Roger Goodell

House Oversight Committee To Subpoena Commanders Owner Dan Snyder

June 22nd, 2022 at 11:02am CST by Sam Robinson

Although the House Oversight Committee requested testimony from Dan Snyder and Roger Goodell, only the commissioner showed up for the Wednesday hearing. Snyder, via a representative indicating he was scheduled to be out of the country, refused the request.

But the committee plans to go a step further during its investigation into the Commanders. Chairperson Carolyn Maloney said she would issue a subpoena to Snyder for a deposition next week.

“Mr. Snyder has not been held accountable,” Maloney said, via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post (on Twitter). “His refusal to testify sends a clear message that he is more concerned about protecting himself than coming clean with the American people. If the NFL is unwilling or unable to hold Mr. Snyder accountable, then I am prepared to do so.”

This marks one of a few issues the embattled Washington owner faces. The committee accused Snyder of conducting a “shadow investigation” aimed at discrediting former team employees and journalists amid the NFL’s inquiry into allegations of workplace misconduct, according to the Washington Post’s Mark Maske, Liz Clarke and Jhabvala. The league’s investigation wrapped last year, but after the league failed to issue a written report, Congress launched its own investigation into Snyder and the Commanders.

The alleged Snyder-driven counterstrike effort attempted to accuse former team president Bruce Allen of being primarily responsible for the workplace issues that came under scrutiny. Snyder fired Allen after the 2019 season.

Goodell attributed the lack of a written report in Beth Wilkinson’s Washington investigation to select former Washington employees seeking anonymity, but the committee’s findings during its probe revealed the NFL had planned for Wilkinson to issue a report instead of an oral summary. The committee uncovered a document indicating a September 2020 agreement between the NFL and Wilkinson’s firm that a written report — outlining the findings in the league’s inquiry into accusations of Washington workplace misconduct — would be in the cards, per Jhabvala. Goodell has been accused to changing that plan, prompting Congressional involvement.

The NFL’s investigation into Snyder and his franchise did result in the owner ceding day-to-day operations to his wife, Tanya Snyder. Goodell said Wednesday he believes that arrangement is still in place nearly a year later.

Another report, from the Washington Post’s Will Hobson, revealed Dan Snyder settled with a former employee who accused him of sexual assault in 2009. The woman accused Snyder of sexually harassing and assaulting her, leading to a $1.6MM settlement. Snyder has denied the allegations, with a team investigation accusing the alleged victim of an extortion attempt. When asked about that report Wednesday, Goodell said he did not recall if Snyder informed him of the allegation and settlement. Teams are required to inform Goodell of such allegations, per the personal conduct policy (Twitter links via Jhabvala and The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones).

Snyder-centered scandals have engulfed his franchise for years, and though the longtime owner has brought considerable negative PR to the NFL during his tenure, owners were — as of May — not planning a legitimate push to remove him from his post. Owners have, however, begun to grow tired of the constant smoke surrounding Snyder. His deposition before Congress stands to represent an important chapter during his controversial run as an NFL owner.

Daniel Snyder, Roger Goodell Requested To Testify At House Oversight Committee Hearing

June 20th, 2022 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 20: Goodell has agreed to testify at Wednesday’s hearing, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Goodell will testify remotely, however. Snyder’s refusal to testify this week prompted a Committee response.

“If Mr. Snyder was truly committed to cooperating with the Committee’s investigation, he would have accepted the Committee’s invitation to testify about the Commanders’ toxic workplace culture,” a Committee spokesperson said, via Keim. “As the Chairwoman’s letter made clear, the Committee has been more than accommodating — even allowing Mr. Snyder to testify remotely from France. His refusal to testify sends an unmistakable signal that Mr. Snyder has something to hide and is afraid of coming clean to the American public and addressing major worker protection concerns facing the NFL.”

