Dan

Snyder

According to the Post, it’s not exactly clear whether or not these issues will prevent the league and its owners from meeting next week to approve the sale of the team, but one person familiar with the situation described the issues as “significant” and “not just some small snag.” While it’s possible the league could delay the vote to oust Snyder in favor of Harris, it was also pointed out that these issues could be little more than Snyder and his attorneys “attempting to extract last-minute concessions from the NFL.” Whether this delays the sale or not, Snyder appears to be on the outs when all is said and done. The league appears ready to be done with Snyder and his history of antics that have made the Commanders a near-impossible team to support and/or market. The league is set to vote on the sale on July 20th, giving them a little less than a week to iron out whatever issues are at hand.

This news comes just 24 hours after it was reported the sale of the team could be complicated by Snyder and his request for the league to not publicly release a report of his transgressions that has been compiled over the last several months. The Snyder’s officially announced the sale agreement on Friday saying, “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement for the sale of the Washington Commanders franchise with Josh Harris, an area native, and his impressive group of partners. We look forward to the prompt completion of this transaction and to rooting for Josh and the team in the coming years.” Harris and his group of backers will now look to restore the glory and respect of a franchise that has become a mockery under Snyder’s ownership. Rumors of the sale have already spurred negotiations for a new stadium, which was denied by several suitors who wanted nothing to do with Snyder and his controversies last year. Snyder’s reign was arguably the worst of any owner in professional sports during his 24-year tenure. The Commanders enjoyed just six winning seasons over that span which included just two playoff wins. The sale is still subject to NFL approval, but this appears to be a done deal.

If true — and there is no reason to believe it isn’t — the $6 billion price tag would obliterate the previous $4.65 billion record set by the Broncos’ sale. Of course, it also seems like something of a disappointment considering some of the rumored prices. The Commanders are a distressed asset after two-plus decades of Snyder’s disastrous control, but they are still one of only 32 NFL teams in the world. They are also a sleeping giant. The Commanders had one of the league’s most passionate fanbases until Snyder did everything he could to destroy it. It’s also a monster, growing market. If Harris can walk, chew gum and avoid filing frivolous lawsuits at the same time, he could oversee a quick turnaround for this storied franchise. Snyder will retreat to his super yacht to watch Marvel movies on his personal IMAX.

The loan is reportedly the “primary focus” of a criminal investigation into Snyder after the franchise’s minority owners -- controlling 40 percent of the team -- accused Snyder of taking out the loan without their required approval. In a related development, it was reported on Monday that Snyder is demanding indemnity from future legal action should be sell the Washington franchise -- a transaction that could be completed this offseason. Washington’s minority owners had asked the NFL to investigate the $55 million loan, but Commissioner Roger Goodell and a league arbitrator took no action. ESPN’s report said a “federal grand jury has issued subpoenas for a cache of documents related to the team’s finances, including the loan” in question. “Three billionaires -- not a few whistleblowers -- alleged to the NFL arbitrator that their partner had possibly committed bank fraud,” a source told ESPN. “This is jail time type of fraud. The NFL owes them as much of a fair shake as it owes Snyder. And the league had no interest in finding out what happened. They buried it and didn’t investigate it and covered it up.” This will surely complicate the team’s sale, which can’t come soon enough for what remains of the exhausted Commanders fan base.

And in a shocker to nobody, that assertion did not sit well with the owners in the league, reigniting talks of removing Snyder as an NFL owner. The phrases used to describe his demands included “ridiculous” and “absurd.” The ongoing and behind-the-scenes legal battles between Snyder, the league, and civil and criminal circuits rage on for one of professional sports’ most dysfunctional franchises.

The New York Post reported last week that embattled team owner Dan Snyder might decide to maintain his ownership to ensure Bezos, a longtime rival, does not end up with the franchise. The top offer for the Commanders is reportedly $5.5 billion, well short of the $7 billion valuation for the historic franchise that has been among the NFL’s worst teams for the past three decades. Perez said “news that Snyder wouldn’t sell to Bezos amounts to a ploy to get a high bid out of the Amazon founder.” The list of potential buyers has been narrowed in recent weeks. It would seem Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, still has a chance to take over the Commanders this offseason.

The top offer to buy the Commanders came in at $5.5 billion, falling short of the $7 billion valuation for the team. Snyder has benched Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns the Washington Post, from entering the auction. There are rumors the low offers and Snyder’s blocking of Bezos could result in not selling his stake in the team. A decision on whether Snyder will walk away from the NFL is expected by the annual owners’ meeting on March 26.

Glazer also noted that the expectation is that the team will fetch $7 billion dollars. It remains a bit of an unknown if and how quickly this will change the knowns in Washington -- Ron Rivera, Martin Mayhew, and so on -- but new ownership could bring in some sweeping changes if they desired. It’s a situation to watch this offseason.

Specifically, the “U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Virginia.” It is probably not a coincidence the news drops the same day disgraced owner Daniel Snyder finally propped open the door to selling the team after two-plus decades of disastrous control. Per ESPN, Snyder’s team is being investigated for “financial impropriety by owner Dan Snyder and team executives.” It would appear one of the potential crimes was cooking its league books, sharing false ticket sales data with the NFL office. The allegations are undoubtedly one of the many reasons Snyder’s co-owners seem to have finally turned against him after decades of protection. Stay tuned.

It’s news for which Washington fans have waited for two decades. Ozanian said “Snyder and his bankers are exploring all options and a transaction could be for the entire NFL team or a minority stake.” Snyder has interest from “at least” four groups looking to purchase the team, which is valued at $5.6 billion despite 30 years of futility. He could remain part of the organization depending on the details of the sale. This is surely welcomed news for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the other 31 NFL owners, some of whom have expressed interest in ousting Snyder as Washington’s owner. Snyder and his organization have a laughingstock and embarrassment for both the league and a Washington fanbase that has whittled down to almost nothing. Most Washington home games sound like away games for the Commanders. The league has investigated Snyder for fostering a culture of sexual harassment. Women who have worked for the Commanders have accused Snyder himself of sexual misconduct.