Marcus Mariota’s hair is grayer now than when he entered the NFL as a highly touted prospect and a potential face of a franchise.
He believes everything he has gone through since has set him up to be ready for anything in his next opportunity with the Washington Commanders.
After signing a one-year contract Thursday, Mariota said he’s prepared to play if called upon while also serving as a mentor to the young quarterback who could be coming with the second pick in the draft.
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“Whatever this staff, whatever this team needs of me, I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities,” Mariota said on a video call with reporters.
“I’ve dealt with a lot of different things throughout my career. I’ve been a starter, won a playoff game. I’ve also been cut, I’ve also been injured, I’ve also been benched. So, I think all those experiences create value and also creates opportunities for me to build relationships with guys.”
One of those guys could be a rookie at football’s most important position. Washington is in place to select LSU’s Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels, or North Carolina’s Drake Maye if Chicago selects USC’s Caleb Williams first, as expected.
It doesn’t hurt that Mariota was the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft out of Oregon to the Tennessee Titans. Now 30 and with 90 games and 74 pro starts under his belt, he remembers what that was like and could be the perfect person to provide some perspective.
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“That expectation for you to be the quote-unquote ‘savior’ and all that is a lot,” Mariota said. “If that’s the way we go, I can provide a little bit of comfort knowing that: Just be your best version of yourself, don’t worry about everything else, don’t worry about the expectations, just go out there and try to get better every single day and the rest of it will fall into place.”
Hours after Mariota signed his contract, with a base salary of $6 million that could be worth up to $10 million, the Commanders traded 2023 starter Sam Howell to Seattle in a swap of draft picks. It’s the latest in new general manager Adam Peters’ flurry of moves to turn over the roster that may have only a dozen or so returnees next season.
New linebacker Frankie Luvu, one of many free agent signings, said he’s blessed to now be teammates with Mariota after playing against him for several years.
“Just excited to be on the same side as him,” Luvu said. “I’ve seen him grow a lot. … Just the amount he’s grown and the leadership he’s taken — guys listen to him when he steps in the room and taking control when time is on the clock.”
Mariota said he was willing to “wait and see” about possibly being the starter, which could easily be a placeholder job from Week 1 until a young QB is ready. On his fifth stop after Tennessee, Las Vegas, Atlanta and most recently Philadelphia as Jalen Hurts’ backup, he sounds at peace with whatever his role may be.
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“For all of us that are in kind of this position, you always want to be a starter,” Mariota said. “You always want to be a guy that’s leading a franchise out there. That’s why you play. That’s why you do it. But I’ll never let my own ego get in the way of what’s most important for the team.”
NOTES: The Commanders resigned defensive end Efe Obada, making him the third player back from the previous regime along with safety and 2022 All-Pro special teams player Jeremy Reaves and punt returner Jamison Crowder. … The team also added free agent linebacker Anthony Pittman.
Arbor Lodge Rarität HefeWeizen (citrusy hefeweizen), 5%. A hefeweizen style beer dry hopped with Deep Cut Cascades, Azacca, and Cashmere to provide Mandarin/grapefruit flavors below the banana esters. Great with a zest of lime or orange.
Baerlic Why Rye? (rye lager), 5%. Description to come
BearKat Cascade Berry Lager (wheat lager), 5.1%. American wheat fermented with lager yeast and a light marionberry addition on the cold side, hopped with Deep Cut Cascades.
Block 15 Devil’s Staircase (Pacific Northwest pale ale), 5.7%. Pacific Northwest pale ale featuring Crosby Deep Cut Cascade, Crosby Estate Comet, and Chinook.
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Breakside Untitled (American pilsner), 5.3%, 31 IBUs. Contemporary American pilsner with Crosby Deep Cut Cascade.
de Garde Deep Green (dry-hopped spontaneously-fermented ale), 5.5%. Barrels of spontaneously fermented wild ale aged 3-5 years, brewed with Oregon malt, raw wheat and aged Oregon hops, then dry-hopped with ‘Deep Cut’ Cascade from Crosby.
Evasion Liberty at Risk (Anchor Liberty Ale homage), 6.3%. An Anchor Liberty tribute APA/IPA with Deep Cut additions at 30 minutes, 45 minutes, whirlpool, and dry hop.
Ferment Forest Gnome IPA (Belgian IPA), 6.8%. A unique and enchanting IPA featuring Deep Cut Cascade hops and a yeast strain little-known in these parts (Imperial Gnome
Heater Allen American Zoigl (traditional American lager), 5.5%, 30 IBUs. American amber lager made with corn adjunct Oregon-grown Goschie Farms Promise malt.
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Kings and Daughters Sentinels of the Sea (IPA), 5.7%, 60 IBUs. American Style IPA featuring Deep Cut Cascade CGX, Crosby Estate Grown Chinooks, and Indie Strata.
Occidental Northwest Pilsner (hoppy pilsner), 5%. Pilsner dry-hopped with Crosby Deep Cut Cascade.
Steeplejack Homeslice McGee (WC Pale), 5.6%
West Coast pale ale with Deep Cut Cascades and Mosaic hops.
Sunriver Green Label, Deep Cut Version (American pale ale) 5.6%, 40 IBUs. Classic APA with Crosby Deep Cut Cascade T-90 and NUVO CGX, including Oregon-grown Goschie Promise malt for a clean and balanced palate with grapefruit, pine, floral, and citrus.
