Tag: NFL owners meetings

Josh Harris’ bid for the Washington Commanders sent to NFL for review

The Washington Commanders are one step closer to having a new owner.

Are we one step closer to the Washington Commanders having a new owner?

Last week, owner Daniel Snyder reached a preliminary agreement to sell the Commanders to a group led by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion. The deal was considered non-exclusive, which means another group can still top Harris’ bid.

Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos is reportedly still alive in the bidding, but Harris’s group, which includes fellow billionaire Mitchell Rales and NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, remains in the driver’s seat.

What happens next?

According to Sportico’s Scott Soshnick, who broke the story, the NFL will review the deal and send it back to both parties to sign. Once signed, it will then be resubmitted to the NFL for final approval. This is where the rest of the owners vote to approve the deal.

The target date for a vote could be May 22-24, when the owners convene in Minneapolis for the next league meeting.

Report: Target date for Commanders’ sale is set

Not too much longer.

Since the story was broken in early November that Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder hired Bank of America to explore potential transactions with his team, rumors and reports have circled the franchise.

There have been alleged deadlines, real bidders, mystery bidders and the drama surrounding if Snyder would allow Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to enter the bidding.

We’ve recently learned that Snyder has no problem with Bezos entering the bidding, and he’d welcome Bezos entering the process.

What we do know is there have been three bids on the Commanders: Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris’ group, featuring Mitchell Rales and Magic Johnson, Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Harris and Apostolopoulos have bids in the $6 billion range.

Now, according to a report from A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports, we could have a new deadline.

From Perez:

Sources said the current target to select a bidder is ahead of the start of the next owners meetings on May 22 — a day before the Commanders start their voluntary offseason workouts, also known as organized team activities.

Shortly after the Commanders were open for business in November, many believed the NFL owners meetings in March was the target date for a sale. As that date came and went, the NFL likely set a new target date for Snyder to pick a winner.

Regardless of when the sale actually goes down, it shouldn’t be that much longer — we think.

Ron Rivera says the Commanders never looked into acquiring Lamar Jackson

The top two decision-makers in Washington’s organization have completely shot down any interest in Lamar Jackson.

Washington Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew took the stage Monday at the NFL owners meetings and discussed his roster. Mayhew talked Chase Young, Chase Roullier, Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett and more.

He also talked about a quarterback on someone else’s roster — Lamar Jackson.

No, Mayhew was not tampering; he was asked about Jackson and completely shot down any talk of Washington making an offer for the Ravens quarterback.

“He’s a very talented guy,” Mayhew said of Jackson. “He’s one of the better quarterbacks in this league. But for us right now, we’re moving forward with Sam [Howell] and with Jacoby [Brissett].”

On Tuesday, it was head coach Ron Rivera’s turn at the NFC coaches breakfast.

Rivera was also asked about Jackson. Much like Mayhew, he complimented the player but made it clear Washington would not be pursuing Jackson.

“No, we never did,” Rivera said when asked if the Commanders ever looked into acquitting Jackson. “Honestly, we never did. It is just something that we just didn’t feel suited [to] what we wanted to do. I know he’s a tremendous talent and a player that can impact your team. I just didn’t think, and we sat down and talked about it, that it was the direction for us as a football team.”

Rivera explained in depth the things Washington wanted to accomplish this offseason, and pursuing a quarterback such as Jackson would’ve impacted those plans.

It’s finally time to put this one to rest.

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Kevin O’Connell discusses wide receiver room with Adam Thielen now gone

On Tuesday at the NFL’s Owners Meeting, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell gave his thoughts on the wide receiver room.

At the NFL’s annual league meetings on Tuesday, Minnesota Vikings’ Head Coach, Kevin O’Connell, shared his thoughts with the media regarding the team’s wide receiver room, following the departure of Adam Thielen.

“Always a great starting point when you mention Justin Jefferson. He’ll always be our number one, he’ll always be our guy that we’re trying to a pass game around.”

It’s no surprise that O’Connell is continuing to give Jefferson a glowing endorsement. It’s been the theme all offseason since Jefferson established his place atop the NFL and led the league in yards and receptions last season.

