Dan Snyder has been involved in another controversy surrounding the Commanders this offseason, and it could affect his future in the NFL. As detailed by Jarrett Bell of USA Today, a number of other owners are considering “drastic options” in advance of this week’s league meetings. 
The latest source of angst in Washington is centered around the ongoing FTC investigation into financial wrongdoing, much of which is alleged to have taken place between the years 2010 and 2015. The team has publicly rebuked the allegations, calling them “baseless”, “false and reckless” and based on “pure speculation”.
While the investigation has yet to be completed, its very existence has left Snyder “very much on the minds of some fellow NFL owners who would go as far as trying to force [him] from their ranks”, Bell notes. As one such owner anonymously said, “there’s growing frustration about the Washington situation and not over one issue, but over how much smoke there is”, adding “I think everybody’s getting tired of it”.
Last offseason, it was announced that Snyder would not be suspended as a result of the investigation into the team’s workplace culture. Instead, his wife assumed the day-to-day duties of running the franchise, which was fined $10MM. Even before this latest investigation, Bell reports, there was an “anti-Snyder sentiment” which was “significant”.
As a result, another owner remarked that the allegations of Washington using two sets of books for the purpose of hiding league revenue, if proven to be true, would be “the nail in the coffin”. Furthermore, yet another said that “we are counting votes” – a statement which signals an intent, if sufficient support exists, to compel Snyder to sell the team.
As Bell notes, however, it is “unclear” at this point how many owners would be prepared to go that far. A three-fourths majority (that is, 24 other owners) would be required to remove the 57-year-old, who will not be in attendance at this week’s meetings.
When even Jerry Jones and Jimmy Haslam decide YOU are too unethical…
That’s like Mark Davis deciding that you have a bad haircut.
Mark Davis gets comfort from his haircut. He uses the same bowl his dad did to cut it.
They should make him turn the team over to his wife and ban him from being in any place an NFL team is at. They can’t do it from NFL sites since they do own any.
His wife in turn should divorce the scumbag. I don’t know for a fact he has cheated on him but the crap he has done I would be shocked if he hasn’t. I know there are some that have agreements but that makes no sense to me. She would not have a problem finding a new husband heck I would get in line for that.
Smoke is enough for the NFL, whether the allegations are true or not. The trouble for the other owners is, of course, how whatever course of action they choose could ultimately be used against one of them in the future. I could believe that Snyder did something wrong (although, other than the financial improprieties, the specific actions he’s personally alleged to have taken seem more like a just a general negativity than some specific offense so far to me), but as of right now, there is scant proof other than the accusations themselves. Snyder being an unlikeable character in general makes them have more weight than they would otherwise.
Either way, the owners may have continued to let Snyder mind his own business until the financial accusations surfaced. I’m sure Washington isn’t the only team to have skimmed ticket revenues, but the public perception that an owner could do so makes the others look feckless. Out of sight, out of mind is better for them. So whatever Snyder did or didn’t do, I think that the owners are at least considering what their options are for removing the distraction. Snyder hating Goodell doesn’t do him any favors either. My only question is…where exactly is Bruce Allen for all of this?
Well put. I immediately thought how many other teams do the same thing or is this a lone wolf deal. With that said if i was another team doing it i’d vote towards whatever deflects from my team based on the other owners you talk to. Obviously Im not privy to any of that. I will add if Ross in Miami paid staff to lose games, that to me is worse(without having full access to Snyder and his large file) and if I’m an owner that should matter more just based on win integrity alone and keeping the fanbase/gambling side of the sport. Throwing games is a joke, he’s the owner just veto any good signings and mandate they sign practice squad caliber guys instead
Just follow Al’s lead sue the league with a multitude of suits until it all gets so convoluted they settle them all by doing nothing.
I seem to recall that when the allegations of sexual harassment and toxic workplace were initially revealed against the then-WFT, the team also immediately jumped up to publicly declare those accusations things such as “baseless”, “false and reckless”, and “based on pure speculation”, or words to those effects. As it turned out, they weren’t any of those things and the team got a real black eye in public perception.
I’m thinking that Snyder might want to keep both his own and his team’s mouth shut this time around… but he won’t. And this time it could finally be his undoing.
Whatever he was accused of doing I saw him do all of it and he needs to be removed
This comment is pure gold
I miss Jack Kent Cooke. Should have handed the team down to his children.
It was Cooke who owned the Lakers and sold to Jerry Buss
Forgot that!
You can sexually harass your employees and create a hostile work environment, but don’t screw around with the money.
Amen.
DC swampies hate this guy big time he’s as good as gone
There is absolutely nothing to see here. The other owners will do nothing but shake Dan Snyders hand and thank him for falling on the sword and being a distraction. A distraction away from Jon Gruden, Stephen Ross, Brian Flores, Evert Deshazor, Alvin Kamara, Henry Ruggs, Richard Sherman, and the list is endless.
Also, the last thing that the owners want right now is another team in jeopardy of being for sale. If you flood the market with too much merchandise, the value will drop. You put Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, and Washington on the market…..
Vegas won’t be up for sale and Denver is as good as sold at this point. The Miami and Washington stuff won’t be decided within the next year so plenty of buffer time, maybe 2 full seasons if they drag on
“Also, the last thing that the owners want right now is another team in jeopardy of being for sale. If you flood the market with too much merchandise, the value will drop. You put Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, and Washington on the market…..”
……NFL teams are SHATTERING the previous records for franchise sale price. So, generic Econ 101 does not apply here.
Forcing Snyder to sell (for billions) only increases their team’s values.
And, no, they probably aren’t going to thank him for essentially stealing from them. Guessing that’s unlikely.
That’s true, but more sales decreases the max sale price for each team individually. And, on top of that, it increases the chance that owners will have to approve a less than desirable buyer. They’re always going to go with the most money in these offers, but they may not like the provider of said money. I think they’d rather space it out to filter through their options and drive up demand in their limited pool of prospective entrants into their billionaires club. But I’m not in, so what do I know…
Plenty of bidders and nothing that comes from selling the DC team could be worse than allowing this jagoff continue to own it and embarrass the league with new controversy after new controversy…all while hiding money from his fellow owners.
He gone.
This franchise was at one time at the top of the pile, and since Daniel Snyder took the reigns it’s gone straight to the dogs. He has totally ruined it. The FedEx stadium adventure is a total embarrassment and no one wants to go anymore. Overpriced on everything… the man should be ashamed of his self!
You have to have a sense of shame to actually be ashamed.
Free Dan!
A political hit job, nothing more.
Snyder’s “nuclear option” might be the bulk of emails and texts that have not been disclosed in the Gruden/Allen affair. I believe only a small sample was used to destroy Gruden but there are probably many more that include Snyder, Goodell, other NFL executives and owners. The subjects are probably the same as, or worse, than Gruden and Allen so Dan may want to take more people down with him.
The Commanders have conveniently let ESPN know that they put $100 million down on land for a new stadium in northern Virginia. Site is in Prince William County with main access off constantly congested I-95.
Ain’t nothing like planting favorable coverage in national sports media while D.C. news stations are following up on “we are counting votes”.
Except the land is near their practice facility and nowhere near I95.
Turns out this is in fact the Woodbridge site, but they didn’t actually make a purchase they merely have an option contract. I still believe they will try and build it near their facility by Dulles.