Grant Paulsen had plenty to say Monday, and his message to the Washington Commanders was simple: let Jayden Daniels play.
The 106.7 The Fan co-host of “Grant & Danny” got animated during a discussion about preseason usage for starters, with Daniels at the center of the debate. The conversation came after the Commanders quarterback, coming off a strong 2024 season, played only one series in the 2025 preseason. Then, in Washington’s first two games of the 2025 regular season, Daniels was not as sharp and the offense was not nearly as effective.
Paulsen and Danny Rouhier framed the issue in blunt terms: football players play football. They also pointed back to the team’s preseason approach, noting that last year the coaches did not dress 30 players for the first preseason game, while this year 26 players got the night off after the pregame warm-ups.
The sharpest moment came when Paulsen leaned into the point.
GP: “You wanna know why? Because you’re a football player.
And what do football players do? Danny?”
DR: “I thought Herm was going to say it,” referring to Herm Edwards, former NFL coach. Sure enough, the producer then supplied the audio clip they have of the sometimes comical Coach Edwards, “They play football. Football players play football, guys.”
“Yeah, that’s it, Coach Herm’s got it”, said the funny Rouhier.
Paulsen kept pressing the same theme, making clear he wasn’t asking for a marathon.
GP: “Football players play football. This isn't some tough-guy talk.
I don’t need them to play four quarters. I don’t want them to play 12 quarters in the preseason.
Play football (bringing his right hand down to the desk for emphasis). It’s always a different excuse.
It’s always a different reason. Last year you didn’t need it.
It backfired; play football. I am asking you to do it one time against the Detroit Lions, for like two drives.
If that is too much to ask, I don’t want to hear one excuse when you lose in Week 1. I don’t want to hear one peep when they are 0-2.”
He then mocked the kind of explanation coaches might offer.
GP: mimicking coaches, “Oh, I just don’t understand.” Sure you do. Remember the fat guy that was telling you, ‘Everyone needs to play against the Lions?’“
The segment ended with Paulsen nearly shouting the point home.
GP: Now increasingly animated, “Play football!” Now yelling, “PLAY FOOTBALL!
ONE TIME FOR TWO SERIES! PLAY FOOTBALL!
Back to you.”
With Daniels already under the microscope this week, Paulsen suggested the answer might be as basic as it gets: get him on the field and let him play.
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