He is a six-time All-Pro selection, a Super Bowl champion and should be fitted for a gold Hall of Fame jacket when he retires. But because he is not ready for that step just yet, the veteran linebacker is embracing a very new challenge, leaving his comfort zone on the West Coast in Seattle to be a leader and mentor for the rebuilding Commanders.

“You just share your scars,” Wagner said. “A lot of things that you can’t learn from youth, you can learn from experience. So people that can give that knowledge and give that insight — things that I did my rookie year, my second year, third year — and try to have you avoid some of those mistakes. I think that’s probably the biggest thing.”

Even before playing a game in burgundy and gold, the coaching staff has noticed Wagner making an impact on teammates young and old alike. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the new face of the franchise after being taken with the second pick in the draft, is eager to pick Wagner’s brain, soak up some information and learn strong habits — and he is not alone in that desire.

“You just go to him to get some knowledge,” said defensive tackle Daron Payne, who’s going into his seventh NFL season. “Just a good vet guy that you can go to, talk to about anything.”

Coach Dan Quinn, whose first defensive coordinator job in the league came with the Seahawks in 2013, still remembers Wagner — then in just his second professional season — answering every question posed about what was being introduced.

Now, Quinn watches Wagner pull other players aside to point things out to discuss a type of coverage or concept and is proud of the 34-year-old’s evolution to this stage of his career.

“This is a rare competitor,” Quinn said. “When you look back on it, some of the people that mentored (him), now that’s a way to pay it forward. And so that’s one of the coolest parts of our game is when now you get to pass that along to the next one, and the very best players do that.”

Wagner learned from a young age from Seattle teammates Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman and took it a step further, talking to legendary linebackers such as Mike Singletary and Ray Lewis about how to command a unit. He believes he was blessed to have natural leaders around him and has tried to grow into that role.

“Those guys I had a chance to learn from, and when it was my opportunity, I try to take advantage of it,” Wagner said. “I think the middle linebacker position, always naturally you’re a leader because you call the plays, you have to relay the messages and you’re the one that tends to communicate the most in most cases.”

New general manager Adam Peters and Quinn did not sign Wagner to a contract worth up to $8.5 million to just be a teacher. He is expected to help transform Washington’s defense that ranked last among 32 teams last season as one of several new faces.

“It’s major, especially when you have a whole new defense,” defensive end Clelin Ferrell said. “It’s major having a leader like that, somebody who leads by example.”

That example is something fellow vets such as defensive tackle Jonathan Allen hopes is contagious, filtering down from Wagner to the rest of the roster.

“He just brings a winning presence, a winning culture the way he works every day,” Allen said. “And when you see a guy like that who I think is in year 13 — a first-ballot Hall of Famer — work as hard as he does, there’s really no excuse for anybody else.”

With all that in mind, Daniels is undoubtedly the focal point of Washington Commanders training camp that opened Wednesday, with all eyes on the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU who instantly became the face of the reinvigorated franchise when he was taken with the second pick in the NFL draft this past spring.

Barring injury or unforeseen struggles over the next month, Daniels is on track to be Washington’s eighth different Week 1 starting QB in as many seasons — a revolving door the organization would love to stop spinning. But first, it is up to the 23-year-old to show teammates and coaches he is up to the task of developing into a professional in an already bright spotlight.

“It’s not a secret, but it is a journey and a process,” Quinn said of Daniels earning the No. 1 job. “As we’re going, when he’s ready, we will know. And when he’s ready, he’ll also know.”

He starts out sharing snaps with veteran Marcus Mariota, whose signing foreshadowed the Commanders taking Daniels, with the longtime backup — the No. 2 pick in 2015 — serving in a mentoring role. Around them are top receiver Terry McLaurin, 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson, holdover running back Brian Robinson Jr. and some new offensive additions, including Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz.

The expectation is not to be among the league’s top teams right away, but rather build around Daniels, who has publicly projected nothing but humility about the role he has assumed.

“I’m focused on learning, focus on going out here and keep competing every day and having fun, bringing that energy and that joy and that competitiveness to the team,” Daniels said recently. “We want to compete in everything that we do, so I’m out here just trying to do my job and that’s getting the 11 people on my side of the ball to go the same direction.”

There’s a lot of room to improve. Washington had the 24th-ranked offense last season, when Sam Howell started all 17 games, and the coaching staff went pass-heavy.

Howell has since been traded to Seattle to clear room for Daniels, who has impressed teammates with his talent and work ethic.

“He wants to be great,” McLaurin said Wednesday. “A lot of the things he just naturally has the ability to have a feel for the game, which is very unique for any quarterback, let alone a rookie.”

