marriott Marquis Hotel Dec. 13, 2025, in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

“He’s a big boy now,” Goodbread wrote in his column. “Old enough to have more than one college degree. Old enough to beat the NCAA in court to gain extra eligibility, and old enough to make the pile of NIL money that came with that. Old enough to know better. And old enough to handle some criticism.

“It was a punk move, Diego. This voter wasn’t sitting right next to Mendoza Saturday night, but my congrats for him are at least genuine.”

Goodbread added that Pavia’s behavior was “jackassery,” saying, “After 6 years in college, you’d think Pavia would’ve signed up for at least one course in humility by now.”

DIEGO PAVIA KNOWS EXPLICIT OUTBURST AGAINST HEISMAN VOTERS WAS ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ VANDERBILT AD SAYS

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Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.

The Vanderbilt athletic director released a statement on Monday after Pavia’s comment.

“Diego knows his actions were unacceptable, and he has apologized,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean Monday. “I know he is contrite and regrets the hurt he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.

“We believe in growth and accountability, and we will continue to support Diego as he learns from this moment.”

Pavia later apologized for his comments on X.

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Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” he wrote in a statement. “I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry.

“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as the success that Jeremiyah [Love] and Julian [Sayin] had this season. I’ve been doubted my whole life,” he wrote.

“Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because Ive learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them — I am grateful for them. — and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team one more time in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”

Pavia, playing in his second season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 yards passing and nine rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.

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Pavia’s reaction to the voting results wasn’t much of a shock, though. He has always been self-confident to the point he kept telling voters to send him to New York City because he felt he deserved the Heisman.

Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws to an open teammate against South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 9, 2024. (Imagn)

“The Heisman Trophy winner goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I believe that to be myself. You check the numbers, and especially — there’s two things that don’t lie to you: Numbers and tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young. You go check that out. I feel like I’m undoubtedly the best player in college football.”

Vanderbilt had a 10-2 record on the year, ranking No. 14 nationally at the end of the regular season.

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