Charges Filed Against Snyder, NFL

[RiverDog]

This is a little bit off topic as it's not purely football-related, but it's something of interest to all football fans:

D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine announced Thursday that his office is filing a consumer protection lawsuit against the Commanders, team owner Daniel Snyder, the NFL and league commissioner Roger Goodell. The lawsuit accuses them of colluding to deceive and mislead customers about the investigation into the team's workplace misconduct in order to avoid losing revenue from the fan base.

"Faced with public outrage over detailed and widespread allegations of sexual misconduct and a persistently hostile work environment at the Team, Defendants made a series of public statements to convince District consumers that this dysfunctional and misogynistic conduct was limited and that they were fully cooperating with an independent investigation," the lawsuit says, via The Washington Post. "These statements were false and calculated to mislead consumers so they would continue to support the Team financially without thinking that they were supporting such misconduct."

And here's Snyder's response, through his attorney:

"Over two years ago, Dan and Tanya Snyder acknowledged that an unacceptable workplace culture had existed within their organization for several years and they have apologized many times for allowing that to happen. We agree with AG Racine on one thing: the public needs to know the truth.

"Although the lawsuit repeats a lot of innuendo, half-truths and lies, we welcome this opportunity to defend the organization — for the first time — in a court of law and to establish, once and for all, what is fact and what is fiction."

And from the NFL:

"The independent investigation into workplace misconduct at the Washington Commanders was thoroughly and comprehensibly conducted by Beth Wilkinson and her law firm. Following the completion of the investigation, the NFL made public a summary of Ms. Wilkinson's findings and imposed a record-setting fine against the club and its ownership.

"We reject the legally unsound and factually baseless allegations made today by the D.C. Attorney General against the NFL and Commissioner Goodell and will vigorously defend against those claims."

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/d-c- ... r-goodell/

To me, the NFL's internal investigation was a joke. They fined Snyder $10M, an amount that constitutes pocket change to folks like us. The league should have done what they did to Jerry Richardson, who was guilty of much less serious transgressions than Snyder, ie forced him to sell the team. Now, the chickens are coming home to roost.

[Hawktawk]

Anytime anyone investigates themselves it usually winds up favorable . As you say rose colored glasses . When it comes to the league I’ve loved for 45 years I have no trust anymore . For me it bleeds into officiating and everything else . It’s become such a blend of sport and entertainment with billionaire owners with multiple billion dollar franchises . They hire the commissioner . It’s a joke , a kangaroo court . If this IG wants to take a run at the League pack your lunch pail. Cash register justice . Too much power . Too much influence . Now I read Schnyder has blackmail on numerous owners and even Goodell. It’s a mess .

[RiverDog]

Anytime anyone investigates themselves it usually winds up favorable . As you say rose colored glasses . When it comes to the league I’ve loved for 45 years I have no trust anymore . For me it bleeds into officiating and everything else . It’s become such a blend of sport and entertainment with billionaire owners with multiple billion dollar franchises . They hire the commissioner . It’s a joke , a kangaroo court . If this IG wants to take a run at the League pack your lunch pail. Cash register justice . Too much power . Too much influence . Now I read Schnyder has blackmail on numerous owners and even Goodell. It’s a mess .

There are other investigations into Snyder's conduct besides the league's internal one. Congress currently has one that's still in progress.

There's no doubt that Snyder is guilty, indeed, he has at least partially admitted to some of the accusations. What is going to be more difficult to prove is that there was collusion between him and the league to deceive and mislead customers about the investigation into the team's workplace misconduct in order to avoid losing revenue from the fan base. That's going to be tough, as they would need things like emails and eye witness testimony, which will be very difficult to come by. I can't see it going anywhere.

But what this lawsuit might do is to finally convince the other owners that Snyder has to go. It takes 24 of them to agree.

And BTW, I need to correct the thread title. Charges have not been filed. A lawsuit has been filed. There's a difference.

[NorthHawk]

With the political changes that have happened, it would be expected that his billionaire pals will pull the strings to end any type of congressional oversight.

[Aseahawkfan]

He's a rotten owner. Get rid of him.

[RiverDog]

He's a rotten owner. Get rid of him.

One of the things that might help push Snyder out the door is the efforts to get a new stadium to replace FedEx Field:

For many, there seems to be understandable trepidation about working with Snyder to provide the necessary funding to build a new stadium and move the Commanders out of FedExField in Landover, Md. However, the team getting sold to a new owner/ownership group could help get the wheels in turning faster.

You know the saying: Money talks, bullchit walks. If plans for a new stadium are hung up because investors don't want to jump in bed with an unpopular owner like Snyder, you can bet your bottom dollar that the majority of owners will vote to kick him out.

I'm going to go out on a limb and make a prediction, that by this time next year, the Washington Commanders will have a new owner.