LOVERRO: Everett’s future being kept under wraps by Commanders

I learned a lot last week about the Washington Commanders from the reports coming out of the NFL scouting combine.

I learned about running back Antonio Gibson, because someone asked Washington general manager Martin Mayhew about Gibson’s health and the team’s plans to add to the running back group through the draft.

“Yeah, Antonio’s getting better,” Mayhew said. “You know, he dealt with that throughout the entire season, actually one of the toughest guys on our team as well. For a running back, dealing with and lower body injuries and some of the Wednesdays, I wasn’t sure he could make it through practice. But he played, I think he might have missed one game. But yeah, he played great for last year, did a great job, rushed for over a thousand yards. And he’s very important moving forward. And as far as addressing that position, we’re looking at everything, we want to get better everywhere. Our number one need right now is good football players, you know, so that’s where we’re focused.”

It’s good to be focused on good football players.

I learned about wide receiver Curtis Samuel. There’s a lot to learn because we only saw him five times last year due to injuries.

So someone asked coach Ron Rivera about his expectations for Samuel.

“My understanding so far is everything when he left was trending in the right direction,” Rivera said. “We haven’t had our hands on him yet. We do know in communicating that he’s been working, doing the things that he needs to. We’ll see him hopefully soon. Not quite sure when we can reach out but we will start April 18th. I believe at the beginning of our OTAs.”

I’d keep your hands off him. He’s a little fragile.

And boy, did I learn a lot about the quarterback that the Commanders don’t have. He’s the most popular player on the team.

Rivera was asked about the challenge of finding a franchise quarterback. “It is very challenging,” he said. “You know, I was very fortunate in Carolina. We found our franchise quarterback right away, we drafted him. He was a big part of what we did and got us to the Super Bowl and had a terrific career. And unfortunately got a little derailed with the injuries in his last two years with us. But you know, when you get that guy, it makes things a lot easier not having that guy has really put the onus on us.

“Last year some things happened, you know, we were trying to get into that, and we lost out to the [Los Angeles] Rams,” Rivera said. “Now this year we are being very proactive, looking, searching, doing things we are trying to truly cover every base, you know. And I’ve said this, you know, there’s really three avenues to finding that guy or actually there’s four, whether you got it on your roster, whether you can make a trade for it, whether you’re out there in free agency or now the draft. I mean, we’re looking at all four of those things and we really are and trying to decipher and figure out. It’s a long process, It really is. And then you’re still not guaranteed anything, that’s the truth of the matter.”

The truth of the matter is that some things are guaranteed when it comes to this football franchise — none of them good.

But here’s who I didn’t learn about — the Commanders player who was charged on Feb. 8 with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a young woman who was a passenger in the car he was driving recklessly — nearly 100 mph, more than twice the speed limit, according to charging documents, on a Loudoun County road two nights before Christmas.

According to sources, Deshazor Everett was racing his teammates when the accident happened. ESPN reported that linebacker Jamin Davis and cornerback Benjamin St.-Juste told police they were driving behind Everett after going out to dinner with him.

I didn’t learn anything about the only active franchise player, from what I can determine, who has ever been criminally charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 80-year history of the team.

I didn’t learn why Everett, with Rivera’s quest to change the culture, is still on the team.

I didn’t learn anything because the question wasn’t asked.

Sean DeBarbieri, the Commanders’ director of football communications, said neither Rivera nor Mayhew were asked about Everett, even though this was the first time either of them had been in front of the media since Everett was charged.

Everett — a team captain — was charged last month in the accident that took the life of 29-year-old Olivia Peters, Everett’s girlfriend.

The team issued this statement: “We are aware of these charges and are continuing to monitor the situation. We will have no further comment at this time.”

Everett’s attorney, Kaveh Noorishad, released this statement following the charges being made public, according to several news reports: “Our team continues to investigate this matter as we intend on vigorously defending Mr. Everett against these allegations. We continue to ask that judgment be reserved until all facts are fully investigated and litigated in the proper forum. At this time we cannot comment any further due to the pending litigation.”

It’s likely no one from the team is going to have anything to say about Everett’s legal future. But his future on the team? I would like to know.

So I asked them.

I didn’t get to speak to Rivera or Mayhew. But DeBarbieri told me Everett is still on the roster and the team has no comment other than the statement it issued earlier.

I didn’t expect much. But the question needed to be asked. Again, this is the only time I can determine a Washington football player has faced such a criminal charge. This isn’t fighting at One Loudoun.

What about the important principle of innocent until proven guilty?

When you’re a franchise like this one — under investigation a second time by the league and also facing congressional scrutiny over an ongoing sexual harassment scandal — you don’t have the privilege of keeping a player on the roster who is charged with committing such a crime. It’s the price the Washington Commanders pay for a history of malfeasance, mistakes and bad decisions.

⦁ Hear Thom Loverro on The Kevin Sheehan Show podcast.