JUNE 15: Snyder has turned down the Oversight Committee’s request. Indicating he will be out of the country June 22, the Commanders owner will not testify, John Keim of ESPN.com reports. This had been the long-expected outcome, Keim adds. A letter from attorney Karen Patton Seymour notes Snyder had a “longstanding Commanders-related business conflict and is out of the country on the first and only date the Committee has proposed for the hearing.”

The letter also indicates Snyder would be willing to testify if the date is changed. The Committee intends to move forward with the hearing, absent the embattled owner. It is not yet known if Goodell will testify before the Committee next week.

JUNE 1: The subject of the Washington Commanders’ workplace culture continues to be an issue for the NFL. Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee, which has been investigating the Commanders for months, invited Daniel Snyder and Roger Goodell to testify in a June 22 hearing.

Snyder’s long-scrutinized tenure as the NFC East franchise’s owner has become an increasingly higher-profile topic for the league. Rumors of frustration among other owners, due to the Snyder-centered scandals that have emerged in recent years, have emerged. Wednesday’s development will certainly not cool anything down.

“The hearing is the next step in the Committee’s months-long investigation into the Commanders’ hostile workplace culture and will also examine the NFL’s handling of allegations of workplace misconduct, the NFL’s role in setting and enforcing standards across the league, and legislative reforms needed to address these issues across the NFL and other workplaces,” the Committee said in its statement.

Last year, the NFL fined Snyder $10MM as a result of an investigation into sexual harassment allegations from 15 former Washington Football Team employees. The fallout from this proved controversial for the league, which did not produce a written report of the findings. The NFL also did not suspend Snyder, who took a backseat to his wife, Tanya, regarding day-to-day operations. This came under the purview of Congress late last year, when it began its own investigation.

“Since we launched our investigation in October, the Committee’s goal has been to uncover the truth about the culture of harassment and abuse at the Washington Commanders, to hold accountable those responsible, and to better protect workers across the country,” said New York Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Committee chairwoman. “The Committee has worked tirelessly to obtain critical information, including the findings of the internal investigation conducted by attorney Beth Wilkinson, only to be met with obstruction from the Commanders and the NFL at every turn.

“We must have transparency and accountability, which is why we are calling on Mr. Goodell and Mr. Snyder to answer the questions they have dodged for the last seven months. The hearing will explore how Congress can act to prevent employers from silencing victims of workplace misconduct and ensure that what happened at the Commanders organization does not happen again.”

Issuing similar statements, the Commanders and the NFL said they would issue responses to the invites “in a timely manner,” via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter links). The Commanders’ statement indicated they have complied with all previous Committee requests.

Wilkinson’s investigation lasted 10 months; the Oversight Committee’s ensuing probe is approaching that benchmark. The Federal Trade Commission has also been investigating the Commanders’ alleged financial wrongdoing, adding to the turmoil currently engulfing Snyder. Attorneys general in Virginia and Washington D.C. announced subsequent investigations into this matter. The team has denied those allegations. Earlier this year, the NFL launched an investigation into this matter as well.

The embattled owner may not be on the verge of losing his team, one he has owned since 1999, but these controversies continue to generate concern among Snyder’s peers. An actual suspension for the Commanders owner has been floated. The forthcoming hearing will not help matters on this front.

Goodell: Deshaun Watson Investigation Winding Down

May 26th, 2022 at 4:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Embroiled in what has become a career-defining scandal for more than 14 months now, Deshaun Watson will learn his NFL punishment soon. Roger Goodell said the league is “nearing the end” of its investigatory process, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The league met with Watson last week and is expected to meet with the Browns quarterback again in an investigation that defense attorney Rusty Hardin expects to end by June or July. The 22 civil suits Watson is facing, however, will not be complete until 2023, per Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com. The NFL’s initial punishment will commence far before the civil trials conclude.

Both Watson’s legal team and Tony Buzbee, who is representing the massage therapists who have accused the Pro Bowl passer of sexual misconduct and/or sexual assault, have agreed not to go through depositions between August 1 and March 1. When the civil trials wrap, the NFL could impose additional punishment. While it is uncertain if the league will end up punishing Watson, a suspension has long been expected. The Browns structured Watson’s five-year, $230MM contract in a way that would anticipate punishment, dropping his 2022 base salary to a league-minimum $1.1MM.

