An unusual article appeared on the website of “The Athletic” on Monday morning. The piece, which follows a tabloid format, supposedly discusses the hiring of Dan Quinn by the Washington Commanders after Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, withdrew from consideration. However, the true focus of the article seems to be an attack on Johnson and his decision to walk away from the Commanders. The article, disguised as journalism but filled with quotes from anonymous sources, reads more like a piece crafted by the Commanders’ public relations team.
Many in the league believed that Johnson was the top choice for the Commanders’ head coaching position, and their actions supported this belief. If they had intended to hire Dan Quinn from the start, they could have done so much earlier.
Instead, the Commanders waited until after Championship Sunday, when both Johnson and former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald were coaching their respective teams. Macdonald ultimately accepted an offer from the Seattle Seahawks, while Johnson chose to stay in Detroit.
Immediately after Johnson’s decision, the Washington Commanders’ PR team went into action. Adam Schefter posted on X that Johnson had “spooked some teams” with his demands. It is highly likely that these “sources” were affiliated with the Washington organization, as they began a PR campaign to portray Johnson as the one who missed out, rather than the other way around.
Despite their claim of being “spooked,” the Commanders continued with the hiring process. They even chartered a private jet to fly to Detroit and meet with Johnson. It is reasonable to assume that they were aware of his asking price by that point. If they were genuinely concerned, why would they proceed?
But the Commanders did not stop there in their efforts to tarnish Johnson’s reputation after he rejected their advances. “The Athletic” entered the picture with an article titled “How the Commanders landed on Dan Quinn amid twists, turns, and ‘outrageous’ actions.” The article, authored by Ben Standig with contributions from Dianna Russini, presents the Commanders’ side of the story and is clearly unfavorable towards Johnson.
It is worth noting that Russini has a history with the Washington organization, having previously worked as a sports reporter in Washington, D.C. Her reporting often portrays the organization in a positive light.
Now, let’s examine some of the claims made in the article. At first, it seems to deliver what the headline promises, delving into the Commanders’ process of hiring their new head coach and general manager. However, it takes a turn. The author suggests that all the leaked information was merely “gossip” and implies that Johnson and his team were responsible for the leaks. This is strike one against Johnson, according to an anonymous source.
The story goes on to claim that Johnson texted the Commanders while they were en route to Detroit, stating that he was no longer interested. According to another source, a “high-ranking executive with another team,” this was considered a “poor choice.” A “league source familiar with the situation” even goes so far as to say, “Simply outrageous. That’s not how you conduct business. It is how you ruin your reputation.”
Let’s assume for a moment that Johnson did indeed send the text while the Commanders were on their way to Detroit. It could be seen as poor practice. However, some context is necessary. Johnson’s Detroit Lions had just lost in the NFC Championship the night before, and the meeting with the Commanders was scheduled for Tuesday. Presumably, the Commanders planned to fly in on Monday to prepare for the meeting. When was Johnson supposed to inform them of his decision? Right after the NFC Championship game ended?
Considering the human aspect, Johnson likely flew back with the team late Sunday night and didn’t get to bed until the early hours of Monday morning. He probably took some time to speak with his family and contemplate this potentially life-altering decision. Can we really blame him? I don’t think so.
This brings us back to the question: What should Johnson have done? Should he have kept the meeting and informed the team then? Would it have been better for them to fly all the way to Detroit, book hotel rooms, prepare for a meeting, only to find out that Johnson had changed his mind? That would have been far worse.
Essentially, Johnson was in a lose-lose situation regardless of his decision. However, “The Athletic” fails to present this perspective. Instead, the article states, “Whatever the theory, league sources, whether they cared about Washington’s plight or not, shared one unified sentiment: The Commanders got screwed.”
After smearing Johnson, the article shifts its focus back to Dan Quinn. It is astonishing to read the paragraph that follows in this story. The article states, “The Commanders, coming off a 4-13 campaign with the league’s worst defense, snagged — from a loathed rival — the coordinator who directed a unit that led the NFL in takeaways twice and ranked top-seven in points allowed in each of Quinn’s three seasons. Quinn gets dinged as a ‘retread’ hire even though Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, and Andy Reid — all recent Super Bowl champions — fall into that bucket.”
Hold on a minute. At this point, it becomes clear that what I’m reading is nothing more than PR spin by the Commanders. The article goes too far in giving Dan Quinn credit for the Cowboys’ ability to create turnovers. It is absurd to compare him to the likes of Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, and Andy Reid. This is simply unreasonable.
The article continues with more glowing quotes about Quinn, emphasizing that the Commanders made an excellent choice for their head coach, even though he was not their first choice.
Eventually, the article returns to Johnson and provides one positive quote from their “sources.” An NFC front-office executive states, “He got out of that San Francisco loss, having been walloped emotionally. Think about what he went through. To consider where he wanted to (work and live) at that exact moment… if he was self-aware to make the right decision for him, I commend him.”
This quote could have been placed higher in the article, perhaps alongside the negative remarks that labeled him “outrageous” and accused him of ruining his reputation. Instead, it is buried near the end.
Furthermore, the authors couldn’t resist bashing Johnson once again, claiming that he performed poorly in interviews and suggesting that he is not ready to be a head coach because he prefers solitude. Of course, they also bring up his compensation demands.
In essence, “The Athletic” claims to be a sports journalism outlet, but this article fails to meet the standards of journalism. It lacks balance and objectivity. Instead, it serves as a platform for the Commanders’ PR agenda. If the author was aiming for a position in the Washington Commanders’ PR department, then he has succeeded. It is unlikely that anyone else could have written a more favorable piece for the organization.