Washington Commanders

It's the most nerve-wracking time of the year for NFL coaches on the hot seat -- Black Monday -- and some guys are already without a job ... including Ron Rivera and Arthur Smith.

The Commanders made their announcement just minutes ago ... saying after four seasons with the franchise, it was time to move on from Riverboat Ron.

Rivera went 26-40-1 during his time on the sidelines ... including one playoff appearance in 2020 after winning the NFC East. He won Coach of the Year honors that same season.

During that period, Rivera fought a bout with squamous cell carcinoma, but did not miss a single game while receiving treatment.

The Commanders will be a sexy option for coaches -- they have the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft ... and new owners Josh Harris and Magic Johnson are eager to turn the franchise around.

The team has hired former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers to help with its coaching search, according to reports.

As for Smith, the Atlanta Falcons decided to give him the ax on Sunday ... after going 7-10 each of the past three seasons.

Falcons head coach Arthur Blank addressed the move in a statement ... saying, "Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good."

"We have profound respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years. He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations."

"After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position."

Jonathan Allen went off following yet another Commanders loss on Sunday ... and, warning, the language he used to express his displeasure with the defeat is very NSFW.

The Washington star unloaded to a gaggle of reporters just minutes after his team fell, 14-7, to the Giants at MetLife Stadium ... fuming as his team dropped to 3-4 on the year.

"They whooped our ass," the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle said. "Plain and simple. Gotta be better."

Then, he let the F-bombs fly after a media member asked him if it gets frustrating.

"F*** yes it does," Allen said. "I'm f***ing tired of this s***. I’m f***ing tired of this bulls***. It’s been seven f***ing years of the same s***. I’m tired of this s***!"

Allen concluded his expletive-filled rant by saying his team needs to get its mind right moving forward and get ready for another NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Magic Johnson's newest purchase is leaving him quite unhappy -- at least, that was the case on Thursday night -- 'cause after the Commanders got dusted by the Bears, he laid into them on his X page.

The Lakers legend -- who helped Josh Harris purchase the Washington Football Team for $6 billion earlier this summer -- sounded off just minutes after his new squad lost 40-20 ... making it clear he's looking for more from his guys going forward.

"Tonight the Commanders played with no intensity or fire," he said bluntly.

The Commanders did look lifeless during the game's first 30 minutes ... allowing Chicago stars Justin Fields and D.J. Moore to run wild all over them in the first half.

And, while they did fight back a bit to make things somewhat interesting in the second half, they still lost by 20 -- something Magic's obviously fuming over.

"We didn't compete in the first half and got down 27-3 heading into halftime," said Magic, who watched the game from a FedExField luxury box Thursday night. "It was too big of a hole to climb out of and that is why we ended up losing 40-20."

The night at least wasn't all sadness for Magic ... he got to enjoy some pregame giggles with Amazon's "Thursday Night Football" crew, signing a bunch of gear for superfan Ryan Fitzpatrick on the pregame show.

A female Commanders fan socked another woman in the back of the head during a tense scuffle at FedEx Field on Sunday ... and the wild moment was all captured on video.

The tussle went down at some point during Washington's tilt with the Arizona Cardinals ... when a group of people wearing Commanders' gear got so livid with each other, things turned physical.

It's unclear what sparked the initial commotion -- but as the individuals were arguing, one woman in a black Jahan Dotson jersey cocked back her fist and threw it into another woman.

The blow rattled the Commanders fan ... and she held the back of her head in pain as others stepped in to separate the two.

Fortunately, no other punches were thrown ... and cooler heads prevailed amongst the combatants.

It's unclear if any arrests were made ... but at least all parties got to go home somewhat happy despite it all -- as the Commanders pulled out the victory, 20-16.

Una aficionada de los Commanders golpeó a otra mujer en la nuca durante una tensa pelea en el FedEx Field el domingo. El salvaje momento quedó grabado en vídeo.

