Rivera discusses his initial thoughts on the Commanders’ expected sale.
When Ron Rivera was hired as the head coach of the then-Washington Redskins at the conclusion of the 2019 season, he likely never could’ve predicted how the next three years would be for him personally and professionally.
Before Rivera ever coached a game in Washington, the team changed its name. There were investigations into owner Daniel Snyder, which have since multiplied, and the team changed its name again last February.
Oh, and in Rivera’s first season, he battled cancer while leading Washington to an NFC East title.
Through everything, Rivera has continued to lead the Commanders despite the constant uncertainty regarding the ownership situation.
“It really seemed like a load was lifted, because everybody was on pins and needles for the last couple of months,” Rivera continued. “You kind of wondered what was going to happen.”
Rivera wasn’t saying this to disrespect Snyder. Instead, Rivera, like team president Jason Wright explained at the NFL owners meetings last month, everyone, including the Snyder family, is ready to move forward.
When the news broke Thursday afternoon that Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder had agreed in principle to sell the team to Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris, fans were elated.
Of course, the deal wasn’t final, as it was later reported to be nonexclusive and yet to be signed.
What does that mean?
It means someone can still contact Snyder and top Harris’ bid. That seemed unlikely, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos telling those close to him he would not enter the bidding process.
Last month, “The Sports Junkies,” from 106.7 The Fan in Washington, first mentioned Davis had placed a bid on the Commanders, but it was not mentioned again — until Friday.
In Haynes’ report, he mentions that Davis made his bid on March 21 and, according to documents obtained by WUSA, “is offering to pay the first $1 billion to Dan Snyder within 24 hours, and $6 billion within seven days.”
Wait, there’s more.
Davis is also willing to indemnify Dan Snyder as a condition of his offer, according to the March 21 letter, meaning Davis is willing to take on any legal liability related to Dan Snyder and ongoing investigations into the team.
Davis, a Bladensburg, Maryland native, played one season in the NBA and owns Urban Echo Energy LLC, a LEED-certified developer of renewable energy assets.
How did Davis accrue his wealth?
A source told WUSA9 that Davis raised the capital by selling his own intellectual property. During that time, private investors realized he had a $50 billion.
More from Haynes:
PART 2: valuation for his assets & intellectual property. These private investors gave Urban Echo Energy, the company Davis owns, the capital upfront in a lump sum of money. They say, Davis is the first LEED green developer in America.
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In the famous words of one NBA YoungBoy — and now, more often, Ja Morant — it’s a parade inside my city, yeah.
Not literally, but certainly figuratively. Washington D.C. and the areas surrounding it are all on tilt right now. Why? Because Dan Snyder isn’t their problem anymore.
The sale of the Commanders isn’t confirmed yet, but USA TODAY reports Snyder reached a tentative agreement with an ownership group led by current Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils co-owner Josh Harris for $6.05 billion.
While this all might seem over the top, it is within reason.
Think about this. I’m 30 years old. For fans of this team around my age, this is quite literally the best news we’ve ever received about it. To be completely truthful, that’s why I’m an Eagles fan myself. Because I couldn’t do it. And nobody can blame me for it.
This city has had to watch this man be truly reprehensible at every step of the way during his stewardship.
And that’s where I’ll say this: Yes, Snyder is going to walk into a $6 billion payday. But this is not where this story ends. Not by a long shot.
Those investigations are very real. Even if the sale goes through, they don’t stop. And we can’t either. We must continue to demand accountability from the Commanders and the NFL. We’ve been promised transparency for years from the parties involved and it’s time we got it.
When it happens, the city will be ready for it. Good riddance, Dan Snyder. Hopefully $6 billion is enough so D.C. never has to hear from you again.
Quick Hits: Who asked you, Ben Roethlisberger?… The perfect pitch…WNBA title odds and more
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
— Nobody asked Ben Roethlisberger his opinion on Lamar Jackson, but he gave it anyway. Our Cory Woodroof has more.
Gary Clark talks about what ownership change could mean for current players.
Gary Clark is one of the greatest players in Washington’s franchise history. In his eight years with the then-Redskins, the former JMU Duke caught 549 passes for 8,742 yards and 58 touchdowns. Clark was a member of two Super Bowl championship teams and was one of the NFL’s best wide receivers during that era.
