High Five - Commanders' Tress Way 'Sells' No. 5 Jersey to QB Jayden Daniels
We wouldn’t have expected anything less, would we?
Washington Commanders’ four-time captain and punter, Tress Way, has parted ways with a number that is close to his heart and is handing it to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
After much conjecture over which number Daniels would get, given he wore No. 5 at LSU. So it always loomed large, but it was already taken by Way and he had a deep connection to it, having worn it ever since he stepped foot in Washington.
But with so much hype and excitement surrounding the organization after a superb offseason, Way has revealed why he gave up a jersey number that meant so much to him.
“Full disclosure, I told him no right out the gate,” Way said with a teary smile on Commanders Center. “It just didn’t sit well and I talked to AP [Adam Peters], talked to DQ [Dan Quinn], they were just so cool about it, like guys I don’t feel good about it. I just feel like there’s just so much excitement around this organization, hands down the most I have ever seen. All of the excitement [is] building and building and building. I just feel like this is … a very small part that I could do.”
Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports
Now, as a new era begins in Washington under Daniels’ guidance, Way will also begin a new chapter of sorts with a different number. … and some sort of benefit from the new QB in the swap. Nothing financial, it seems; he’ll “sell” it for some sort of fun favors.
Having been with the organization since 2014, Way had developed a connection with the No. 5 jersey as it was the first time in his NFL career he felt wanted by a team when Washington signaled interest in him.
But now, in his 11th NFL season, Way will be sporting a new number for the first time as a Commander.
He didn’t do it for himself; he did it for Daniels and the organization, which shows you the type of person Tress is.
And in truth, we wouldn’t have expected anything less.