Washington

Washington’s Redemption Highlights Big Day For Special Teams

Published

1 year ago

December 8, 2024

Press Room

Washington’s Redemption Highlights Big Day For Special Teams

The Miami Dolphins special teams were exactly that on Sunday afternoon.

They were special.

The Dolphins won the game 32-26 in no small part because of the play of the special teams. If not for four Jason Sanders field goals and a huge kickoff return by Malik Washington, the game could have turned out must differently.

This was quite a nice change for the Dolphins special teams, who have struggled more often than not this season, including during the Thanksgiving night loss at Green Bay.

It was quite the turnaround against the Jets.

Sanders’ field goals included the game-tying field goal 52-yarder with :07 left on the clock in regulation.

It was the second fourth-quarter game-winning or game-tying field goal this season for Sanders and the 10th of his career.

Sanders was in the position to tie the game because of a 45-yard kickoff return by Washington. It was the longest kickoff return for the Dolphins since 2020 when Jakeem Grant also had a 45-yard return.

Washington’s return was perhaps the biggest play of the game. It was exactly what the Dolphins needed. It also happened at a time when they needed it the most.

This was Washington’s first chance to redeem himself for a fumble he had on a punt return on Thanksgiving night in Green Bay. Washington made the most of it. He had three returns for 95 yards.

“Last week did not define him,” head coach Mike McDaniel said. “An absolutely critical return.”

After the Jets kicked a field goal to go up 26-23 with less than a minute to play, New York kicker Anders Carlson hit a line drive kickoff which bounced in front of Washington. Washington scooped up the ball and raced 45 yards to set the Dolphins up for Sanders’ late-game heroics.

Washington said he just had to be a football player in that instance and give his team a chance to win.

“It’s one of those moments where you make a split-decision and you just take it and see what happens next,” Washington said. “You be a football player.”

Washington was looking for his opportunity to make a statement in the game.

“I was hoping they put it in play, yeah,” Washington said. “I wanted to call my shot on that one and try to take it to see what we could get.”

Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Carlson missed the kickoff. The intention was to kick it deep into the end zone so it would be unreturnable. The Dolphins would then have to march the length of the field.

“Yeah, he missed it. He missed it. We’re supposed to kick that out of the end zone, we just missed the kick,” Ulbrich said. “So went into play, but at the end of the day, we got to cover what’s kicked and we didn’t cover it well enough.”

The strong special teams outing also included two tackles by Siran Neal immediately after a punt was fielded. Neal helped Jake Bailey average an impressive 42.7 net yards per punt.

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Washington

HIGHLIGHT | Lawrence Dots a Pass to Washington for a 6-Yard TD

Published

50 minutes ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

HIGHLIGHT | Lawrence Dots a Pass to Washington for a 6-Yard TD

DE Dawuane Smoot, LB Foyesade Oluokun, TE Brenton Strange, S Eric Murray, and S Antonio Johnson speak with the media after practice on Thursday ahead of the Wild Card Matchup vs. Bills.

0:00 – 2:28 – DE Dawuane Smoot

2:29 – 6:24 – LB Foyesade Oluokun

6:25 – 9:25 – TE Brenton Strange

9:26 – 11:32 – S Eric Murray

11:33 – 13:46 – S Antonio Johnson

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Washington

Iran warns Washington it will retaliate against any attack

Published

13 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Iran warns Washington it will retaliate against any attack

DUBAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Iran warned President Donald Trump on Sunday that any U.S. attack would lead to Tehran striking back against Israel and regional U.S. military bases as “legitimate targets”, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told parliament.

Israel is on high alert for the possibility of a U.S. intervention to support a nationwide protest movement in Iran, sources said.

Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

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Washington

Washington National Opera cuts ties with the Kennedy Center after longstanding partnership | CNN Politics

Published

2 days ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Washington National Opera cuts ties with the Kennedy Center after longstanding partnership | CNN Politics

The Washington National Opera on Friday announced it is parting ways with the Kennedy Center after more than a decade with the arts institution.

“Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity,” the opera said in a statement.

The decoupling marks another high-profile withdrawal since President Donald Trump and his newly installed board of trustees instituted broad thematic and cosmetic changes to the building, including renaming the facility “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”

The opera said it plans to “reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues.”

A source familiar with the dynamic told CNN the decision to part ways was made by the opera’s board and its leadership, and that the decision was not mutual.

A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said in a statement, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship. We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center.”

Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell, who was appointed by Trump’s hand-picked board, said on X, “Having an exclusive relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety.”

Grenell added, “Having an exclusive Opera was just not financially smart. And our patrons clearly wanted a refresh.”

Since taking the reins at the center, Grenell has cut existing staff, hired political allies and mandated a “break-even policy” for every performance.

The opera said the new policy was a factor in its decision to leave the center.

“The Center’s new business model requires productions to be fully funded in advance—a requirement incompatible with opera operations,” the opera said.

Francesca Zambello, the opera’s artistic director, said she is “deeply saddened to leave The Kennedy Center.”

“In the coming years, as we explore new venues and new ways of performing, WNO remains committed to its mission and artistic vision,” she said.

The New York Times first reported the opera’s departure.

Founded in 1956 as the “Opera Society of Washington,” the group has performed across the district, taking permanent residency in the Kennedy Center in 2011.

The performing arts center has been hit with a string of abrupt cancellations from artists in recent weeks including the jazz group The Cookers and New York City-based dance company Doug Varone and Dancers who canceled their performances after Trump’s name was added to the center – a living memorial for assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

The American College Theater Festival voted to suspend its relationship with the Kennedy Center, calling the affiliation “no longer viable” and citing concerns over a misalignment of the group’s values.

American banjo player Béla Fleck withdrew his upcoming performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, saying that performing at the center has become “charged and political.”

The Brentano String Quartet, who canceled their February 1 performance at the Kennedy Center, said they will “regretfully forego performing there.”

CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center on the additional cancellations.

The opera said, “The Board and management of the company wish the Center well in its own future endeavors.”

CNN’s Betsy Klein and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.

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