Tag: Daniel Snyder

What were Ron Rivera’s 2 biggest errors with the Commanders?

What were Rivera’s biggest mistakes during his time in Washington?

Ron Rivera was praised by players and Josh Harris as someone who was professional to the very end of his tenure.

Yet, the question can also rightly (and fairly) be asked, What were Rivera’s biggest mistakes during his four-year coach-centric term?

In Rivera’s case, two errors clearly outshine the others.

Parting ways with Kyle Smith

In the 2019 Redskins draft room, Kyle Smith (director of college scouting) asked the room whom they were going to draft at No. 15? Sources have agreed there was silence, and one voice finally answered: the owner himself. The choice was going to be Dwayne Haskins.

Smith reportedly proceeded to implore the room to please consider drafting one of three players. But the owner had spoken.

Rivera was hired the following January. Smith basically constructed the draft board and led the room through the draft. Rivera was pleased and publicly praised Smith for his leadership in that draft.

But in later months of that 2020 season, Rivera grew cold toward Smith; not praising him, nor even mentioning him. Rivera determined instead to hire Marty Hurney and Martin Mayhew.

Yes, Rivera got what he wanted, but he also lost what he had. In Smith, he had a young man, full of energy and a voracious work ethic. He also possessed, in Smith, the one man who carried courage in the organization to tell Rivera and Snyder what they needed to hear.

Smith understandably departed following the 2020 season. In all three drafts (2021-23) Smith would clearly not have drafted as Rivera and the Marty’s did. Do you think Smith would have reached on Jamin Davis at No.19? Valuing draft choices, can you even imagine Smith trading up for a long snapper (Camaron Cheeseman)?

Drafting Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Draft

The previous owner, having laid down his law in the previous draft, Washington had been stuck with Dwayne Haskins at No. 15 overall.

As the 2020 draft arrived, Washington owned the No. 2 overall selection. Haskins, during his rookie season, had displayed an alarming immaturity, playing on a cell phone with fans in the stands prior to an NFL game’s conclusion.

Two quarterbacks (following Joe Burrow) were projected to be top-10 picks. Rivera could have approached Snyder expressing those two were far ahead of Haskins. He could have then stressed that when you are selecting No. 2 and you don’t have a quarterback, you should take a top-10 projected quarterback because he might be your guy for the next decade.

But Rivera wanted Chase Young and left Tua Tagovailoa (chosen 5th) and Justin Herbert (chosen 6th). Young disappointed tremendously and was traded in 2023.

Rivera spent his next three seasons attempting to find a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Carson Wentz, Jacoby Brissett and Sam Howell.

Rivera earned a 26-40-1 .396 record because these were the two biggest errors of his Washington tenure.

Josh Harris missing out on the Broncos was a ‘blessing in disguise’

Josh Harris was in the running to buy the Broncos last year. One year later, he gets the team he always wanted.

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The Washington Commanders have a new owner. Last week, NFL owners unanimously approved a group led by Josh Harris to purchase the Commanders from Daniel Snyder for $6.05 billion.

For two days, the DMV celebrated. Parties were celebrating the end of Snyder’s reign. Harris even called into a local talk radio show and bought everyone in attendance a beer. Harris attended the team’s training camp pep rally on Friday after his introductory press conference.

The day before Harris was officially confirmed as Washington’s new owner, he sat down to chat with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

One of the topics Breer discussed with Harris was his failed pursuit of the Denver Broncos in 2022. Harris, the owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils, became a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. He had assembled an ownership group to buy the Broncos. However, Denver was eventually sold to the Walton-Penner family for $4.65 billion.

Harris had reportedly been willing to bid $5 billion if that would have sealed the deal, but he received no assurances and moved on.

Good things come to those who wait.

When Snyder put the Commanders up for sale in November, Harris’ name was quickly mentioned as a possible buyer. After all, Harris was a Chevy Chase, Md. native who grew up a fan of the team. Harris spoke of his fandom when introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week and at his introductory press conference.