Since his retirement, Clark has been a successful businessman but has always remained a fan of his former team, regardless of the name. Clark is always among the most prominent when the Commanders invite back former players for alumni events.
On Thursday, Olivia Garvey of ABC 7 reached out to Clark to hear his perspective on owner Daniel Snyder reportedly agreeing to sell the NFL franchise to Josh Harris.
Clark believes the current players will benefit the most.
“As a player, I’d be excited because now I’m going to see what’s in the stands, what’s in the seats,” Clark said. “And that’s always important, you know. Having a 12th man being a part of your ritual when you go out to play is huge. Honestly, the players haven’t had a chance to truly see how the Washington fans treat them when you are successful at your job. And once they see that excitement, they think they have it good now; when you win in this town, you truly have it good.”
"When you win in this town, you truly have it good"
Just a short time ago, @Olivia7News spoke with former Washington great Gary Clark on this Snyder/Harris agreement for the Commanders.
Clark added, that the current players should be excited about this change.
Clark has never been a former player who openly criticized Snyder or the organization, choosing instead to always cheer for his former team. He certainly appears excited about what’s ahead.
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Some former Washington players speak on the potential new ownership group.
Since Daniel Snyder bought the then-Washington Redskins in 1999, some former players have been complimentary of him over the years. Others, not so much.
Several former players always believed in Snyder’s desire to win, choosing to focus less on how the owner treated people. Some of that support waned over the years as the franchise twice changed its name, leaving some former players feeling like their old team was now an expansion team. The constant losing didn’t help things either.
On Thursday, news broke that Snyder has agreed to sell the Commanders to Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris. Sure, the deal is not yet done, but it’s closer than ever.
Scott Abraham of ABC 7 in Washington, D.C., caught up with three former Washington players to see how they were feeling: Quarterback Mark Rypien [1986-93], offensive linemen Mark May [1981-90] and Mark Schlereth [1989-94].
Rypien:
“I’m really looking forward to the change,” Rypien said. “I think everyone is kinda got to take a breath of fresh air. I don’t think there’s any one of us who needs to hate on anything or anything that Dan wanted to do. Because Dan wanted to win, you know, it just didn’t happen. Hopefully, this next group that comes in here, the Harris group, will lead us to bigger and better things.”
Hope. Excitement. Optimism.
The common buzz words today after this Snyder/Harris agreement for the @Commanders was announced.
“It’s a celebration, baby; it’s party time,” May said, smiling and waving his arms. “But I’m just glad it’s a good group; it’s a solid group that they know professional sports.”
How did Schlereth feel:
“I’m glad that they have moved on,” Schlereth said. “I’m glad that the deal in principle is set, and I’m glad they’ll be new ownership in Washington.”
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Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has always wanted the Washington Commanders back in the nation’s capital. One condition for Bowser, Washington would need to change its name.
That happened in 2020 when owner Dan Snyder changed the name from the Redskins to the “Football Team.” That moniker lasted two seasons until the team was rebranded as the Commanders in February 2022.
At that point, Bowser confirmed D.C. was back in business as a possibility for the Commanders’ new stadium. Obviously, there are many factors in play far beyond Bowser to bring the NFL team back home, but she was behind the idea.
While nothing is final until the paperwork is submitted to the NFL, it certainly sounds like Harris will be the next owner of the Washington Commanders.
Bowser reacted on Twitter with two words and an iconic Sports Illustrated cover:
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This goodbye is overdue for one of the worst owners in American sports history.
In 1999, Dan Snyder became the owner of the Washington Commanders following the death of the legendary Jack Kent Cooke. And in seemingly every step of the way in the quarter-century since, Snyder appeared to be steadfast in undoing all of that goodwill.
Finally, it looks like someone else will get to rebuild the image of one of the NFL’s most popular teams. At the same time, one of its biggest weasels should mercifully fade away from a game he never deserved.
At its best, Snyder’s time as Commanders owner could be considered an unrelenting blight on the league and the sport of football as a whole. At its worst, it just might be one of the disgraceful individual team eras in American professional sports history.
There is no in-between. There is no grey area.
In 24 seasons, the Commanders won four division titles. They qualified for the postseason six times. They won a whopping two games in the playoffs. Snyder cycled through more head coaches (10) in 24 years than in the previous almost half-century combined. Curly Lambeau — at the turn of the nuclear family era in the 1950s — eat your heart out.
