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  3. article_body => "<p>The Washington Football Team&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/football-team\/washington-football-team-agrees-two-year-extension-qb-taylor-heinicke\">re-signed Taylor Heinicke to a two-year deal<\/a> on Wednesday, a contract he largely earned after his incredible performance against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Although Heinicke will be back for the next two seasons, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/football-team\/its-great-taylor-heinicke-back-work-isnt-over-washington\">Washington is not done<\/a> -- or at least&nbsp;<em>should not&nbsp;<\/em>be done -- addressing the quarterback position this offseason.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Moving forward, though, whether it's as a starter or a backup, Heinicke is ready to compete.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span><span>\"It\u2019s going to be a competition. I think that\u2019s the best way to do it,\" Heinicke said shortly after signing his deal on Wednesday.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span><span>\"I think that\u2019s what [head] coach [Ron] Rivera has said, also he\u2019s harped on that. I think that\u2019s best for everybody.\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/WashingtonFootballTalk\"><strong>Download and subscribe to the Washington Football Talk podcast<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><iframe height=\"230px\" src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/washington-football\/episodes\/c4799386-2953-41a8-be35-2cde029a5330\/embed\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>When Rivera took over as Washington's boss last season, competition at every position was something he preached entering the season. At quarterback, though, the head coach didn't have a true competition between Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen and Alex Smith in training camp, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/football-team\/ron-rivera-not-having-open-qb-competition-i-made-mistake\">something he said he regretted<\/a> after the season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Now back in the fold, Heinicke said Wednesday he didn't want to be named the team's starter right now. If there is a QB competition come the fall, Heinicke wants to compete and earn that job. And, if Washington were to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/football-team\/taylor-heinicke-hopes-washington-brings-alex-smith-kyle-allen-back-2021\">bring back the same trio<\/a> of him, Allen and Smith next season to compete, he'd be more than fine with that, too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span><span>\"I think you get better with competition,\" Heinicke said.&nbsp;\"If, let\u2019s say, he named me starter, a lot of people kind of get complacent and stuff like that. We don\u2019t want that. We want to compete, push each other to get better and go from there.\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Washington has been in the mix for some of the best quarterbacks available this offseason. They inquired about both Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff before the Rams-Lions mega-deal and have also reportedly checked in on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/football-team\/report-washington-could-pursue-derek-carr-3-way-deshaun-watson-trade\">Derek Carr<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mdYumUsrBn?amp=1\">Marcus Mariota<\/a> in Las Vegas, too.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Bringing Heinicke back allows Washington to have some continuity at the position, but it's clear the team is&nbsp;looking to upgrade the position overall.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Heinicke isn't worried about that right now, though. The 27-year-old just inked the most secure contract of his NFL career thus far.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>After being out of the league for nearly a year and a half, Heinicke is excited to be back in Washington -- <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MOoVy6yEX7?amp=1\">he didn't want to go anywhere else<\/a> -- and looking forward to whatever may happen come training camp and this fall.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\"I'm excited for the opportunity,\" Heinicke said. \"We'll see what happens.\"<\/p>\r\n"
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Commanders

/ by Ethan Cadeaux
Commanders

The Washington Football Team re-signed Taylor Heinicke to a two-year deal on Wednesday, a contract he largely earned after his incredible performance against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs.

Although Heinicke will be back for the next two seasons, Washington is not done -- or at least should not be done -- addressing the quarterback position this offseason.

Moving forward, though, whether it's as a starter or a backup, Heinicke is ready to compete.

"It’s going to be a competition. I think that’s the best way to do it," Heinicke said shortly after signing his deal on Wednesday. 

"I think that’s what [head] coach [Ron] Rivera has said, also he’s harped on that. I think that’s best for everybody."

Download and subscribe to the Washington Football Talk podcast

When Rivera took over as Washington's boss last season, competition at every position was something he preached entering the season. At quarterback, though, the head coach didn't have a true competition between Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen and Alex Smith in training camp, something he said he regretted after the season.

 

Now back in the fold, Heinicke said Wednesday he didn't want to be named the team's starter right now. If there is a QB competition come the fall, Heinicke wants to compete and earn that job. And, if Washington were to bring back the same trio of him, Allen and Smith next season to compete, he'd be more than fine with that, too.

"I think you get better with competition," Heinicke said. "If, let’s say, he named me starter, a lot of people kind of get complacent and stuff like that. We don’t want that. We want to compete, push each other to get better and go from there."

Washington has been in the mix for some of the best quarterbacks available this offseason. They inquired about both Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff before the Rams-Lions mega-deal and have also reportedly checked in on Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota in Las Vegas, too. 

Bringing Heinicke back allows Washington to have some continuity at the position, but it's clear the team is looking to upgrade the position overall. 

Heinicke isn't worried about that right now, though. The 27-year-old just inked the most secure contract of his NFL career thus far.

After being out of the league for nearly a year and a half, Heinicke is excited to be back in Washington -- he didn't want to go anywhere else -- and looking forward to whatever may happen come training camp and this fall.

"I'm excited for the opportunity," Heinicke said. "We'll see what happens."