New Suitors for the Commanders Emerge, Foster Moreau Steps Away, and Other NFL Bullets

With the NFL’s annual owner’s meetings less than a week away, the sale of the Washington Commanders is gaining some new potential bidders.

• On Wednesday, ESPN reported that Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos has become the newest potential bidder for the Washington Commanders. Apostolopoulos founded Six Ventures Inc., a private equity venture fund. Apostolopoulos was born in Canada and attended Harvard, according to the ESPN report.

• The Canadian billionaire Apostolopoulos joins a group led by Josh Harris and Magic Johnson and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as the three known potential bidders for the franchise. Harris’ group includes Magic Johnson — who also owns a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers — and Mitchell Rales, a Washington-based billionaire with a net worth of $5.5 billion.

• Harris’ group attempted to purchase the Denver Broncos last summer before the Walton-Penner group ultimately purchased the franchise for $4.65 billion. Harris also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.

• Apostolopoulos recently had discussions with Michael Jordan to purchase the New Orleans Hornets before considering the opportunity to buy the Washington Commanders.

• Dan and Tanya Snyder announced in November that they intend to sell the team. According to the ESPN report regarding Apostolopoulos, Forbes has the Commanders valued at $5.6 billion.

• Amazon’s Jeffrey Bezos was mentioned as a potential buyer at one point. However, it seems unlikely that Snyder will sell to Bezos.

• Former Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau has stepped away from football after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. The New Orleans Saints medical staff discovered the cancer during a routine physical.

• Moreau announced the news on Twitter: “Through somewhat of a miraculous process, this free agency period has been life-changing for me,” Moreau wrote on Twitter. “During a routine physical conducted by the Saint’s medical team down in New Orleans, I’ve come to learn that I have Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and will be stepping away from football at this time to fight a new opponent: Cancer.”

• Moreau continued: “I’m grateful for the support and thankful for people who have stood firm with me. There hasn’t been a single step I’ve taken without hundreds of people lighting the path before me, and I will continue to seek their guidance. That being said, I’ll go kick this thing’s ass and get back to doing what I love! AMDG!”

• The news of the diagnosis for Moreau is terrible to hear. Moreau is just 25 years old. He was a fourth-round pick by the Raiders in the 2019 NFL Draft. Moreau posted a career-high 33 receptions for the Raiders in 2022. Moreau wasn’t a huge producer; however, he was beloved by all his Las Vegas coaches and teammates.

• We’re wishing Moreau and his family all of the love and support through his battle with cancer. Here’s to a speedy recovery!

• Ian Rapoport pointed out that this is the second time that the Saints medical staff has made a life-saving diagnosis through a physical. Dr. John Amoss once diagnosed a heart problem in Jon Dorenbos.

• Baltimore Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome said what we all know to be true on Wednesday. On the Bernie Kosar Show, Newsome said that Ravens’ owner Steve Bisciotti views the Deshaun Watson contract as a problem.

“Every club has to do what they have to do with contracts,” Newsome said. “I don’t worry about what other people do, but our owner did say that contract did create some problems. We have to figure out if that’s going to be the norm or is that an outlier. We don’t know.”

• Bisciotti and fellow NFL owners don’t want to see that become the norm. That’s the battle they’re engaged in with star QB Lamar Jackson. However, Jackson’s situation may be taking a turn that Baltimore would like to avoid.

• Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote on Tuesday that sources had told him that a representative of Lamar — who is unregistered with the NFLPA as an agent — has been contacting teams on Jackson’s behalf. But that’s not all. Florio’s sources have also told him that Lamar wants out of Baltimore.

• You can read more about that here:

• But, of course, Lamar had something to add to the discourse on Wednesday…

• Ok, this is just funny!

• So, the Bulls took a big hit to their playoff hopes last night, losing to the 76ers and losing DeMar DeRozan.

• The Ohio State prospects looked solid at their pro day on Wednesday!