When factoring in the more important off-field misconduct and dysfunction sowed by a manipulative liar, any of the NFL’s other sad-sack franchises simply pale in failed comparison to Snyder’s Commanders. Snyder’s bunch set the standard for embarrassment and what it means to take billions of dollars and simply waste them because you can.
In actuality, there is no justifiable comparison. Snyder’s Commanders were/are the bottom of the barrel.
It’s hard to see Snyder earning a check of $6 billion as a “punishment” after the toil he inflicted on so many people on and off the football field. But, at the very least, it will keep him away from the game. It will drive him into relative obscurity where he belongs. Barring another scandal, of course.
Dan Snyder took the Commanders over and systematically tore them to pieces. He stepped on so many well-meaning people to do it.
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Despite Sportico’s report of Dan Snyder’s deal with Josh Harris to sell the Commanders, Steve Apostopolous remains in the mix to buy them
Hold on for just a minute. After Sportico broke the news that Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder reached a deal with Josh Harris to sell the franchise for $6 billion, one of the other bidders says he is “still in the mix.”
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Canadian billionaire Steve Apostopolous and his family remain alive in the race to become the next owner of the Commanders. Schefter’s source indicated that it was a “head-to-head race” and “anyone’s game” as it pertained to buying the NFL franchise.
Canadian billionaire Steve Apostopolous and his family are still in the mix for the Commanders, with one source telling ESPN that it's "a head-to-head race. … It's anyone's game."https://t.co/2FkI1Dx25D
Apostopolous and Harris were reportedly the only bids that got near Snyder’s reported asking price of $6 billion.
After Sportico’s report, others, such as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, reported that Snyder and Harris were nearing a deal.
From NFL Now: Josh Harris’ group is nearing a purchase of the #Commanders for just under $6B, sources say. Nothing is done, final, agreed to, or submitted to the league. But Harris appears to be the choice. But a small step closer. pic.twitter.com/D6NHyCjs8z
Sportico reports that Harris and Snyder hope to execute a contract in the coming days. Both sides declined to comment on the matter.
The two sides have been working on a deal for months since it was revealed Snyder hired Bank of America in early November to explore potential transactions for the franchise. However, for months, neither Snyder nor anyone close to him indicated if he was planning to sell the entire franchise or a minority stake.
Snyder purchased the then-Washington Redskins in 1999 for $800 million. He has presided over numerous controversies and is still the subject of multiple investigations. Under his ownership, Washington has a 164-220-2 record, with a 2-6 mark in the playoffs. Fan interest in the once-beloved franchise has plummeted in recent years.
Commanders Commemorative T-Shirts (BreakingT)
Harris is the co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils and attended high school in Washington, D.C. He co-founded Apollo Management and, according to Forbes, has a net worth of $6 billion.
A group led by Harris was interested in the Denver Broncos last year. However, the Broncos were sold to the Walton-Penner family for $4.6 billion, a record for a professional sports franchise. If the deal goes through between Harris and Snyder, it would establish a new record price for a sports team.
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Fertitta said that while he did bid on Washington, he is now “done.”
“I’ll be flat out honest, I made a bid on the Washington Commanders for $5.6 billion,” Fertitta said per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “That’s the value that Forbes had them at, and at some point, you’ve got to draw a line in the sand on everything, and that’s where we are. If they can get somebody to pay them more than that, good luck to them. That’s all I can say. I own a franchise, so I love them selling for a lot. But at some point, I don’t think $6 billion is the right number.”
Fertitta is probably right in this case, but NFL owners would disagree.
Don’t count on Fertitta increasing his bid to compete with the bids of Josh Harris and Steve Apostolopoulos.
“Everybody that’s watched me do business for the last 40 years knows when I draw a line in the sand, I’m done,” Fertitta continued. “So, I’m here, you know I can close, and that’s the way it is.”
Harris and Apostolopoulos reportedly had bids near $6 billion, with Harris’ bid, which includes billionaire businessman and philanthropist Mitchell Rales and NBA legend Magic Johnson, considered the more stable bid.
It sounds like Fertitta would’ve been a logical option if Washington owner Dan Snyder wasn’t set on the winning bidder reaching $6 billion — or potentially more. Fertitta went by the franchise’s value, and considering the new owner will need to build a new stadium, that’s understandable.