La pelea se produjo durante el partido entre Washington y los Arizona Cardinals, cuando un grupo de personas que llevaban la camiseta de los Commanders se enfadaron tanto que las cosas se pusieron feas.

No está claro cual es el motivo que provocó la conmoción inicial, pero mientras los individuos discutían, una mujer con una camiseta negra de Jahan Dotson levantó el puño y golpeó a otra mujer.

El golpe sacudió a la hincha de los Commanders. La mujer, adolorida, puso sus manos sobre la parte posterior de su cabeza mientras otros intervenían para separarlas.

Afortunadamente no hubo más puñetazos y prevaleció la calma entre los apasionados fans.

Former NFL star Fred Smoot was arrested in Virginia on Thursday, TMZ Sports has learned.

According to jail records, the ex-Washington Commanders cornerback was taken into custody at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center at 10:58 AM ... and as of Friday morning, he remained behind bars.

A spokesperson for Loudoun County Sheriff's Office tells us ... he was booked misdemeanor failure to comply with support obligation.

Further details surrounding the arrest were not made available.

Smoot -- a second-round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft -- is no stranger to trouble with the law ... he's been arrested multiple times over the years, including back in 2019 when he multiple cops put him in cuffs after he allegedly didn't appear in court over minor traffic violations.

Smoot was also famously involved in the 2005 Minnesota Vikings' "Love Boat" scandal ... where a bunch of players were accused of hiring prostitutes for a massive sex party on water. He later pled guilty to disorderly conduct and being a public nuisance on a watercraft stemming from the incident.

If Magic Johnson does, indeed, change the Commanders moniker in Washington ... former star running back Brian Mitchell tells TMZ Sports he's sure fans would be in favor of it.

Magic -- who was part of a group that officially bought the D.C. franchise from Dan Snyder for $6.05 billion this week -- floated the idea of a name swap during an interview shortly after the deal went through.

"Everything is on the table," the NBA legend told TODAY's Craig Melvin.

When we spoke with Mitchell -- who played in Washington for 10 years -- about it all on Friday ... he made it clear he doesn't believe there would be many Washington fans who would be opposed.

"I think people had started to like the Washington Football Team [name]," the former All-Pro said. "Then you change it to a name that I don't think many, many people voted on or cared for. And, so, if it wanted to change, I don't think you'd have a lot of uproar with people."

Mitchell, though, did caution that it might be a lot for some fans to swallow. After all, it would be the fourth name the team's had since 2020.

Then again, Mitchell made it clear ... "you spend six billion, you get the right to name it whatever you want to name it!"

Magic Johnson's officially the new owner of the Washington Commanders ... and one of his first orders of business might very well be to change the team's name.

The NBA legend -- who was part of a group led by Josh Harris that formally purchased D.C.'s NFL franchise for $6.05 billion this week -- left the door open for a moniker switch when he was asked about the possibility during a sit-down interview with TODAY's Craig Melvin this week.

"Everything is on the table, right?" Johnson said. "Especially after this year. We'll see where we are with the name."

Washington initially changed its longtime moniker back in 2020 ... after Native American groups and others found it offensive. They swapped to the "Washington Football Team" for two seasons ... before eventually landing on the Washington Commanders in 2022.

But, the new name hasn't been loved by many fans ... and the accompanying uniforms and logos haven't been all that inspiring for the fanbase either.

Johnson, though, made it clear he, Harris and the rest of the new owners have yet to make a decision either way.

"I can't say that right now," he said.

The NFL has just approved the sale of the Washington Commanders ... meaning Dan Snyder's polarizing run as a league owner is now officially over.

Roger Goodell said all of The Shield's teams unanimously rubber-stamped the deal on Thursday afternoon ... making Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris, as well his partners, Magic Johnson and David Blitzer, D.C.'s new honchos.

"Congratulations to Josh Harris and his impressive group of partners," Goodell said in announcing the move. "Josh will be a great addition to the NFL. He has a remarkable record in business, sports, and in his communities."

