Tag: Dan Snyder

Dan Snyder deserves some credit for the recent culture shift in Washington

Though he’s been the scapegoat in Washington for years, Dan Snyder has been quick to act and lead the charge of change in recent months.

At the root of the Washington Redskins struggles over the past decade sits one man. He isn’t a person who can be fired or demoted, but he is likely to be given the blame for any mishaps in the franchise, of which there have been many.

Team owner Dan Snyder has found himself at the center of a lot of criticism over the past 10 or so years, and rightfully so. With poor hirings, hollow free agency moves, and a tendency to hold onto bad cards long after he should have folded them, Snyder’s ownership has left the Redskins as one of the worst teams in the NFL. He’s deserving of that criticism, but he’s also deserving of some praise that might come his way during the team’s rebuild and culture shift.

That praise is coming.

Ever since Snyder cut ties with Team President Bruce Allen last December, a shift in Washington has been noticeable. Ron Rivera was hired, and a team that has been out of touch with reality for years was now in the rare position of leading the charge of change. The most impressive aspect of this came early in the offseason when the coronavirus pandemic hit the sporting world. Snyder took notice, and acted quickly, according to The Athletic‘s Ben Standig. 

Snyder’s public actions in response to the coronavirus also received attention. On March 12, Washington suspended travel for scouts and coaches and became the first team to halt all top 30 pre-draft meetings with prospects at Redskins Park. Snyder later opened the FedEx Field parking lots in Landover to the Maryland government so they could be used as a COVID-19 testing site.

The 115th Military Police Battalion honored the organization and team partners this month for their support in aiding and partnering with the Maryland Army National Guard.

“I want to thank the 115th Military Battalion of the Maryland Army National Guard for this generous and humbling recognition,” Snyder said via a team press release. “The soldiers at the FedEx Field location, along with all of our front-line workers, are the real heroes. Their courage and contributions to society during these trying times are an inspiration to us all as we continue to face this ongoing challenge.”

Also, the Redskins’ charitable foundation donated 250,000 meals to families in Prince George’s County, where FedEx Field is located.

There was also an unprecedented 2020 NFL Draft, which was done remotely for the first time. Though he may not have plugged any wires into monitors personally, many people say that Snyder was one of the main reasons that the Redskins draft went off without a hitch, according to Standig.

There’s still a long way to go before the Redskins can relive some of the glory days of old, but the change that has taken place in the organization over the past few months is encouraging, and it seems that we can thank Snyder for that.

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Matthew McConaughey says Redskins ‘needed to make a change’; excited for future success

Redskins superfan Matthew McConaughey is a fan of where the program is going and he thinks team is close to re-entering ‘conversation’ again

We caught a glimpse of it recently when he tweeted his approval of the Washington Redskins selection of Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but we now know for sure — Redskins superfan Matthew McConaughey is happy where things are headed in Washington.

Not only is he excited about the future for the Redskins, but he is happy to see that a shake-up was offered this offseason, getting new leadership in the building.

“I like where we’re heading,” McConaughey said, via Redskins.com. “We’ve needed to make a change, and I think we’re really now on our way.”

McConaughey is reportedly friends with team owner Dan Snyder, and the two have been seen together at FedEx Field before several games. He’s also a fan of the Ron Rivera hiring, and he thinks it could take the team back to relevancy again in the near future.

“This is a chance for us to get back in that conversation,” McConaughey said. “We are now saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to build a dynasty again’…and Hail Redskins.”

If the team is able to make good on this new trajectory and eventually get back into the conversation of good teams in the NFL, expect more superfans to pop up alongside McConaughey, as #HTTR flags start to wave.

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The Redskins have been on the forefront of change this season, and they deserve credit

The Redskins have made several proactive and smart moves this offseason that signal a new day in Washington.

The Washington Redskins deserve some credit for what they’ve done this offseason; it’s been very un-Redskins like.