The NFL has met with more than half of Watson’s accusers, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Independent arbitrator Sue Robinson, a former U.S. District Court Judge, will render the initial verdict. The NFL and NFLPA can appeal her decision, which would send the matter to Goodell, who has drawn scrutiny for his disciplinary decisions for much of his tenure as commissioner.

HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel recently aired a piece featuring two of Watson’s accusers, Kyla Hayes and Ashley Solis, detailing their allegations. While Watson and his camp have continued to deny all accusations of wrongdoing, Hardin has acknowledged his team was “not going to win the battle of public opinion,” via Cabot. Though two grand juries did not charge Watson, players do not need to be charged with crimes to be suspended. Considering the ongoing civil trials hanging over Watson until 2023, the sixth-year veteran will undoubtedly play this season amid controversy.

Extension For Goodell Probable

February 18th, 2022 at 7:28pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite previous reports that Roger Goodell would retire at the end of his current contract, a new deal may be in the works for the NFL commissioner, according to Ben Fischer and John Ourand of Sports Business Journal.

Goodell recently wrapped up his 16th season as commissioner. Initially elected by NFL owners in 2006, Goodell’s seen extensions to his contract in 2009, 2012, and 2017. In terms of public standing, Goodell is in the best position of his career. As a longtime punching bag, usually with attention focused on his disciplinary procedures, Goodell is starting to earn some recognition from both owners and fans.

Under Goodell, the NFL has negotiated a bargaining agreement with the players union through the 2030 season and signed TV/media deals worth $113 billion through the 2033 season. Not only did the NFL navigate the minefield of the COVID-19 pandemic without losing a single game, but viewership increased by 10%. These accomplishments have endeared Goodell to NFL owners.

In the eyes of the public, Goodell is benefitting from a heightened awareness of NFL fans. Public outcry on issues, like the lack of minority coaching hires, has shifted aim from Goodell to owners, as fans start to learn who is really responsible for making those kinds of decisions. Scandals and allegations centered on owners like Stephen Ross, of the Dolphins, and Dan Snyder, of the Commanders, have worked to shift negative attention even further from Goodell and the NFL, specifically.

Even if owners were ready to move on from Goodell, a lack of a clear successor has them stalling for time. Since vacating the position of Chief Operating Officer to become commissioner, the two people who have filled the role have left. Tod Leiweke, who succeeded Goodell and held the COO position until 2018, would’ve been the obvious choice, but he resigned to become the president and CEO of the Seattle Kraken of the NHL, as well as a minority owner. Leiweke’s successor, Mary Ann Turcke, stepped down from the position in August of 2020, leaving the position vacant since then.

Three possible successors have been identified: Chief Media and Business Officer Brian Rolapp, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent, and chief strategy officer Chris Halpin. Rolapp has long been viewed, internally, as the most logical candidate, but has done little to sell himself to owners. He did have a hand in the NFL’s mega-media deals. Halpin is an interesting candidate as he is credited for much of the NFL’s efforts on international expansion. Vincent played a huge part in the NFL’s navigation of the COVID-19 season. Discussions about possibly splitting the commissioner position into two separate leadership positions for football and business could be the eventual answer if owners don’t like their options past Goodell.

For now, though, it sounds like Goodell continues to be the man for the job. One owner was quoted saying, “He’s at the top of his game right now. Why would we want him walking out the door?” For what it’s worth, the NFL’s vice president of communications denied that there was any truth to the reports of contract negotiations.

Goodell has seen his salary increase with each new deal, though his current contract, estimated to have earned him $63.9MM over each of the past two seasons, is heavily incentive-laden. The 63-year-old would be 65 at the end of his current contract. An extension would likely make him the oldest person to have held the position with Paul Tagliabue retiring at 66 and Pete Rozelle walking away at 63. He is already set to pass Tagliabue for the title of second-longest-tenured NFL commissioner. If Goodell walked away in 2024 we would’ve served for 18 seasons, one more than Tagliabue. It’s unlikely that Goodell will reach Rozelle’s tenure of 29 years.