Veteran offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas, the leading candidate to protect Daniels’ blind side at left tackle, sees Daniels not look at all like a rookie.

“He seems experienced already,” Lucas said. “Quick learner. Quick on his feet.”

Right tackle Andrew Wylie, one of the key holdovers from the organization’s previous regime along with Lucas, said he “knew immediately that guy was special” starting in offseason workouts in the spring. The respect and admiration for Daniels is only growing with each practice.

“He’s a great leader of this offense,” Wylie said. “He’s truly a gunslinger. He can do it all, man. The sky’s the limit for that kid.”

Notes: Rookie DT Johnny Newton was activated off the non-football injury list following offseason surgery on his left foot. … DE Efe Obada opened camp on the physically unable to perform list.

The old turf field with the old logo is being torn up and replaced, and their practice facility is abuzz with construction projects all over.

Josh Harris’ ownership group has been in charge for just over a year now, and the organization’s transformation is now fully on display. When training camp opens Wednesday, new coach Dan Quinn will oversee a team almost totally remade by new general manager Adam Peters.

Only a third of the camp roster was around last summer, and the fresh faces from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner give the franchise a much-needed clean slate.

“I love each of the years because not every year is exactly the same,” Quinn said at a camp-opening news conference Tuesday. “But you only get one first shot with a whole new group, and we’re not going to miss that shot.”

Not missing starts with Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 pick in the draft who has become the centerpiece of this latest rebuilding effort. Unlike Chicago with top selection Caleb Williams, the Commanders are not yet anointing Daniels their Week 1 starter, with Quinn saying, “When he’s ready, we’ll know.”

They are ready to let that process play out in the coming weeks, with Daniels sharing snaps on the practice field and in preseason games with Marcus Mariota.

“It’s not one-size-fits-all,” Peters said. “You don’t want to fast-track it. You don’t want to slow it down. You just want to let it happen naturally.”

What Peters also hopes comes naturally is teamwide competition, the result of signing more than a dozen free agents with no prior connection to the organization and making nine draft picks to fill holes well beyond quarterback. He was looking for a certain type of player throughout the offseason of change, and more roster turnover could happen before Washington opens the season Sept. 8 at Tampa Bay.

“We’re thrilled about the 90 guys we have here,” said Peters who is in his first role as an NFL GM after a decorated front office career with stops in Denver, New England and most recently working under John Lynch with San Francisco. “(Quinn) preaches competition every day, so we’re always going to look at ways to improve the roster. But as it sits now, we feel great about the guys we have.”

Some of the holdovers are foundational pieces, such as top wide receiver Terry McLaurin, running back Brian Robinson Jr. and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. But after going 43-71-1 over the past seven seasons with one playoff berth — also a loss — to show for it, there was reason to start almost from scratch in Washington.

The offensive line could have three new starters. Austin Ekeler is now part of the backfield mix. And Wagner and Frankie Luvu are at the forefront of a defense that behind Allen and Payne is virtually unrecognizable from the unit that ranked last in the league last season.

That kind of change should be good after the Commanders bottomed out at 4-13 in Ron Rivera’s fourth and final season as coach and head of football operations. Their win total over/under for this season is 6.5 on BetMGM Sportsbook, which is setting a low external expectation.

As for what team brass thinks a successful season might be, neither Quinn nor Peters was willing to show his hand, deferring instead to the idea that it begins with forming an identity and good habits that they hope will eventually show in victories when it matters.

“How fast or slow that goes, there’s so many different things that are variables in all that,” Peters said. “But I can tell you that you’re going to see a great effort team, a competitive team playing fast and physical.”

A team spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Wright is departing the organization and will remain in a senior advisory role for the time being while the search for his successor is ongoing. That is expected to get underway soon as the ownership group, led by Josh Harris, that assumed control last year continues to reshape the franchise.

“This feels like the right moment for me to explore my next leadership opportunity,” Wright said. “We have taken this franchise through a period of immense challenge and uncertainty and have transformed it. We’ve set the table for an incredibly bright future under Josh’s leadership.”

Wright is expected to maintain similar responsibilities in the coming months, specifically focusing on a naming-rights deal and the process of determining a new stadium site and further developments on that front. The team’s lease at the stadium formerly known as FedEx Field is set to expire in 2027.

Hired in the summer of 2020 by former owner Dan Snyder, Wright was immediately tasked with being one of the faces of the organization in tumult, along with then-coach and head of football operations Ron Rivera. A former running back who then went into business, Wright helped steer the organization through a rebranding effort that ended with the new name, Commanders.

