Earlier today, we learned that the NFL slapped the Washington Football Team with a $10MM fine following the league’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations. Following the announcement, commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement:
[RELATED: NFL Fines Washington Football Team $10MM]
“I want to thank Beth Wilkinson and her team for conducting a thorough and independent review of the Washington club’s workplace culture and conduct and providing both the club and me with a series of thoughtful recommendations based on her findings,” Goodell said (via NFL.com). “Beth and her team performed their work in a highly professional and ethical manner. Most importantly, I want to thank the current and former employees who spoke to Beth and her team; they provided vital information that will help ensure that the workplace environment at the club continues to improve. It is incredibly difficult to relive painful memories. I am grateful to everyone who courageously came forward.”
We also learned that while the NFL didn’t suspended owner Dan Snyder, his wife, co-CEO Tanya Snyder, will now oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations. The decision to replace Dan Snyder with Tanya Snyder was “voluntary” and wasn’t mandated by the league, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. However, Mark Maske of the Washington Post clarifies (on Twitter) that Dan Snyder can only return to his day-to-day role following approval from Goodell. In the meantime, while Dan Snyder won’t be responsible for the team’s day-to-day operations, he’ll still play a role in getting the organization a new stadium (per Garafolo).
Meanwhile, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com tweets that the NFL won’t unveil any specific findings, as the league promised multiple interviewees that their “confidentiality would be protected.” Later, Florio shared that lawyers of the WFT employees blasted the league’s lack of transparency.
Is there a bigger train wreck than the WTFs? (In the nfl)
Yes. A lot. Washington made the playoffs.
Uhhh the NFL in general is a total disgusting mess
Take a stand NFL, or do you want to continue to sweep under the rug the what I hope are exceptions to your culture. The victims advocates say:
Two lawyers who represent multiple former employees of the team have blasted the decision to keep the details of the misbehavior secret.
“In response to a year-long investigation in which more than 100 witnesses were interviewed, and which we believe substantiated our clients’ allegations of pervasive harassment, misogyny and abuse at the Washington Football Team, the NFL has chosen to protect owner Dan Snyder,” lawyers Lisa Banks and Debra Katz said in a statement issued to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. “Ignoring our requests that it make the report prepared by Beth Wilkinson public, the NFL has chosen instead to receive only an oral report of the findings and to find Dan Snyder what amounts to pocket change. That is truly outrageous, and is a slap in the face to the hundreds of women and former employees who came forward in good faith and at great personal risk to report a culture of abuse at all levels of the Team, including by Snyder himself. The NFL has effectively told survivors in this country and around the world that it does not care about them or credit their experiences. Female fans, and fans of goodwill everywhere, take note.”
Bill Cosby approves this message
So many Cosby fans are proclaiming victory; when hes out because his own sworn testimony drugging victims in a civil suit was judged inadmissible in criminal trial. That jury wasn’t supposed to see the slam dunk. Understand the legal system is so skewed to innocence for those with $$ for great lawyers that when politicians and celebrities are convicted, you KNOW they’re criminals and probably deserve much more.
This isn’t a government investigation or a criminal proceeding. Demanding that the league act as a judicial body only furthers the notion that it SHOULD be a judicial body. It’s not, and it shouldn’t be. We don’t need any more encouragement for Roger Goodell to replace the legal system.
They fined the team $10 million and Snyder has to “step away” from the team. It’s obvious enough that the team staff looks guilty, or at least not completely innocent, of allegations regarding the workplace. I don’t need to know the details. The punishment, and Snyder admitting fault as the boss, tell me enough. Demanding more is the journalistic equivalent of slowing down to stare at the car wreck on the freeway.
While I sympathize with your position regarding Goodell, I totally disagree with you about releasing the report, even if all of the names were redacted.
$10 million is a slap on the wrist, unless it were lopped off of their salary cap, and if Snyder’s stepping away from the team is anything like George Steinbrenner’s was back in the nid-70’s, it’s a fiction; worse, it’s a con.
I doubt it’s fiction. According to NBC news this morning, 150 current and former employees came forward to speak about the issue. Sure looks like more than a rumor.
I was calling “fiction” the idea that Snyder would be stepping back from the day-to-day running of the team.
Granted, but apparently there is no report anyway, somehow. So there is no way for us to evaluate anything. I actually find the claims believable, but ironically the NFL screwed this up yet again by not even having a report for anyone to see.
I understand where you’re coming from, CKA- but I don’t think they could reduce the cap as a punishment because it’s collectively bargained the percentage of revenue players get. Furthermore, I’m not sure I agree with reducing the cap because you in essence punish the WFT players. If Washington goes 4-12 or 12-4, it really doesn’t impact Snyder.
Good points.
Dan Snyder is small potatoes, what I want to know is will Tim Tebow make that Jaguar Football Team
Dan Synder is a horrible human being.
But since he’s a horrible human being with money, other less than great human beings with money will look the other way.
They will never ever approve of setting a precedent of taking the team away. Because they feel the exact same way about women, about the team name, about everything. Old white rich men believe fervently; anything that was okay in 1950 is okay now. Because Tradition! They can’t fathom something is wrong if it was done for years and years. If there was a Charlotte Chinks founded in 1948 they’d argue how that word was honoring Chinese American contributions like they did with Redskins.
Southern billionaires are worse, they believe if its ok in 1850 it should be okay now. “Inmates running the prison” said Titans owner.
You just…you just really hate white people, huh?
Wasn’t there an NBA owner who was forced out for racist remarks years ago?
To not remove Snyder and auction the team off sucks for Washington fans and all of us fans of good football, and basic human decency.
You know why, right? The other owners are slimy human beings who won’t set a precedent; that merely being so incompetent and ancient minded you’re stuck without a name, your fans dont come to games, you treat women like 1960’s Mad Men, you can lose your team.
They saw what happened to Don Sterling and shuddered, that aint happening here.
Seems a shame that nobody is thanking Dan Snyder for pre-empting the daily Aaron Rodgers update.
The second worst franchise in the NFL! The Giants are worse!! The Giants will spend the next 2 year’s immortalizing Eli (OVERATED) Manning!
It’s really crazy how the nfl picks and chooses. You have Zeke Elliot who was suspended for four games when the investigator who was a woman said she didn’t think anything happened and Zeke was innocent. Yet Dan Snyder gets nothing they are allowed to work it out themselves.
I’m curious what happens to Watson. I have a feeling he gets 2 games if that.
Why doesn’t the NFL give the $10 million to the cheerleaders who got harassed? A good deed indeed!
He could download and sell the video he made for himself and easily make the ten mill back. It is disgusting but true. How can his wife stay with him? Maybe this is a way to get him away from the team and leave him. Then take the team away from him. If he is going to show so little respect for his wife she should take him to the cleaners. With. The team being part of the clean out. Hopefully the owners would never allow him to own another team. The guy is a scumbag and the NFL doesn’t need him as an owner.
I wonder if his wife and kids have to call him “Mr. Snyder?”
I used to work with someone who knew someone who interviewed for a job with him. He told me he is exactly what you think he is .
Very difficult to take anything the NFL says or does seriously.