It does seem, though, that Goodell has a few more years left in him, if the reports are true. If a new extension is reached in the coming months, Goodell and the NFL will have a few more years to set up a replacement plan.

Latest On NFL’s Dolphins Investigation

February 14th, 2022 at 10:53am CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL’s probe into the Miami Dolphins, and in particular owner Stephen Ross, has begun. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the result of the investigation could cost Ross the team.

This stems from the allegations former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores made against Ross that included, among other things, $100K payments for each loss during the team’s rebuilding 2019 season. The league announced it would open an investigation one day later. If proven to be true, Ross could face a wide range of consequences.

As Rapoport writes, Ross’ discipline “could be severe, up to and including [him] losing the team by a vote of fellow owners”. That option, while extreme, is a possibility, according to commissioner Roger Goodell, who recently stated, “I do believe that clubs do have the authority to remove an owner from the league”. Rapoport adds that a three-fourths majority vote would be required for such an action to take place.

From the outset, Ross has denied any wrongdoing, calling Flores’ allegations “false, malicious and defamatory”. He also stated an intention to cooperate fully with the investigation. Goodell added that the league’s next actions will, of course, not be determined until after the facts of the probe have been established. When that time comes, though, its ramifications could clearly be far-reaching for Ross.

NFL Moves To Dismiss Jon Gruden’s Lawsuit

January 20th, 2022 at 11:45am CST by Adam La Rose

The case of former Raiders HC Jon Gruden‘s lawsuit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell has taken another turn. The league has filed for the suit to be dismissed, according to a report from Daniel Kaplan of the Athletic.

Kaplan notes that the league has actually moved for the case to be taken to arbitration in Nevada state court first, and asked for it to be dismissed pending its decision on arbitration. The league’s written response to Gruden’s suit states that “Gruden sent a variety of similarly abhorrent emails to a half dozen recipients over a seven-year period” besides those sent to former WFT president Bruce Allen. Like those emails, which led to Gruden’s resignation in October, these other ones “denounced `the emergence of women as referees,’ and frequently used homophobic and sexist slurs to refer to Commissioner Goodell, then-Vice President Joseph Biden, a gay professional football player drafted in 2014, and others”.

The response also comments on claims alleging the league leaked the damning emails as a way to get revenge against Gruden due to his remarks against the commissioner. As reported by Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, the league responded that Gruden “primarily assumed the risk that his emails could be circulated beyond the original recipient group, and possessed and distributed by the WFT, NFL and others”. It continues, “to be sure, the NFL and the commissioner did not leak Gruden’s emails”.

The motion details how Goodell had grounds to fire Gruden outright, given the fact that the nature of his emails were detrimental to the league. For that reason, it states, no one at the league office had a motivation to “publicly sabotage Gruden’s career”, as the original lawsuit claims. Instead, it argues, the suit “should be dismissed in its entirety”.

No further developments (such as if the case will proceed to court) will be able to take place until the aforementioned arbitration decision is made.

NFL Considering Changes To COVID-19 Protocols

December 15th, 2021 at 5:45pm CST by Ben Levine

With COVID-19 cases surging across the NFL, commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that the league and the union are considering revisions to the league’s protocols.

“The thing that made us successful is keeping safety first,” Goodell said (via Alber Breer of TheMMQB on Twitter). “And second, being willing to adapt at all times.”

Earlier today, we learned that the NFL was considering tweaking a rule that would allow vaccinated, asymptomatic players who have tested positive to return to the field sooner (via Mark Maske of The Washington Post on Twitter). This followed a tweet from the NFL Players Associations earlier today that pushed for changes to protocol, including a request for daily testing.

“The NFL decided to take away a critical weapon in our fight against the transmission of COVID-19 despite our union’s call for daily testing months ago,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “We’re talking to our player leadership & to the NFL about potential changes to the protocols so that we can complete the season.”