When Harris and his group bought the team from Snyder, a North American professional sports-record $6.05 billion sale approved unanimously by league owners in July 2023, Wright remained in his role throughout the transition.

Harris said Wright made a remarkable impact during his time in charge.

“He stepped in at a time of immense challenge and has led this organization through an incredible transformation that set that stage for everything that is to come,” Harris said. “I am extremely grateful to Jason for his partnership to me and the rest of the ownership group over the past year. His guidance has been invaluable and his leadership has helped reshape our culture.”

Wright, 42, pointed to fans returning and a reconnection with the community as some of the accomplishments he was proudest of. He added, “Most importantly, we re-established a culture of respect in this organization.”

A team spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Wright is departing the organization and will remain in a senior advisory role for the time being while the search for his successor is ongoing. That is expected to get underway soon as the ownership group led by Josh Harris that assumed control last year continues to reshape the franchise.

“This feels like the right moment for me to explore my next leadership opportunity,” Wright said. “We have taken this franchise through a period of immense challenge and uncertainty and have transformed it. We’ve set the table for an incredibly bright future under Josh’s leadership.”

Wright is expected to maintain similar responsibilities in the coming months, specifically focusing on a naming rights deal and the process of determining a new stadium site and further developments on that front. The team’s lease at the stadium formerly known as FedEx Field is set to expire in 2027.

Hired in the summer of 2020 by former owner Dan Snyder, Wright was immediately tasked with being one of the faces of the organization in tumult, along with then-coach and head of football operations Ron Rivera. A former running back who then went into business, Wright helped steer the organization through a rebranding effort that ended with the new name, Commanders.

When Harris and his group bought the team from Snyder, a North American professional sports record $6.05 billion sale approved unanimously by league owners in July 2023, Wright remained in his role throughout the transition.

Harris said Wright made a remarkable impact during his time in charge.

“He stepped in at a time of immense challenge and has led this organization through an incredible transformation that set that stage for everything that is to come,” Harris said. “I am extremely grateful to Jason for his partnership to me and the rest of the ownership group over the past year. His guidance has been invaluable and his leadership has helped reshape our culture.”

Wright, 42, pointed to fans returning and a reconnection with the community as some of the accomplishments he was proudest of from the past year on the job. He added, “Most importantly, we re-established a culture of respect in this organization.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The $1.3 million settlement with Virginia includes returning $600,000 to nearly 500 fans who were affected. The team settled similar suits with Maryland in 2022 and the District of Columbia in 2023.

“Our investigation found that the Commanders’ prior ownership unlawfully retained security deposits for years after they should have been returned to consumers,” Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said. “I thank the team’s current ownership for cooperating with this investigation, and for working toward rectifying the consumer harm we identified.”

Dan Snyder owned the team at the time. A group led by Josh Harris bought the Commanders last year for a North American professional sports record $6.05 billion.

“We are pleased that this settlement has been reached resolving issues that occurred under prior ownership,” the Commanders said in a statement.

Along with the $600,000, the team agreed to pay $600,000 in civil penalties and another $100,000 for attorneys fees and other costs involved in the investigation, which launched in 2022.

Two women who were working as flight attendants on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Sept. 28 flight to London allege in a lawsuit filed in civil court that McManus tried to kiss one of them and grinded and rubbed up against both of them while they were trying to perform their work responsibilities. They are seeking in excess of $1 million in damages, according to court documents.

In a statement sent to The Associated Press, attorney Brett R. Gallaway said McManus wanted to thank the Commanders for the chance to be part of the organization and continued to criticize the lawsuit.

“We reiterate that the allegations against Brandon are and remain absolutely false and importantly, are contradicted by indisputable evidence and the accusers’ own prior inconsistent statements and omissions,” Gallaway said. “While we are disappointed with the team’s decision to release Brandon before he had the opportunity to defend against these fabricated claims, we will aggressively defend and clear Brandon’s name and reputation through the legal process. We intend to defeat these claims, fully exonerate him and look forward to seeing him back on the field where he belongs.”

McManus, 32, signed with Washington in March after playing last season, his 10th in the NFL, with Jacksonville. The Commanders and Jaguars earlier in the week each said they were looking into the situation.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

He learned an important lesson before throwing his first NFL pass.

Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, and former LSU teammate Malik Nabers, now a receiver with the division-rival New York Giants taken four picks later, said Friday they called off their $10,000 bet over who would be offensive rookie of the year.