Ever since Bruce Allen was canned, and new coaching staff and front-office was put into place, the Redskins have been one of the more forward-thinking teams in the league, leading the charge on several issues that have popped up this offseason. Under Ron Rivera, the Redskins became the first team to hire a black woman as a full-time coach, adding Jennifer King to the coaching room. Once the coronavirus pandemic started to spread through the sporting world, team owner Dan Snyder was the first one to announce that the team would no longer be traveling to scout college prospects ahead of the draft, and they were also the first team to announce a virtual draft party as well.

On top of that, FedEx Field became the first stadium in the NFL to be opened up as a COVID-19 testing center, something that has started to take place around the league as well.

For the past decade, when you thought of the Redskins, it wasn’t crazy to have mental images of a broken franchise who couldn’t get out of its own way. However, things have started to change ever since Allen left the organization, and a new day is upon us. Maybe Ron Rivera’s presence is that powerful, or may Dan Snyder finally woke up. Whatever happened, here’s to hoping the change continues.

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What NFL owners appear on Forbes’ list of America’s richest sports team owners?

David Tepper leads the way but what other NFL team owners joined the Panthers’ owner on Forbes’ list?

Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers tops Forbes’ list of America’s richest sports team owners. However, there is plenty of presence from people who own NFL teams.

39 (overall). Dan Snyder: Washington

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

$2.6 billion

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Virginia close to legalizing sports betting; could play factor in new Redskins’ stadium

Virginia is close to legalizing sports betting, which could be a deciding factor for Snyder, as he looks for a stadium location for Redskins.

There are some new developments that are being made in the search for a new stadium for the Washington Redskins.

It became official on Sunday morning that a sports betting bill was passed in the Virginia House and Senate, which may play a major roll in helping Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder deciding where he wants to build a new home for his team. The bill needs to be signed by Gov. Ralph Northam to become law.

According to Michael Phillips, with the Richmond-Times Dispatch, Snyder is weighing his options on a new stadium location, and the state of Virginia has become a major player in that competition in recent months. The passing of legal sports betting could be a defining factor. As the NFL transitions into an era where they look to further incorporate gambling into the game, Snyder has been rumored to be one of the leading men on this forefront. Many believe that his future stadium deal will look to have a sportsbook on the premises so that fans can wager on Redskins games.

A location in Virginia offers a more feasible location that would allow room to develop, and the addition of legal wagering being an option is an enticing addition.

We will have to see what further developments come along, but don’t overlook a possible move in the future.

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Dan Snyder is likely eyeing Alex Smith for future front office role with Redskins

Should Smith never return to the field following his injury, it is believed that Snyder will try to get him into the Redskins’ front office.

A lot of talk has surrounded the quarterback position in Washington over the last couple of weeks, but there is a looming storyline there that hasn’t been mentioned much as of late.

It has to do with Alex Smith and his future with the Redskins. After suffering a gruesome leg injury over a year ago, Smith has had his nose to the grindstone while going through the rehab process, looking to eventually get back to a level of ability that will allow him to return to the NFL before his career is over. However, after the severity of the injury — one that nearly caused him to lose his leg — and the subsequent 17 surgeries that followed, a return feels unlikely.

That doesn’t mean that his career with the Redskins is over, though. On his podcast, The John Keim Report, ESPN’s John Keim said that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder do everything he could to keep Smith around once his playing career comes to an end.

I’m not holding out much hope that he’s going to play again, I still think it’s a long-shot at best. I think he’s going to stick around for another year, then decide if he wants a front office job here or not. One thing I know — [Dan] Snyder needs someone from the organization that he can hang out with. There’s no Bruce Allen, or Eric Schaffer, or Larry Hess around to do so anymore. That’s why I think that he’s going to try to convince Smith to take some sort of role after he’s done playing. I don’t know if Smith will want that, but I know that if it ends up happening, it would definitely not shock people who know Snyder very well.

There were reports following the 2019 season, and Bruce Allen’s subsequent release, that the Redskins might look to Smith to take over a front office role somewhere within the franchise. He had little interest, as all of his energy has been spent on trying to get to a place where he can play once again. However, if that day never comes, a spot in the Washington front office seems like a great next step of his career.

