Commanders vs. Bucs: A Tampa Bay Surprise in Offense in Week 1?

AUG 31 SURPRISE? The Bucs like to talk about how they go "under the radar'' in terms of national attention. But Washington, which faces Tampa Bay in Week 1, is well aware of who's who down there ... a good list that includes Rachaad White.

But what if there is a surprise in store?

In a recent article by ESPN's Dan Graziano , he predicts potential surprises for each NFL team. And for the Bucs, the reigning NFC South champions, he offers up a different name.

"Rachaad White is still the starter in Tampa Bay, but the Bucs would really like to see him improve on his 3.6 yards per carry average," Graziano writes. "(Bucky) Irving, their fourth-round draft pick this year, has impressed the coaches in camp and during the preseason, and he is a candidate to earn a lot more work if White and the run game don't improve on last season's inefficiency."

So will the Commanders be keying on White? Sure. Will they be aware of Bucky? That seems wise, too.

AUG 30 KID SITS The Commanders will start their rookie QB in Week 1. The New England Patriots are going another direction - and it's an old Washington direction.

The Pats have announced that veteran Jacoby Brissett - a Commanders ex - will be the team's starting quarterback in Week 1.

Despite taking Drake Maye high in the 2024 Draft, New England is obviously more confident in Brissett as the starter to begin the season, with the Pats taking on the Bengals.

So Maye sits. Brissett plays. And so does Jayden.

AUG 9 THOMAS CUT The 49ers released Logan Thomas on Friday, maybe in part because the Commanders ex is dealing with a hamstring issue.

Thomas, 33, sign a one-year deal with San Francisco in June and the plan was for him to provide the Niners with veteran depth behind star tight end George Kittle.

This move is being termed by some as a "surprise,'' but the hamstring injury, age and maybe other roster needs are obvious ways to explain it.

AUG 8 DQ VS. ZIM Dan Quinn is trying to make a bad thing good.

Mike Zimmer is trying to make a good thing better.

What does that mean for those who try to compare two of the NFL's top defensive minds?

It means ... There is a difference between "different'' and "better.''

Dallas legend Darren Woodson believes that the hiring of Mike Zimmer to replace Dan Quinn as the Cowboys defensive coordinator is exactly "the shock this team needs.''

"He's going to coach hard,'' said Woodson, who played under Zimmer in the Cowboys' Super Bowl era of the 1990s. "He is tough. Hard-nosed. He is not going to be your best friend - he's just not. Some players will not want to play for him, because the expectations will be harder than in the last few years.''

Zimmer, Woodson said, "is the shock this team needs.''

Are the positive vibes a criticism of the work of predecessor Quinn, now the head coach in Washington? Not exactly. But "DQ's'' style? He was indeed a "best friend'' to his players.

That might just work with Washington ... Just like Zimmer's gruff approach might just work for the Cowboys.

Not "better.'' Just "different.''

JULY 22 GREEN SET Darrell Green is among Washington's greatest players in franchise history, with two Super Bowls and a jersey that ...

Will never be worn in Washington again.

"No. 28,'' a seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, member of the Commanders Ring of Fame and 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year, will have his jersey retired in Week ... this year in a Week 7 game against visiting Carolina.

"I'm humbly grateful," Green said recently. "I feel like crying just thinking about it right now. This means a lot to me."

JULY 22 DALLAS DELAY The Commanders' arch-rival Dallas Cowboys will be opening training camp on time, with a first workout on Thursday in Oxnard.

But team owner Jerry Jones won't make it on time.

Oxnard, California, is normally the site for Jones' annual state-of-the-union press conference to kick off training camp. That was supposed to happen at mid-week.

But the opening press conference originally scheduled for Wednesday has been moved to Saturday. A Cowboys spokesman says the rescheduling is necessary because Jones will be in a Texarkana federal courthouse testifying as part of a paternity lawsuit.