The concern with the wide receiver room isn’t about Jefferson, it’s about the other receivers on the depth chart. O’Connell doesn’t appear to be concerned especially as it pertains to K.J. Osborn.

“The versatility he has and really how he understands; he’s a really smart player, understands how he pairs with Justin and trying to beat some of that coverage that Justin tends to see.”

O’Connell’s praise for Osborn proves that he’s comfortable with him having a significant role behind Jefferson this upcoming season. O’Connell also elaborated on the roles he envisions for Jalen Nailor and Jalen Reagor.

“Excited for a guy like Jalen Nailor and Jalen Reagor, to get a chance to really compete and have the ability in year two to play multiple spots, and handle that, which is really really important”

Overall, it seems that O’Connell is confident in the players currently on the roster. That confidence doesn’t necessarily mean that the Vikings won’t consider adding someone in the draft. Given the talent at wide receiver in this draft class, it would be wise to keep the door open.

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Patriots owner Robert Kraft weighs in on Dan Snyder, potential Commanders’ sale

Robert Kraft believes that “something is close to happening” with the Commanders’ sale.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of the NFL’s most powerful and successful owners. He’s the polar opposite of Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder.

At the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Monday, Kraft was asked about Snyder and a potential Commanders’ sale. The New England owner didn’t reveal too much, but one thing he did say stood out.

“I believe that something is close to happening,” Kraft said. “I don’t know that for sure. We’ll wait and see what happens.”

Kraft is presumably talking about the potential sale of the Commanders. This matches up with some of the recent reports indicating a sale is imminent.

When Kraft had the chance to personally discuss Snyder, he didn’t take the bait as reporters asked Kraft if he felt Snyder still deserved a team.

“I tell you, I’m really focused on trying to see what I can do to help our team make the playoffs next year,” Kraft said. “And that’s…..I’m going to let his fans worry about that.”

It’s pretty clear that Washington fans have spoken throughout the years, and their stance is evident.

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Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has hilarious take on Commanders’ sale

Mike McDaniel remembers his time in Washington, and it relates to coffee.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel spent three seasons in Washington under former head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan as a young offensive assistant.

When Washington fired Shanahan immediately after the 2013 season, McDaniel was one of the assistants that owner Dan Snyder and former team president Bruce Allen fired.

McDaniel continued to follow Kyle Shanahan in stops at Cleveland, Atlanta and San Francisco before becoming head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2021.

At the NFL owners meetings Monday, Darren Hayes of WUSA9 caught up with McDaniel to ask him if he was surprised that Snyder was selling the Commanders.

After offering his initial thoughts on the matter, McDaniel turned his attention to the franchise’s worth.

“Wow, the organization is worth that much?” McDaniel said with amazement. “And, you know, I couldn’t get free coffee?”

That’s an interesting new take, and the recent NFLPA survey would appear to back up McDaniel’s thoughts.

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Andy Reid on Eric Bieniemy: ‘I’m a big EB fan’

Andy Reid believes Eric Bieniemy will do a great job with the Commanders.

It was an eventful day at the AFC coaches’ breakfast from the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

During the breakfast, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson tweeted he requested a trade on March 2. This led to an awkward interview with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who was speaking at the breakfast around precisely the same time as Jackson’s tweet.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft also mentioned Jackson and rapper Meek Mill.

Super Bowl-winning head coach Andy Reid also spoke. Reid discussed the Eagles and Nick Sirianni, and, of course, he talked about the Washington Commanders and new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

After spending the past 10 seasons working under Reid in Kansas City, Bieniemy left his comfortable post as offensive coordinator for the same position with the Commanders. Bieniemy also received the assistant head coach title and will call plays, opportunities he did not have with the Chiefs.

Reid couldn’t be happier for Bieniemy.

“This will be give EB an opportunity to move in and run the whole show, get my name out of it and put his name on it, and I think that that’s important right now,” Reid said.

“I was for it; as much as I’m gonna miss him, I was for it. Because he deserves an opportunity. Novody works harder than EB does. So he deserves that opportunity to be a head coach. I think will allow people to see his personality, see how he handles the whole squad. Calling plays, everything, the whole show. I think that’ll help him for a head coaching spot.”