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Would Dan Snyder allow the Redskins to draft anyone other than Chase Young?

Snyder says that he’s ceded much of the decision-making power to Ron Rivera, but would he step in if the team tried to pass on Chase Young?

The owner of the Washington Redskins likes to get what he wants.

That’s not meant to be a knock on the guy; of course, Dan Snyder wants to get what he desires, don’t we all? In the 2019 NFL Draft, it was widely reported that Snyder wanted his team to draft QB Dwayne Haskins, a player who grew up in the Maryland area and went to school with Snyder’s son. In the end, the Redskins drafted Haskins, as Snyder desired.

Now it’s being reported that Snyder is all in on Chase Young, who also has ties to the Maryland area, and will likely be sitting there for the Redskins to take with the No. 2 pick. You can ponder all you want about what the team might do instead of taking Young, but there’s really only one question that matters in this scenario:

Will Dan Snyder allow the Redskins to draft anyone other than Chase Young?

My guess is no, but I don’t think it will end up being a contentious argument in the front office. While Snyder gave new head coach Ron Rivera the majority of decision-making power in the building, it’s still reasonable to believe that the owner’s voice might out-weigh Rivera’s in a draft scenario where the two are split on who to take with a pick that holds such huge ramifications for the future of the franchise. Luckily, though, it seems that Rivera and Snyder are together on this one, and they will be quick to draft Young when the time comes.

My bet is that, come Friday, April 24th, Chase Young will be in D.C., touring the Redskins facilities. Just as Dan Snyder wants.

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Kyle Smith breaks down the power structure of Redskins’ new front office

The Redskins have a new power structure since Ron Rivera took over, and it was detailed a bit for us on Tuesday.

One of the most notable changes for the Washington Redskins this offseason had to do with the power structure of the organization and front office. After Bruce Allen was let go at the end of 2019, there was room to step up in the front office, and several people were deserving.

To fill the top spot, team owner Dan Snyder hired Ron Rivera, and vowed to make it a ‘coach-centric’ approach that the Redskins would take into the future. As far as the rest of the pyramid of power, though? That was still in need of shaking out.

When Kyle Smith, the VP of Player Development, took the stage on Tuesday to talk to the media at the 2020 NFL Combine, he said a bit to address the front office dynamic and paint a picture of who answers to whom. We already knew most of it, but a refresher can never hurt.

At the very top, obviously is Snyder, though he has ceded much of his decision making power to Rivera, who is the biggest power-centric figure in the organization. Under Rivera is Smith, who has a lot of say in off-field decisions, as he has a hand in both college and pro player personnel.

Doug Williams, who was a part of player personnel in the past, has been moved to a player development role, where he will focus more on the current players on the roster and how to better help them reach their ceilings. In Williams’ absence, Alex Santos will take over a larger role on the pro personnel side.

“That side kind of runs itself,” Smith said, via NBC Sports Washington. 

More names like Tim Gribble (College), Jack Del Rio (Defensive Coordinator) and Scott Turner (Offensive Coordinator) are sprinkled on down the list, filling out the rest of the pyramid.

Hopefully, this one is more sturdy than the last one was.

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Kyle Smith has ‘inside track’ on winning Redskins GM job after NFL Draft

The Redskins are operating without a general manager right now, but Smith is thought to likely earn that role if he delivers a strong draft.

It’s been so interesting to watch the Washington Redskins fill out their coaching office over the past month that sometimes it’s easy to forget that they are still operating without a general manager at the front of it all.

Rather, under Dan Snyder’s new ‘coach centric’ approach, it’s been Ron Rivera who is doing most of the decision making when it comes to franchise personnel, while Kyle Smith, who was promoted to the VP of Player Personnel earlier this year, is heading up the scouting process for free agency and the NFL Draft.

However, things likely won’t operate this way forever. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, there are two strong candidates for the Redskins’ general manager position, and Smith is definitely in the running.

Nothing is likely to happen until after the NFL Draft in April, so Washington has time to assess their options. According to JP Finlay, with NBC Sports Washington, Smith can basically win the job if he delivers on another strong draft.

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