Washington Commanders: Separating Scandal From Rebrand

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February 8, 2022

by David Earl

Embracing Change is OK

There is a lot of understandable anger and frustration over the Dan Snyder scandal, but it is true that you can be critical of Snyder and while simultaneously enjoying the rebrand. The idea that embracing this rebranding process somehow enables and supports Dan Snyder’s actions is just irrational. Depending on each individual fan, this rebranding will receive mixed reviews throughout the process for a long time, especially by seasoned fans like myself as we adapt to this change. Giving positive feedback on the name, uniforms, helmets, and so on is part of this process of growth under this rebrand that has had many fans upset with since July of 2020. During this process, the organization has also seen some positive shifts within the front office while transparency in the process has been fairly adequate and upfront since day one. There needs to be a path forward which the fans can embrace, whether through the rebranding or the new front office structure as the legal system handles Dan Snyder’s egregious and toxic work environment. If fans are not afforded the opportunity to seek positive directions while not constantly holding everything this organization does in contempt, then why should people even waste their time rooting for this team? Yes, the skeletons in Dan’s closet can make it very difficult to move forward, but fans need a starting point to move on while the embarrassing scandals continue to come to light. Let’s be honest: Dan will continue to profit off this team whether you buy the merchandise or not especially through the shared league-wide revenue system in the NFL. Ticket sales have plummeted, yet this team is still listed in the top 5 most valuable NFL franchises (at $4.2B) according to Forbes annual NFL team value list.  So, while you are well within your right to boycott and separate yourself from this team, what do your attacks on fans supporting the rebrand do for your cause? I applaud your stance and position against Dan Snyder, but that does not have to result in directing your hatred towards the fans who are embracing and/or adapting to the new changes. The only outcome will be among the fan base, and that has zero effect on Dan.

The Heat on Dan is Rising

There is a fair sentiment of disgrace and embarrassment in regards to Dan Snyder within this fan base, which is more than warranted. It’s obviously clear that he brought a the toxic culture to DC, the timeline of which is shown in my column Dan’s Disfavor with Fans, as is the disingenuous apology from the Snyder’s as they attempt to move forward. The pushback against Dan has been evident but in recent weeks the coverage has been far more amped up and aggressive. The House Oversight Committee continues to push the NFL to properly handle these egregious accusations, as some of the most recent testimony having been rather damning. For example, Anna Nunez, who was 1 of 6 to speak in front of the Oversight Committee, emotionally conveyed a powerful testimony against the toxic culture of sexual harassment from top executives. In her statement, she described inappropriate advancements that seemed to come across as casual and gave the impression of an acceptance of a terrible culture as a norm. As you can read in the Oversight Committee Roundtable this investigation made very clear not only what this organization has attempted to keep hidden but the NFL just appears to be enabling this behavior. From the workplace misconduct and the unsafe environment for these women behind the walls, Dan Snyder’s attempts to move forward are not going smoothly. Regardless of the name change, front office reshuffling/changes, or the self-imposed suspension, he may be beyond reconciliation. To compound the “Release The Report” demands from the Oversight committee and the victims, Dan has full veto power for any information being released once he and the NFL started a joint investigation. Although no physical report was submitted there are almost certainly documents to be seen resulting from Beth Wilkerson’s investigation, which is is what Congress appears to be seeking. We do have to understand that some documents are sensitive in nature that cannot or may not be released but, in terms of specific findings, information corroborating these victims’ testimonies may very well exist. If Dan truly believes that he can’t be personally implicated in any of these charges, then why not be forthcoming with all documents pertaining to the charges? While some believe he won’t do so because the testimonies against him personally could be proven true, but the fact that the NFL entered this investigation jointly could also tell a bigger story. The motivation of the league and its owners could reveal a larger problem that exists league-wide, but that’s for another article.

The point here is that Dan may finally be up against the wall and the league owners, purely for self-preservation, could finally come together and vote Dan out, forcing him to sell. What’s the probability of that? My guess is pessimistic – I think there’s around a 15% chance he is forced to sell, but that’s probably far from accurate. While all the petitions to boycott Dan Snyder by not buying merchandise and tickets are nice gesture, the only course of action here is to affect the pockets of the owners leaguewide by putting pressure on corporate sponsors and the media giants which air these games. That’s what leads to my pessimistic view that Dan will be forced out. I just don’t see a strong enough push against the league owners and forcing their hands. Remember you can attack and put all the pressure on Roger Goodall that you want but he is employed by the 32 owners and each team is run as a private corporate entity, which makes the NFL nearly impenetrable.

Final Thoughts

As far as the rebranding goes, it is no secret how much I opposed the change. Ultimately money forced this change, not principles or ethical reasons. My stance against Dan, compounded of course by his egregious workplace behavior, will always be resentment for buying a team in the Redskins and completely tearing it down to its very foundation. His unforgivable actions to take a once-proud franchise representing a gold standard in the NFL to the level of disgrace it is today crushes my very soul. This team has always been a major part of my life that went beyond being just a game as I was one of those fans that invested an emotional attachment. While I will always have a level of resentment for any name besides Redskins, I did not invest nearly 40 years of my life to walk away, either. I recognize the change and will, in time, come to grips with the new name; however, that in no way means I have become a “Snyder suck-up!” You can embrace the change in one hand while holding contempt, as I do, for Snyder in the other. You have to allow this new front office the opportunity to enact the changes needed to create a positive and respectful workplace. I know while the Snyders are still in charge the root of the issue continues to plague the organization, but are you whiling to accept that the necessary ethical changes will not be made until Dan is rooted out? This complex issue we are witnessing needs to be handled accordingly in order for change to happen. It’s ok to embrace change and applaud the current front office decisions while Dan is being held accountable for these egregious acts.