"The diverse group that Josh has put together is outstanding for its business acumen and strong Washington ties and we welcome them to the NFL as well."

Harris and his team initially struck a deal with Snyder to buy the Commanders for $6.05 billion back in April ... making it the most expensive franchise purchase in sports history.

The move will inspire plenty of jubilation for Commanders fans ... as Snyder's 24-year tenure was mired in losses on the field -- and plenty of controversy off of it.

You'll recall, Snyder's team was fined $10 million back in July 2021 ... after the NFL had investigated claims that several high-ranking figures within the franchise sexually harassed and verbally abused female employees regularly.

On Thursday, the NFL also said Snyder will be forced to pay $60 million ... after independent investigator Mary Jo White found he had been inappropriate with one of Washington's former cheerleaders during a work-related dinner.

White also said Thursday that Snyder's team "appears to have improperly shielded" millions of dollars in revenue from the rest of the NFL -- things Goodell called unacceptable.

"The conduct substantiated in Ms. White's findings has no place in the NFL," Goodell said.

Snyder officially finishes his time as an NFL owner with a 164-220-2 record. The team only won two playoff games under his leadership.

It's official -- Dan Snyder is selling the Washington Commanders ... and he's handing over the reins to Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris, NBA legend Magic Johnson and David Blitzer.

Both sides confirmed the move on Friday ... announcing they have entered a purchase and sale agreement.

As previously reported, the final price tag for the franchise was $6.05 billion -- shattering the record for an American franchise sale.

All NFL owners will now have to vote on the transaction ... but it's expected to be approved without issue.

Dan and Tanya Snyder said they are both "very pleased" with the outcome ... especially considering Harris is from the area.

"We look forward to the prompt completion of this transaction and to rooting for Josh and the team in the coming years," the Snyders said in a statement.

Magic -- who also has ownership in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sparks and LAFC, also addressed the big move ... saying, "I could not be more excited to be a partner in the proposed new ownership group for the Washington Commanders."

"Josh Harris has assembled an amazing group who share a commitment to not only doing great things on the field but to making a real impact in the DMV community. I’m so excited to get to work on executing our vision for the Commanders and our loyal fanbase!"

Detroit Lions star Jameson Williams -- the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft -- has just been suspended six games ... after the NFL says he violated its gambling policy.

The exact allegations against the former Univ. of Alabama receiver are unclear -- though according to the Lions, one of Williams' violations included betting from an NFL facility on non-NFL games.

Several other players were hit with punishments for gambling policy violations on Friday as well, including receiver Quintez Cephus, defensive back C.J. Moore and wideout Stanley Berryhill, who were all teammates with Williams in 2022.

Cephus and Moore received indefinite bans and were cut by the Lions immediately afterward. Berryhill received a six-game suspension -- though he and Williams are still slated to remain on Detroit's roster.

"As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league's gambling policy," Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said in a statement Friday. "These players exhibited decision making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules."

"We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately. We are disappointed by the decision making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward."

Washington Commanders defensive lineman Shaka Toney was also suspended indefinitely on Friday for violating the NFL's gambling policy, the league announced.

When the NFL revealed its rulings ... officials added their probe "uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way."

Daniel Snyder needed to sell the Commanders ... so says the team's former star running back Brian Mitchell, who tells us former Washington players, him included, are thrilled the embroiled owner is finally selling the organization.

"When Dan [Snyder] came along, he had this mindset where, yeah, he needed us when he needed us, but he didn't want to have us around a lot," Brian, who was at a "Bye Dan" event celebrating the sale, told Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1).

Even more so than the former players, Mitchell, a former All-Pro, says Commanders fans wanted Synder out, adding he hasn't heard a single person voice support for the 58-year-old owner, which speaks volumes to how people feel about him.

"I think a lot of fans are happy because they just wanted to get rid of him," Mitchell said. "You get to a point where you just don't think you can have success with a certain person, and it got to that point."