“It a hundred percent feels like a blessing in disguise,” Harris told Breer on not landing the Broncos. “I mean, listen, Denver’s a great franchise, and I’m happy I got to go through that. But at the end of the day, my deep connections to this city are so much stronger. We got a chance to do diligence, and one of the days, we went into FedExField, and we saw all the legends’ names. And I was with my team that had been with me for the Broncos; I was like, God, you got Art Monk and Darrell Green and Joe Gibbs and John Riggins. I’m pointing at all the pictures because of the emotional connections I have. And they’re like, ‘Wow, this is different for you.’ So it was very lucky. It worked out in a very lucky way for me.”

Washington fans are happy Harris is the guy, too. Look, fans would’ve been happy with anyone not named Dan Snyder. However, there are so many reasons to appreciate this Harris group. Not only is Harris a fan, but so are two of his partners, Mitchell Rales and Mark Ein. They have a passion for turning the franchise around. But his success in the business world and as a sports owner is exactly what the Commanders needed.

If there was a perfect match between a team and an owner, it was Harris with the Washington Commanders.

Josh Harris called Darrell Green after being approved as Commanders owner

Josh Harris is making all the right moves.

Darrell Green is among the greatest players in the Washington NFL franchise’s 91-year history. After a 20-year playing career — all in the burgundy and gold — Green was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2008.

Since Green retired, fans have yearned to see him a part of the organization in some manner. Yet, in over 20 years since he last played, Green has primarily remained away from the organization.

Green played his final four seasons in Washington under former owner Daniel Snyder. From all accounts, Snyder was good to Green. Since his retirement, we haven’t heard Green blast Snyder. Green has always seemingly remained on good terms with the organization but at arm’s length.

With Snyder no longer Washington’s owner, could we see Green around the franchise more in the future?

When Josh Harris was approved as the Commanders new owner last week, one of his first moves was to call Green, according to JP Finlay of 106.7 The Fan and NBC Washington.

“I feel there’s a genuineness there,” Finlay tweeted per his conversation with the legendary Green. “These are business people, but there’s a human side. We were the heart of the region, and that heart had a heart attack. We need to take our place again.”

That’s an excellent analogy from Green.

The good news is one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history was present for Harris’ introductory press conference at FedEx Field on Friday. Green sat next to his former head coach, Joe Gibbs, at the press conference and mingled with the ownership group, including Magic Johnson, and current players and other legends afterward.

Green looked happy to be there.

Harris has mentioned how important it is for the alumni to be involved in Washington’s present and future. He’s making good on that promise already.

It’s always a good day when Darrell Green is in town to support burgundy and gold.

Brian Mitchell makes his thoughts on Dan Snyder clear

Brian Mitchell weighs in on the former owner.

Brian Mitchell was one of the greatest players of the 1990s for the Washington NFL franchise. Mitchell, a fifth-round pick from Southwestern Louisiana, was a former college quarterback who would make the transition to running back in the NFL.

Mitchell quickly developed into one of the NFL’s best punt and kick returners. After spending the first 10 seasons of his career in Washington, in 2000, then new owner Daniel Snyder let Mitchell walk, signing several aging stars, including cornerback Deion Sanders, who Snyder figured could replace Mitchell at punt returner.

Mitchell wasn’t happy. Fans weren’t happy, as Mitchell had developed into a franchise icon. He would sign with the hated Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent three seasons, before spending one final season with the New York Giants in 2003.

Since his retirement, Mitchell returned to the Washington area, where he has worked as an analyst for years and now co-hosts a popular morning sports talk radio show.

Mitchell, who ranks No. 2 all-time in NFL history in all-purpose yards, was present at one of the Commanders’ sale parties Thursday in Washington. Mitchell talked of how he was one of the first players Snyder wanted gone.

Fans booed. How’d Mitchell respond?

“Yeah, I thought he was an a—–e too,” Mitchell said via Sam Fortier of The Washington Post.

Mitchell has never been afraid to speak his mind. He’s honest. He’s real, and he loves the Washington franchise and is excited about the future.

WATCH: Commanders fans say goodbye to Dan Snyder

Fans say goodbye to Daniel Snyder.

After 24 years as owner of the Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders, Daniel Snyder is no more. On Thursday, NFL owners unanimously approved Josh Harris’ $6.05 billion purchase of the Commanders from Snyder.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wasted no time introducing Harris as Washington’s new owner. Harris spoke at the NFL owners meetings about what the franchise meant to him growing up.

