The Washington Commanders announced a pair of roster moves before the start of today’s practice. It was reported yesterday that the team would be hosting WR Martavis Bryant for a visit, his second of the offseason. Bryant was officially signed today, and kicker Ramiz Ahmed was released in the corresponding roster move. Dan Quinn talked about coaching against Bryant last season when he was on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. He said he knows what the he’s capable of, and Bryant’s in great shape.

Bryant hasn’t played in the NFL since 2018 as he dealt with multiple suspensions for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being picked in the 4th round of the 2014 draft. He was suspended for the 2016, but was reinstated the following season. He spent another season in Pittsburgh, before getting traded to the Raiders. Bryant played in 8 games before going to injured reserve with a knee injury. Then more suspensions started. His post-NFL career included signing with the CFL(2021), Indoor Football League(2021), and Fan Controlled Football(2022). He played for the XFL’s Vegas Vipers last year, appearing in 8 games. Bryant finally returned to the NFL last season, signing with the Dallas Cowboys after he was reinstated. He wasn’t activated for any games, but apparently caught Dan Quinn’s eye in practice.

Quinn told reporters yesterday that the wide receivers are right in the middle of the competition. Jahan Dotson played the most WR snaps vs the Jets, and reporters wanted to know what that meant for the former 1st round picks status on the depth chart. Dyami Brown has been having a good camp, and caught Jayden Daniels’ highlight reel, 42-yard pass. Washington also drafted Luke McCaffrey and has a number of young receivers fighting for a roster spot. Bryant has been out of the league for a long time, and is a longshot to bust through the bottom of the depth chart.

The Washington Commanders have had four kickers under contract this year, and none of them will likely be with the team when the season starts. The new regime moved on from Joey Slye, replacing him with Brandon McManus. That plan fell apart when sexual assault lawsuit led to his release. Ramiz Ahmed was signed to have a kicker on the roster during offseason workouts, and he’s been on the roster until today. Riley Patterson was claimed off of waivers almost two weeks ago, and he has been competing with Ahmed in camp and during the preseason opener against the Jets.

Patterson doinked his only field goal attempt from 39 yards, while Ahmed made his 40-yard attempt. Both players didn’t look good in practice yesterday, but Patterson has won the competition. Washington is expected to still be looking for their next kicker, and there are several teams that have multiple kickers on their roster. Washington is #2 on the waiver wire, and should be able to claim their choice of released kickers before the season starts.

ST. GEORGE, Utah — While a lot of Utah’s youngsters might have still slept in Monday morning, it was the first day of school in the St. George area.

Washington County schools were the first in the state to go back Monday morning

 As the sun started to rise above Santa Clara’s Lava Ridge Intermediate School Monday morning, there was a sense of calm. Tom Gubler started his 30th year as a teacher, raising the Stars and Stripes.

There was anticipation of the day to come.

“We want all kids students to succeed and we’re … trying to prepare and hope that we can make a difference in each child’s life that will last them a lifetime,” said Gubler, a Utah history teacher at the school. “So there’s anticipation, nervousness — ‘Am I doing the right thing, going to be able to reach each child?’”

Seemingly moments after the calm, chaos ensued.

With a theme to touch gold, Lava Ridge Principal Launa Williams led a welcome to each returning and new student with signs and cheers from their classmates worthy of a returning Olympic champion.

“When we survey the kids, the one thing that they’re looking forward to is being with their friends,” Williams said. “So we want to create opportunities so that they get to spend time with their friends and to get to know others and have that support from their peers.”

If there’s one thing all of the students shared as they tried to navigate to their new classrooms, it was the anticipation of what was to come. One such case was sixth-grader Jason, who is making the transition from elementary school to the next level.

“We have to walk around in elementary,” Jason said. “We’re just one big class and they teach us every subject one teacher.”

The anticipation was felt by the parents, like Brielle Broadhead who has four kids in four different schools.

“They were up extremely early because they’re so excited,” she said.

A mile and a half north at Red Mountain Elementary in Ivins, the theme of excitement continued as the students received red-carpet treatment.

“Personally, my favorite part is seeing the kids after they’ve been gone for summer, so just seeing all their faces again. They’re so excited to be here,” Red Mountain Principal Jennifer Leavitt said. “It’s the one day where everybody’s excited to be here on the first day of school.”

Command Sgt. Major Veronica E. Knapp has been relieved as the senior enlisted leader of the sprawling military task force responsible for defense and day-to-day military operations in Washington D.C. following an investigation, an Army spokesman said. Knapp made news in 2021 as the first woman named Command Sgt. Major of the 101st Airborne Division. She was in a similar role for the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/United States Army Military District of Washington, or JTF-NCR/USAMDW.

Knapp was relieved on Aug. 8 as result of the Army 15-6 investigation “due to a loss of trust and confidence in her leadership,” said Bernhard “Lash” Lashleyleidner, a JTF-NCR/USAMDW spokesman. No further information about exactly why Knapp was relieved or what the investigation found was immediately available. All military branches nearly always use the phrase “loss of confidence” when leaders are relieved rather that specify wide range of reasons from personal off-duty conduct mistakes

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The JTF-NCR/USAMDW’ is a sprawling military organization established after the 9/11 attacks as a central hub for defense and day-to-day military operations around Washington D.C. Its leaders — who are traditionally an Army two-star general as the overall commander and Navy admiral as their deputy — oversee military units from every branch, several installations and civilian defense agencies whose duties range from ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetary to responding to emergencies with military police and technical rescue teams to establishing mobile command posts for major D.C. events or emergencies.

Knapp was the senior enlisted advisor on the JTF-NCR/USAMDW command staff. Sergeant Major Eberhard G. Nordman, the JTF-NCR/USAMDW’s provost marshal, has been named as her acting replacement.

Knapp enlisted in the Army in 2000 and has deployed to Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Romania, according to her official biography, which has been taken down from the JTF-NCR/USAMDW website. She is a graduate of the Drill Sergeant Academy, and she became the first woman to serve as command sergeant major of an Army division in 2021 when she assumed the role of senior enlisted leader for the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Her military awards include two Legions of Merit, nine Army Achievement Medals, seven Army Good Conduct Medals, five Army Commendation Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO-ISAF Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

CORRECTION: 08/12/2024: An earlier version of this story inaccurately reported that Knapp had received seven National Defense Service Medals.

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