“I’m a big EB fan.”

Bieniemy was treated with a hero’s welcome by the Commanders during his introductory press conference. Multiple offensive players were in attendance for Bieniemy’s presser and expressed excitement about him coming to Washington.

Reid has always helped his former assistants move up in the coaching world. And, while unfair, he felt Bieniemy needed to be in complete control of an offense to show NFL teams he deserves to be a head coach. Reid felt working for Rivera, an old friend, was a good match for Bieniemy to achieve that goal.

It was perfect timing for the Commanders, who badly needed to hire a proven offensive coordinator with Rivera heading into a critical fourth season.

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Report: NFL owners to ‘pause’ potential removal of Commanders owner Dan Snyder amid sale

Don’t expect any major Dan Snyder news at the NFL owners meetings next week.

The NFL owners meetings begin Sunday, March 26, but you shouldn’t expect any major news regarding the sale of the Washington Commanders.

Many believed the NFL had initially circled the March owners meetings as a soft deadline to wrap up the sale of the Commanders and possibly vote on a new owner. While sale talks are progressing, nothing is official.

According to Mark Maske, Liz Clarke and Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, Snyder’s fellow owners are pausing any talk about potentially removing him as they await his next move.

The owners are waiting to see what occurs over the coming weeks and possibly months with Snyder’s attempt to sell the franchise, his efforts to secure indemnification against legal liability and the outcome of the league’s second investigation into him and the team, said those people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.

Back in October, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said there was merit to potentially removing Snyder. Irsay made his comments at the NFL owners meetings, and they drew national headlines. In subsequent interviews, Irsay did not back off his comments. However, Irsay and other owners have remained quiet about Snyder since that time.

The Washington sale has heated up in recent weeks, with Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris emerging as the favorite. Harris’ additions of Mitchell Rales and Magic Johnson to his bid has only strengthened his position. 

However, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos remains in the shadows. And, according to sources close to Snyder, talks of Snyder’s issues with Bezos are “overblown,” and he’d welcome a bid from Bezos. 

The NFL’s new target for the Commanders’ sale appears to be the league meetings in May.

We’ll continue to follow all updates regarding the sale of the Washington Commanders.

Commanders not ‘formally’ on the agenda for next week’s NFL owners meetings

It doesn’t mean the sale will not be discussed.

Washington fans have waited months for a resolution on the team’s potential sale. When it was revealed on Nov. 2 that the Snyder family had hired Bank of America to explore potential transactions with the franchise, the March owner’s meetings were thought to be the deadline for a sale.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports was among the first to report that other owners hoped to complete the Washington sale by the end of March.

“The other interesting part is the timeline,” Glazer said in November. “This is not going to be a long, drawn-out process. I’m told the hope is to have this done within the next six months and actually have it finalized by the NFL owner’s meetings next March.”

Here we are, days away, and it doesn’t appear Washington will be sold by next week’s NFL meetings.

According to Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic, the Commanders and their potential sale are not “formally on the agenda” for next week’s annual meetings.

This doesn’t mean that Snyder is keeping the team. Things have heated up recently regarding Washington’s sale, with Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris thought to be the frontrunner. Harris added billionaire Mitchell Rales to his bid earlier this month, and just this week, NBA legend and successful businessman Magic Johnson also joined the Harris bid.

Roger Goodell to receive multi-year contract extension as NFL Commissioner

Roger Goodell is expected to receive a contract extension from NFL owners

Roger Goodell will continue to be the facet that runs the place when it comes to NFL and its business endeavors.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday Goodell and NFL owners are expected to finalize a contract extension for the commissioner at next week’s league meetings in Phoenix.

Per Schefter:

The NFL’s compensation committee is slated to present the proposed extension to team owners during a special privileged session Tuesday afternoon. Only one member from each team is permitted in that meeting.

Goodell’s extension has been in the works since last season, when the compensation committee was granted permission by the full membership to get an extension done, according to sources. The sides have discussed a three-year extension, according to sources, but no length of time has been agreed to yet.

Goodell took over as commissioner from Paul Tagliabue on Sept. 1, 2006.

It has been reported Goodell earns more than $63 million annually on his current contract.