“This franchise is a part of who I am and who I’ve become as a person,” Harris said. He explained watching Washington as a kid, growing up in the area, and going to RFK Stadium.

With Harris warmly welcomed to the DMV, what about Snyder?

There were parties at local Washington establishments for fans, where local radio personalities joined in on the fun. One such party, “The Burgundy and Sold” party at The Bullpen, saw several Washington fans giving Snyder a sendoff.

Sam Fortier of The Washington Post captured one such sendoff for Washington’s outgoing owner.

A new era indeed.

‘Happy Thanksgiving,’ Commanders Fans! It really has ended

Welcome to the Commanders, Josh Harris.

Thursday, July 20, 2023, marked the official end of the Daniel Snyder ownership era of the Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders.

He hired ten head coaches in his 24 NFL seasons as owner. He played general manager rather than actually hiring general managers to do the job. He interfered in some drafts and signed free agents he wanted, overruling coaches and scouts who had labored tirelessly.

Snyder’s experienced general manager suddenly resigned in July 1999, just prior to training camp. Snyder had just taken over ownership in May. It was a red flag of what was to come.

The winning percentage for Snyder was only .427. His teams won only two playoff games in Snyder’s 24 seasons, and one of those came in Snyder’s first season (1999) when he had taken ownership in May.

Thursday afternoon, the NFL determined this was not going to be a day to celebrate its new owner, Josh Harris. They made it clear they also wanted to publicly wash their hands of Daniel Snyder.

The NFL also chose to declare the findings of the Mary Jo White report today. White reported the Commanders withheld approximately $11M in revenue that should have been shared with other teams, that Snyder had sexually harassed a former female employee, and the Commanders failed to fully cooperate with her investigation.

Welcome to the Commanders, Josh Harris.

You come at a time that your predecessor could not have lowered the bar much more. His arrogance, his losing record, and his lack of caring for employees and fans have resulted in a severe plunging of fan attendance and revenue of team merchandise.

In one sense, you have a huge challenge in taking over a mess on the business side as well. The number of errors, even in recent years, has been well documented.

Yet, on the other side of the coin, this is a huge opportunity for you, Mr. Harris. You have the opening to set a new vision, create an enjoyable workplace culture, and bring winning on the field back to a once proud and hugely successful franchise.

You can set the direction and expectations of how all employees are to treat one another. You can bring great change to the organization by not merely making rules but also setting a positive example, not the smugness we saw previously.

The fanbase has been through an awful lot these 24 seasons. Perhaps you can launch your ownership era by giving the hometown fans something back for a change.

Again, welcome, Mr Harris. We wish you success in your future endeavors with this franchise.

 

Dan Snyder’s NFL tenure ends as it always was — with scandals and insufficient punishment

The NFL was unable to give Dan Snyder what he so richly deserved. But it is rid of Snyder, and that’s the important thing.

When Daniel Snyder bought the then-Washington Redskins in 1999, he did so for a price of $800 million. On Thursday, the sale of the now-Washington Commanders from Snyder to Josh Harris was made official, and Snyder sold the team for a record $6.05 billion.

“Congratulations to Josh Harris and his impressive group of partners,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Josh will be a great addition to the NFL. He has a remarkable record in business, sports, and in his communities. The diverse group that Josh has put together is outstanding for its business acumen and strong Washington ties and we welcome them to the NFL as well.

“I met Josh several years ago, prior to his acquisition of an interest in the Steelers and have been fortunate to get to know him better over the past few months. I know he has a commitment to winning on the field, but also to running an organization that everyone will be proud of — and to making positive contributions in the community.”

As the league officially announced the sale of the team vis its communications arm, it also finally revealed the findings of the investigation by former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chair Mary Jo White and her colleagues from Debevoise & Plimpton into Snyder’s multiple dealings outside the purview of league standards.

From the NFL’s statement:

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appointed Ms. White as the independent investigator immediately following allegations against Commanders owner Daniel Snyder made by former Commanders employee Tiffani Johnston at a Congressional roundtable in February 2022.

The Commissioner expanded Ms. White’s review in April 2022 to include alleged financial misconduct at the club, after those allegations were first raised before a Congressional committee.