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Von Ebert Predicting the Past (Australian XPA), 5.3%. Aussie-style XPA with Deep Cut Cascade, Citra Cryo, and Chinook. Notes of Sweet citrus, complex floral notes, papaya, and baking spice.
Wayfinder Same Same but Different (pale mild), 4.3%. A British-style golden mild ale with Deep Cut Cascades and Crosby CGX.
Where to Find Them: Tap Takeover Events
Oregon Homegrown beers will be featured at five tap takeover events across the state, giving drinkers the chance to try multiple collaboration beers side by side:
• The BeerMongers — Portland, May 27
• Bridge & Tunnel — Astoria, May 29
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• TopWire Hop Project — Woodburn, June 6
• Bier Stein — Eugene, June 12
• River’s Place — Bend, June 16
More information at celebrateoregonbeer.com.
About Crosby Hops
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Crosby Hops is a family-owned and vertically integrated hop grower, processor, and merchant based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Sourcing from their fifth-generation farm with Estate Grown varieties and longstanding independent growers across the globe, the company provides discerning brewers access to a diverse selection of the finest hops on Earth.
About Imperial Yeast
Imperial Yeast was founded in 2014 with the goal to support brewers worldwide. Their passion for yeast and fermentation has only grown since they opened their doors in Portland, Oregon and in 2020, they opened our production facility in Philadelphia, PA to better serve East Coast customers.
About Celebrate Oregon Beer
Celebrate Oregon Beer is dedicated to establishing Oregon’s reputation as one of the world’s premier beer regions. Founded in 2024, the organization is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit. The organization has the support of the Oregon Brewers Guild and Oregon Hop Commission, and its Board of Directors is composed of brewery owners and hop growers.
Watch the sights and sounds from past Oregon State Fairs
The 160th Oregon State Fair runs from Friday, Aug. 22, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.
The Oregon State Fair has added more big names to its 2026 Columbia Bank Concert Series lineup.
The newly announced performers include country singer Nate Smith on Aug. 28, legendary surf rock group The Beach Boys on Aug. 29 and country artist Jo Dee Messina on Sept. 4.
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The lineup joins other acts previously announced, including BigXThaPlug, who performs Aug. 31, and R&B singer Black, who performs on Sept. 1.
The 2026 headliner will be comedy musician “Weird Al” Yankovic, who will close out the concert series Sept. 7 as part of his “Bigger & Weirder” 2026 tour.
Most concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Weird Al’s Labor Day performance is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Oregon State Fair said additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks that will take place during this year’s 11-day event in Salem.
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How can Oregonians purchase concert tickets?
Concert tickets are available only through the official state fair website via FunCard at https://oregon.funcardapp.com/. Fair organizers warned visitors to avoid unauthorized sellers and scam ticket websites.
Officials also reminded fairgoers that concerts are held rain or shine. Umbrellas are not allowed inside the L.B. Day Amphitheater, though ponchos and blankets are permitted.
The fair runs from Friday, Aug. 28, through Labor Day, Sept. 7, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
May 20, 2026 5:59 a.m. Updated: May 20, 2026 6:04 a.m.
Nordyke took a notable lead, particularly in Marion County, in the race to run Oregon’s capital city Tuesday.
Julie Hoy, left, has served as Salem’s mayor since 2024. Hoy is challenged by Vanessa Nordyke, a Salem city councilor and lawyer who previously worked for the Oregon Department of Justice.
Courtesy of the candidates
Salem voters are deciding who they want to lead Oregon’s capital and second-largest city.
Early returns Tuesday night show Vanessa Nordyke, a current city councilor and former lawyer at the Oregon Department of Justice, in the lead, roughly 14 percentage points ahead in Marion County and seven points ahead across the Willamette River in Polk County.
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She’s competing against incumbent Julie Hoy, a restaurant owner who previously served on the Salem City Council.
Hoy’s campaign team, after the 8 p.m. returns, told OPB “the night isn’t over,” as they waited to see where things would land.
Following the 10 p.m. updates, Nordyke said, “This campaign is proof that grassroots candidates can beat big money.”
Hoy promised voters safer neighborhoods, cleaner public spaces, more housing and homelessness services, and no new taxes without voter approval, among her campaign priorities.
Meanwhile, Nordyke promised to expand mental health services, open a sobering center, push for affordable housing options, and support library funding and youth-friendly programs.
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That’s just one race in a busy election night in the capital.
Four of Salem’s eight city council positions are up for election.
Preliminary results showed two incumbents leading, including Linda Nishioka with the largest lead of any of the council races — about 30 percentage points — against Manny Martinez for Ward 2 in central Salem.
Micki Varney was narrowly ahead, holding on against challenger Chris Cummings for Ward 8 in West Salem.
Incumbents were losing in races for two other council seats. Dave Inbody was leading against incumbent Deanna Gwyn for Ward 4 in South Salem. And for Northeast Salem’s Ward 6, Betsy Vega took a roughly six-point lead against incumbent Mai Vang.
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As for Marion County commissioners, incumbent Republican Kevin Cameron and Democrat Sara Duncan are the two candidates for Position 1.
Incumbent Republican Colm Willis and Democrat Maria Hinojos Pressey are running for Position 2.
Each ran unopposed in their party for the May primary. As reported by the Statesman Journal, a Democrat hasn’t won an election to the Marion County board since 1979.
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