Potential Commanders owner Josh Harris labeled a ‘value investor’

Some interesting observations on potential new Commanders owner Josh Harris.

So you are all excited about Josh Harris repeatedly being named as the next probable owner of the Washington Commanders?

On Tuesday, one radio host was putting the skids on Harris, warning he might not be what the Commanders need in an owner after all.

Jason Bishop co-host of the Sports Junkies (106.7 The Fan), said Tuesday that “I’ve got a well-placed source, and I won’t say who; that said, ‘Josh Harris if he is the one who gets the team, is super-duper cheap’.”

“If he is the one who gets it (Commanders), he does have that reputation,” expressed Bishop.

John-Paul Flaim quickly asserted that the 76ers used to be a losing franchise, but they have really turned it around in the last few years with Harris as the owner. To which Bishop unhesitatingly countered, “Ok, that’s because their scouts and people drafting did a good job. That’s not necessarily because of the owner (Harris).”

Sportico’s sports business reporter Eben Novy-Williams, a guest on the Kevin Sheehan Show (The Team 980) gave context on Harris’ tendencies as an investor.

“Josh Harris is a notorious value investor,” expressed Williams. “He has been a runner-up in some of the biggest sports teams sales in history because he is not someone who raises his price to get an asset.”

Williams pointed to Harris being recently outbid to purchase the Mets and Broncos. “He looks at an asset and says, ‘This is what it is worth, and that is what I am going to pay for it.’ “That is not the way you buy sports teams now,” countered Williams. “The NFL is becoming much too expensive. Consequently, less and less wealthy people are even able to purchase a team.”

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Commanders may not be impressed with this draft

Are the Commanders even interested in a wide receiver at No. 11 overall?

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The Sports Junkies’ Eric Bickel unveiled Thursday that he has a source informing him that the Washington Commanders front office is not high on this upcoming 2022 NFL draft.

Bickel on the morning 106.7 The Fan show said it was explained to him that usually in the first round there are 10-12 players that everyone covets as special and then there is a drop-off. Well, EB said he was told this year, that the Commanders feel there are about two elite players to trade up for in this draft.

“My understanding is they don’t love this draft,” Bickel said. “It makes sense why they went after Carson Wentz. They don’t really want to take a receiver at No. 11 either. What they want to do is trade out. Which makes sense, and if they can’t they will take the best player available.”

“If they loved any of the quarterbacks in this draft they wouldn’t have put their reputation on a guy that is sort of dicey as Carson. I think Carson could go either way. He could hit, but he could also bust.”

“They don’t really think there is great value at receiver at 11 for them. They are hoping someone falls in love with a guy at 11, moves up to get him and they can move down and pick up some other picks.”

Washington has six picks this year (Rd 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 7) and Jason Bishop was not shy, pointing out the first four picks by Ron Rivera and the staff each of the last two seasons has not been impressive with the exception Bishop made of Antonio Gibson. “I just don’t put a lot of stock into what Ron Rivera and that scouting department and the Marty’s really see in this draft. That’s just me. They didn’t do great the last two drafts.” Bishop then did correct himself saying he had forgotten about John Bates having a good rookie year.

Bickel, on occasion, has mentioned a source that provides him some insider information. It will be interesting to see if Bickel’s source was playing him, knowing it would get on the airwaves, or actually being truthful with him.