Ms. White and her colleagues conducted a comprehensive and independent investigation over 17 months that included interviews with dozens of witnesses, sometimes on multiple occasions, a review of over 10,000 documents, and assistance from a team of forensic accountants.

“We appreciate the diligence, thoroughness and professionalism of Ms. White and her team throughout this process,” said Commissioner Goodell. “We pledged to share her findings publicly and are doing so today.”

Mr. Snyder will pay $60 million to the league in resolution of Ms. White’s findings and all outstanding matters.

“The conduct substantiated in Ms. White’s findings has no place in the NFL,” said Commissioner Goodell. “We strive for workplaces that are safe, respectful and professional. What Ms. Johnston experienced is inappropriate and contrary to the NFL’s values.”

Ms. White’s findings concluded that Snyder was to be sustained in the matter of Tiffani Johnston’s claims of sexual harassment, and the further claims that the team underreported its own revenue to avoid sharing that revenue with the other 31 clubs. Furthermore, it was stated by Ms. White that Snyder and the team failed to cooperate with her investigation.

Which makes the league’s gesture of fining Snyder $60 million as he hit the door nothing but performative. Snyder walked with relative impunity through a quarter of a century of disastrous mis-management and shady dealings, and he leaves laughing all the way to the bank.

And now, one of the most onerous ownerships in professional sports history has come to an end — with little more than a slap on the wrist for Snyder, but also with the best possible scenario for the NFL itself.

Daniel Snyder is out of the league. In the end, that’s all that matters.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell releases statement on Josh Harris as Commanders new owner

Roger Goodell welcomes Josh Harris and his partners as the new owners of the Commanders.

Shortly before 5 p.m. ET Thursday, a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the news: Daniel Snyder was no longer the owner of the Washington Commanders.

NFL owners met in Minneapolis Thursday to vote on the sale of the Commanders from Snyder to Josh Harris for $6.05 billion.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement after the news became official:

“Congratulations to Josh Harris and his impressive group of partners,” Goodell said in a statement. “Josh will be a great addition to the NFL. He has a remarkable record in business, sports, and in his communities. The diverse group that Josh has put together is outstanding for its business acumen and strong Washington ties, and we welcome them to the NFL as well.

“I met Josh several years ago, prior to his acquisition of an interest in the Steelers and have been fortunate to get to know him better over the past few months. I know he has a commitment to winning on the field, but also to running an organization that everyone will be proud of — and to making positive contributions in the community.”

Harris, who owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils, previously held a minority ownership stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It’s over: NFL approves Josh Harris as new Commanders owner

The Dan Snyder era is officially over.

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After 24 years and 57 days, Daniel M. Snyder is no longer the owner of the Washington Commanders.

On Thursday, the NFL owners held a special meeting in Minneapolis, voting to approve a group led by Josh Harris as Washington’s new owner. Harris agreed to a deal with Snyder in May to purchase the Commanders for $6.05 billion.

Just ahead of 5 p.m. ET Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN made it official.

“A monumental Washington day: NFL owners now have unanimously approved the $6.05 billion sale of the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder to a group led by Josh Harris, per league source,” tweeted Schefter.

Here’s Schefter’s full thread of tweets.

We’ll follow this story for fan reactions, player reactions and reactions from around the sports world.

 

Mary Jo White present in Minneapolis for NFL owners meetings

Is White updating NFL owners on her investigation into Snyder and the Commanders?

The NFL’s Mary Jo White-led investigation opened in Feb. 2022, after the league hired her to investigate former Washington employee Tiffani Johnston’s harassment allegation against Commanders owner Daniel Snyder.

As of July 20, White’s investigation into Snyder, the Commanders hasn’t been made public. Is the investigation over? Is the NFL waiting for the sale of the Commanders from Snyder to Josh Harris?

As the NFL owners converged in Minneapolis Thursday to vote on the sale of the franchise, there is an update on White — sort of.

According to Mark Maske of The Washington Post, White entered the room with NFL owners to presumably update them on her investigation into Snyder and the Commanders.

Owners are expected to approve the sale of the Commanders Thursday. Therefore, there should be actual news on White’s investigation at some point soon, right?

Longtime Washington writer Rick Snider weighed in on what’s likely happening.

It will all be over soon.