Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder, long a source of controversy for the NFL, is in the news yet again, as a bombshell ESPN report published Thursday stated that Snyder is digging up dirt on his fellow owners in a desperate attempt to keep his team. The 57-year-old is apparently headed for a showdown with the league, as they may force him to sell the Commanders, and the report suggested he will go down swinging.
Washington happened to play on the same day of the report, defeating the Bears 12-7 in another “Thursday Night Football” snoozer. Surprisingly, Amazon broadcaster Al Michaels decided to delve into the controversy during the live broadcast.
“Just my feeling, I think what the league would love is for Snyder to sell the team,” Michaels said at the start of the fourth quarter, after rattling off the numerous controversies Snyder has been involved in. “Not have to go to a vote, but just sell the team. Because it’s become a major problem around the league, obviously. And we’ll see what happens.
“I think it’s got a long way to go, and Dan is very well known for digging his heels into the ground.”
It’s noteworthy for a league broadcaster to dive this deep into an off-field controversy during a live game, and even more so for them to give their opinion on it. Michaels, a 77-year-old broadcasting legend, joined Amazon for its first season of exclusively broadcasting “Thursday Night Football.”
The list of controversies Snyder has been involved in since he purchased the team in 1999 is extensive. He has been accused by dozens of former employees of fostering a toxic workplace environment, particularly toward women, and Congress recently launched a probe into the organization’s workplace culture. Synder was fined $10 million and turned over day-to-day operations of the team to his wife.
A woman also accused Synder of sexual assault and harassment in 2009 on a team plane, which he reportedly settled for $1.6 million.
There is a league meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell scheduled in New York on Tuesday, which could ultimately yield steps in determining Snyder’s fate.
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