“We were uneducated on the gambling policy in the NFL,” Daniels said after the first practice of the Commanders’ rookie minicamp. “We learned about it last night. Me and him had a conversation, and we canceled the bet. Obviously, we don’t want to get in trouble or anything.”

Word of the wager emerged from recent podcast appearances the players made. Nabers first mentioned it, then Daniels — after saying Nabers wasn’t supposed to talk about it — confirmed the financial ramifications.

With so much scrutiny over gambling, including several players being suspended in recent years for violating league policy, betting on performance, even privately without a sportsbook involved, could have been considered a violation.

“I’m educated now that I got here about sports betting and gambling,” Nabers said after Giants rookie minicamp in East Rutherford, New Jersey. “We’re calling the bet off. There is no bet now. It was just another brother pushing another brother to try to get to success. That’s all it was.”

Chicago’s Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick, is favored to win offensive rookie of the year honors, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, with Daniels as the 6-1 second choice and Nabers fifth at 11-1.

“We’re just focused on being the best players for our respective teams,” Daniels said.

Daniels took the field Friday along with seven of the other eight Commanders draft picks, several rookie free agents and players on tryouts. The first of their three second-round selections, defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, did not take part and observed with a boot on his surgically repaired left foot.

Running drills allowed him to throw passes to a couple of players drafted on Day 2 to give Daniels some help: tight end Ben Sinnott and receiver Luke McCaffrey, brother of the 49ers’ Christian. But it wasn’t the first chance for them to connect after getting together in recent weeks and months for informal workouts and training in California.

“Really enjoyed spending time with him, throwing, running routes for him,” said Sinnott, a second-rounder pick out of Kansas State. “He’s a super talented kid, a great dude and one person I really like just to be around and hopefully grow with.”

Trainer Kenny McPeek announced the decision Saturday after speaking with owners and weighing the pros and cons of racing his horse again on a short, two-week turnaround. He initially expressed concern about that timeframe after Mystik Dan ran poorly under the same circumstances in November.

But he liked enough of what he saw in training to take a chance.

“All systems go,” McPeek said Saturday. “The horse is doing fantastic.”

The possibility of Mystik Dan, who finished just ahead of Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the 1 1/4-mile race at Churchill Downs last weekend thanks to a perfect, rail-skimming ride by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., not going to the Preakness next Saturday raised questions about the status of the prestigious race. Twice in the previous four years, the Derby winner did not run — a product of various circumstances.

But the lure of going to Baltimore was too much to pass up for McPeek, who won the pandemic-delayed 2020 Preakness with filly Swiss Skydiver, who beat Derby champion Authentic.

No one has won both the Derby and Preakness since the last Triple Crown champion, Justify in 2018 for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Mystik Dan doing so would set up a first: a Triple Crown on the line at Saratoga Race Course, where the Belmont is being held for the next two years while the race’s longtime home on Long Island is being torn down and rebuilt as part of a massive, $455 million reconstruction project.

But Mystik Dan may not be the Preakness favorite. That distinction likely belongs to Muth, one of two horses being brought by Baffert, who was again not allowed to enter horses in the Derby because of a ban on him by Churchill Downs caused by Medina Spirit failing a drug test after finishing first in the race in 2021.

The only other horse from the Derby expected to run in the Preakness is 17th-place finisher Just Steel, trained by 88-year-old Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

The team signed the former Notre Dame and Wake Forest quarterback Monday along with 10 other undrafted free agents.

Hartman, 24, is the latest addition to a crowded group of QBs after the team selected LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels with the second pick in the draft and signed veterans Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel. Washington still has practice squad holdover Jake Fromm around, too.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Hartman played his first five college seasons nearby at Wake Forest, throwing for 12,967 yards, 110 touchdowns and 41 interceptions. He transferred to Notre Dame and threw for 2,689 yards, 24 TDs and eight INTs.

Hartman signed along with USC running back Austin Jones, Arizona running back Michael Wiley, Georgia receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, UCLA tight end Colson Yankoff, Toledo offensive tackle David Nwaogwugwu, Pitt cornerback AJ Woods, Colorado State cornerback Chigozie Anusiem, Iowa State safety Ben Nikkel, Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens and Virginia Tech defensive tackle Norell Pollard.

Assistant general manager Lance Newmark on Saturday alluded to agreements with “some really exciting players” the Commanders were strongly considering taking in the late rounds of the draft. And they may not be done.

“We have a rookie minicamp in a couple weeks that we will get to kick the tires on some guys that may have fallen through the cracks,” Newmark said. “Between now and then, I think it’s more of kind of a self-evaluation of what just happened, what’s still out there, where are we still deficient and do everything we can to address that.”