Meanwhile, Goodell also said the spike in COVID cases won’t lead to any postponements or cancellations.

“There has not been any discussion about [postponements] and we will confident in our protocols,” the commissioner said (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones on Twitter).

This Date In Transactions History: NFL Extends Roger Goodell

December 6th, 2021 at 9:07am CST by Zachary Links

On this date in 2017, the NFL furnished Roger Goodell with a brand new five-year deal to take him through the 2023 league year. The new pact — worth up to $63MM annually — was met with criticism from some, including Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Along the way, Jones accused Falcons owner Arthur Blank — head of the league’s compensation committee — of “misleading” NFL owners on the terms of Goodell‘s extension. Technically, Jones was not a member of the six-man Compensation Committee, but he was regarded as an unofficial seventh member. Using his influence, Jones helped to galvanize a small group of owners against a sizable new deal for Goodell. Or, at least, bring new scrutiny to the situation. But, over time, he lost momentum. By the end, there were only a handful of owners in Jones’ corner.

For their part, the league claimed that there was a “nearly unanimous consensus” to finalize the deal. Blank ultimately signed off on Dec. 6, 2017, much to the chagrin of Jones who was still fuming over Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-game ban.

“Our Committee unanimously supports the contract and believes that it is fully consistent with “market” compensation and the financial and other parameters outlined to the owners at our May 2017 meeting, as well as in the best interests of ownership,” the Compensation Committee said in a memo. “We also have expressed in those conversations our strong belief that we should proceed to sign the agreement now, consistent with the unanimous May resolution and to avoid further controversy surrounding this issue. We are pleased to report that there is a nearly unanimous consensus among the ownership in favor of signing the contract extension now.”

Goodell still gets his fair share of criticism, but this story does have something of a happy ending. Four years later, Jones now says that he’s in favor of the commissioner’s lucrative contract.

“Certainly those numbers on the face of them are large numbers,” Jones said on HBO recently (via the New York Post) “Roger has been an excellent commissioner. I might say that back when years ago when I first came into the league they would be big numbers. I don’t know for sure what a man of your talent was making back then. But I know we could look at where we are today, and those numbers have increased a lot during that time. So everything has gotten more as opposed to maybe what we’ve looked at in the past.”

“But I think this. I think that Roger Goodell has done an outstanding job as commissioner of the NFL.”

Jon Gruden Sues NFL, Roger Goodell

November 12th, 2021 at 2:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jon Gruden has filed a lawsuit against Roger Goodell and NFL, David Ferrara of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. This comes weeks after leaked emails led to Gruden leaving his post as Raiders head coach.

“Through a malicious and orchestrated campaign, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell sought to destroy the career and reputation of Jon Gruden, the former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” the lawsuit states.

Signed to a 10-year, $100MM contract in 2018, Gruden resigned last month after multiple publications reported he used racist and misogynistic language in emails to former Washington team president Bruce Allen. This included (and was not limited to) crude remarks about Goodell, gay NFL players, female referees, and Washington cheerleaders.

“When their initial salvo did not result in Gruden’s firing or resignation, defendants ratcheted up the pressure by intimating that further documents would become public if Gruden was not fired,” the lawsuit stated. “They followed through with this threat by leaking another batch of documents to the New York Times for an October 11, 2021 article. On October 7, 2021, Jon Gruden was the head coach of the Raiders on a 10-year, $100-million contract. By October 11, 2021, he had been forced to resign.”

Gruden, 58, returned to coaching in 2018 after 10 years as an ESPN analyst. The NFL has not released any emails from the Washington Football Team investigation, and the league said no other violations were found on the level of Gruden’s comments. Gruden filed the suit in Nevada state court, Ferrara adds. The NFL called Gruden’s allegations “meritless,” Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Latest On WFT Owner Dan Snyder, NFL Investigation

July 1st, 2021 at 7:46pm CST by Ben Levine

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:

“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.

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