The Super Bowl champion said Washington went from a storied franchise to the laughing stock of the NFL under Snyder's tutelage and felt "something needed to change" for the fans and players to have some pride in the team again.

Mitchell -- who spent ten seasons with Washington -- recalled how the organization painted him to be a problem child and never hesitated to let him go ... a standard BM feels should also be applied to ownership.

Of course, DS' reign was plagued by scandal ... that got so bad Congress opened an investigation into the inner workings of the org.

Synder purchased the franchise in 1999 (for less than $800 mil), but after 24 years and a massive $6.05 billion bid from an ownership group featuring NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, 76ers owner Josh Harris, and billionaire Mitchell Rales, Snyder's tenure is coming to an end.

It's the Magic Hour in the DMV -- Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder has reportedly agreed to sell his team to Lakers legend Magic Johnson and Sixers owner Josh Harris ... and the final price tag is a whopping $6 billion!!

The two sides reached an agreement on Thursday ... with Sportico reporting Harris and Johnson's group, which also includes billionaire Mitchell Rales, was able to seal the deal.

Snyder -- who bought the team in 1999 for $750 million -- hired Bank of America to explore a potential sale back in November ... which garnered interest from Jeff Bezos and Jay-Z.

Snyder's tenure as owner of the Commanders was plagued by several controversies, especially over the last few years. In 2020, 15 former employees claimed they were sexually harassed and/or verbally abused in the workplace.

Things were allegedly so bad, Congress stepped in, with several former Commanders staffers testifying on Capitol Hill.

Once the sale is final, it will be the biggest transaction in U.S. sports history -- passing the Denver Broncos franchise, which sold to Walmart billionaire Rob Walton for $4.6 billion in 2022.

The sale adds to Magic's growing collection of professional sports teams in which he has an ownership stake -- including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks and LAFC.

Harris -- who made his fortune in finance -- also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.

If the sale goes through, there will be plenty of Commanders fans thrilled with the new era for the franchise.

We reached out to the NFL regarding the report ... which declined to comment.

Jeff Bezos won't be the new owner of the Washington Commanders ... the Amazon founder reportedly won't bid on the NFL franchise despite months of interest, and a secretive meeting with Jay-Z.

According to Puck News, Bezos, whose net worth is $120 billion (according to Forbes), is no longer planning to buy Dan Snyder's team ... and barring something changing, JB won't be the team's new owner.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Bezos and Jay-Z met for a secret meeting in L.A. in November, where we're told they discussed a potential partnership.

Although it won't be Bezos, it's still possible D.C. will have a famous owner. As we previously reported, Magic Johnson is part of a group with 76ers owner Josh Harris and billionaire Mitchell Rales. They reportedly submitted a $6 billion bid to buy the team.

The Lakers Hall of Famer confirmed the news on an episode of "Today" ... saying he's excited the bid is in and hopes Snyder makes the right decision.

Magic is no stranger to owning a team ... the five-time NBA champion has a stake in the LA Dodgers, Sparks, and LAFC, the pro soccer team.

Magic Johnson is finally opening up on his plans to buy the Washington Commanders ... saying he's hoping his group is the big winner, 'cause it's the last missing piece to his professional team portfolio.

The NBA legend -- grouped with 76ers owner Josh Harris and billionaire Mitchell Rales -- officially submitted a $6 billion bid to buy the franchise from Dan Snyder last week ... and during an appearance on Tuesday's episode of "Today," he explained how he felt about the impending result.

"Yes, our bid is in," Magic said. "We hope that we win. We don't know what's going to happen."

"We'll see what happens with Mr. Snyder making that decision, but we're excited about it."

Johnson points out having an NFL team would be "the last thing" when it comes to ownership ... as he already has stakes in the L.A. Dodgers, LAFC and L.A. Sparks.

It's not a sure thing, though ... as Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos has also submitted a $6 billion bid.

But it's safe to say Magic really wants that team ... and if he does get it, there might be some uniform changes coming, based on how he reacted to a question about the team's current threads.