A Special Advertising Supplement to The Washington Times We all know things are dierent. Keeping you safe is not. At lnova, we ensure the safety of everyone who comes to us for care with safe locations, safe supplies, safe cleaning and safe practices. You’re Safe@Inova. MES i Learn more and get the facts at inova.org/StaySafe NGTON T NGTON hi S a E W h Ocial Health System forr NG SUPPLEMENT TO T NG SUPPLEMENT TO MES i i S i T r VE NGTON T NGTON ad L hi S a cia E W SPE h a T | Friday • March 26 • 2021 • March Friday 2 Discipline of players, coaches help Washington get through unprecedented season Washington only placed two players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list during the season, the second-lowest number in the NFL. By Zach Selby ead coach Ron Rivera sees head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion as one of the best medi- cal professionals in the league. He expressed that sentiment shortly after Vermil- Hlion was hired; in fact, he also said that he “couldn’t think of a better person” to lead the Washington Football Team’s training staff. It is unlikely Vermillion or Rivera could have predicted the situation the NFL and the world was in dur- ing 2020. The novel coronavirus spread rapidly and forced the league to overhaul how the offseason and regular season would be carried out. The NFL believed that as long as players and staff members adhered to the protocols, it could have a full 16-game season and playoff slate. Nearly every team had to put at least one player on the Reserve/ COVID-19 list, but Washington only had to do so twice. It is a testament a not only to the efforts made by Ver- SPE million and other members of the cia L staff throughout the year, but also to ad the devotion the players had to stay VE healthy in an unprecedented season. r T i “He’s done a heck of a job,” S i Rivera said of Vermillion, who was NG also Washington’s Infectious Con- SUPPLEMENT trol Officer. “He’s a stickler on it. It’s been amazing when something comes across, [the players will] call him immediately. They’ll call him at 2 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock TO T THE WASHINGTON TIMES THE WASHINGTON in the morning. He has to deal with h E it, and he does. He does a great job W a with that.” S hi Washington experienced the important because you have to be NGTON same protocols as the rest of the “He’s done a heck of a job,” Rivera said vigilant. If you’re not, something NFL. Players had to take buses to of Vermillion, who was also Washington’s crazy might happen.” T and from a hotel during training The players themselves were i Infectious Control Officer. “He’s a stickler MES camp, wear face masks whenever also very diligent, and it helped that on it. It’s been amazing when something they were in the facility and wear staff members like senior director | contact tracers. But with the NFL comes across, [the players will] call him of player development Malcolm Friday not experiencing any schedule immediately. He has to deal with it, and he Blacken were consistently remind- changes in response to a breakout ing them of the extra steps needed • until Week 4, Rivera admitted it does. He does a great job with that.” in order to stay healthy. March could be easy for people to get lax. “I think that helps, I really do,” Vermillion was part of helping any changes made throughout the “but you get lax so you have to Rivera said, “When you have a guy 26 Washington avoid that. He stayed on season. have somebody that’s always kind who’s constantly: ‘Hey guys, don’t • top of the rules, Rivera said, inform- “You get tested every day, every- of [helping] everybody and that’s forget we have this. Hey guys, don’t 2021 ing the team of any communication body’s been negative so far which what Ryan’s been doing for us, from the league, and helped enforce is awesome,” Rivera said Oct. 5, trying to keep us vigilant. That’s » see COVID | C4 3 the rain. There’s nothing you can do late into the season, everything has but the team still managed to make COVID about it. Just do it. Put your mind to gone so well,” Rivera said. “Let’s the best of the situation and work From page C3 it, set it and go.” continue to focus in on staying around the circumstances. That was a message Rivera clear of everything and staying “Hats off to everybody that forget we have that.’ There’s that preached for the rest of the season, healthy. Hopefully, we can maintain achieved it,” Rivera said of finishing constant reminder.” especially as the number of posi- that and continue.” the season, “and hats off to our play- The NFL implemented other tive tests began to rise around the Fortunately, every player went ers for only having two guys having protocols besides wearing masks league. One of the biggest tests through the holidays COVID-free, gone on COVID.” and contact tracers. Players were came during Christmas weekend. and outside of two positive tests The NFL now enters its second required to make specific appoint- Not only was the team dealing with during the season from players offseason in a pandemic. Not much ments to work out and receive treat- has been decided on how it will ment so there were not too many unfold, but a lot of it could be vir- people in the same room at one The NFL now enters its second offseason in tual once again. The positive is that time. It was another hurdle the team a pandemic. The positive is that Washington Washington and the rest of the NFL had to overcome for game prepara- and the rest of the NFL have more experience have more experience operating in tions, but Rivera’s message to the those conditions. And if last season players was simple: “Don’t make a operating in those conditions. And if last gives any indication, Washington big deal out of it.” season gives any indication, Washington should be able to handle it just fine. “If you make a big deal out of it should be able to handle it just fine. “We know how to handle Zoom and make it worrisome, then you’re now -- everybody has used it for distracting yourself from the task, an entire year -- so we’ll know how and that’s getting ready to go play injuries to key players like Alex who were on Injured Reserve and to do things by Zoom,” Rivera said. a football game,” he said. “Focus Smith, Terry McLaurin and Antonio the practice squad, Washington “We’ll know how, when there’s an on the football game. The situation Gibson, but it was also in the middle made it through the entire season opportunity to meet in person, and circumstances are what they of a playoff push to win the NFC without the virus drastically affect- to meet in person following the are. Let’s do with that, and let’s go East. It could not afford to have a ing the roster. It was limiting, Ri- protocols. So, we’re not going to be forward. It’s no different than having player test positive and miss a game. vera said, having to deal with vir- doing something we haven’t had the to practice outside in the cold or in “Where we are right now this tual meetings and other protocols, opportunity to take advantage of.” MES i NGTON T NGTON hi S a E W h NG SUPPLEMENT TO T NG SUPPLEMENT TO MES i i S i T r VE NGTON T NGTON ad L hi S a cia E W SPE h a T | Friday • March 26 • 2021 • March Friday 4 SALUTE THE REAL HEROES IN UNIFORM a SPE cia L ad VE r T i S i NG SUPPLEMENT TO T THE WASHINGTON TIMES THE WASHINGTON h E W a S hi JOIN WASHINGTON NGTON T i MES SALUTE TODAY! | Friday FREE MILITARY APPRECIATION CLUB FOR ACTIVE DUTY, VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES. EXCLUSIVE YEAR-ROUND EVENTS, • March BEHIND THE SCENES OPPORTUNITIES AND MUCH MORE! 26 • 2021 WASHINGTONFOOTBALL.COM/SALUTE | @WASNFLSALUTE 5 ‘The best player you’ve ever trained’ Chase Young has been trying to validate that claim to his personal trainer, Martin Gibson, since high school. It’s brought him to the doorstep of the NFL as one of the best defensive prospects in recent memory. By Kyle Stackpole to slowly working towards the desired weight. t was November of 2016 Sometimes, though, Young when Chase Young, who would get carried away. Martin had just finished his senior always had Young prepare two season at DeMatha Catholic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, in Maryland, walked through and once he got out of school, he the doors of Gibson Perfor- would eat those sandwiches on the mance Training. way to the gym. That way, Martin IYoung was there to see Martin knew Young had enough energy to Gibson, a personal trainer who finish the workout. at the time doubled as the Stags’ One day, as Young continued to running backs coach. Young told fill out, he arrived at the training Gibson the year before that he facility with four sandwiches.