Washington Commanders

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said Wednesday that he is "not ready" to vote out Daniel Syder as owner of the Washington Commanders.

"I'm not ready to vote him out. I need to hear more here. ... I'm not ready to vote him out," Irsay said, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post. "Again, it's something where we want to get more information about everything."

Irsay also commented on the matter in October, saying that removing Snyder as owner of the Commanders should be carefully considered.

He said at the time, via Maske and Nicki Jhabvala:

"I'm not sure how that report's going to come out. But what already has come out is extremely disturbing, and I disagree with the process. And I most likely disagree that we haven't discussed something more severe such as him being removed as owner. As I said, it's not something that I'm saying we should do. I'm saying it's something that has to be given serious consideration."

Twenty-four owners would need to vote in approval of ousting Snyder as owner of the Washington franchise. However, it might not need to come down to a vote.

Snyder and his wife Tanya announced in November that they had hired Bank of America Securities "to consider potential transactions" involving the Commanders.

Bank of America is set to release the prospectus on the Commanders to potential buyers and sources believe Snyder will "most likely" sell his full stake in the franchise, Maske, Jhabvala and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Snyder purchased the Commanders for $800 million in 1999. The franchise is now valued at $5.6 billion, according to Forbes.

Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos, president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage Mat Ishbia and media entrepreneur Byron Allen have been linked as potential buyers of the NFL's Washington franchise.

The potential sale of the Commanders comes after Snyder and the franchise were under investigation by the United States House Committee on Oversight for allegedly fostering a toxic workplace environment, in addition to sexual harassment allegations.

The year-long investigation headed by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney found that the NFL and the Commanders "covered up decades of sexual misconduct":

"The Committee's investigation shows that sexual harassment, bullying, and other toxic conduct pervaded the Commanders workplace, perpetuated by a culture of fear instilled by the Team's owner. Despite the NFL's knowledge, through its internal investigation, that the Team's owner permitted and participated in the workplace misconduct, and engaged in tactics used to intimidate, surveil, and pay off victims, the NFL aligned its legal interests with the Commanders, failed to curtail these abusive tactics, and buried the investigation's findings."

The NFL also conducted its own investigation into the Commanders' workplace culture and fined the franchise $10 million in July 2021 but did not release a written report of the probe's findings.

In addition, the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of Virginia opened an investigation into the Commanders in November for alleged financial improprieties.

The franchise allegedly withheld security deposits from season-ticket holders or made them difficult to get back. It was then fined $250,000 in a settlement with Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh in relation to the security deposits.

In addition, Washington is accused of keeping two accounting books to avoid sending the NFL money meant for the league's revenue-sharing pool.

Dan Snyder is expected to sell his full stake in the Washington Commanders.

Per Mark Maske, Liz Clarke and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Bank of America is moving forward with the sale process of the NFL franchise by getting ready to release the prospectus to qualified potential buyers.

The report noted it's "not certain" that Snyder will sell the entire franchise, but sources believe it's most likely going to be the outcome from this process.

Dan and Tanya Snyder announced Nov. 2 that they retained Bank of America Securities "to consider potential transactions."

The move came as Snyder and the organization were under investigation by the United States House Committee on Oversight for a history of alleged workplace misconduct and sexual harassment.

In the findings from the investigation released Dec. 8, the congressional committee determined the Commanders and NFL covered up decades of sexual misconduct.

The report states that Dan Snyder made attempts to interfere with investigations into allegations of a toxic workplace. He also "permitted and participated in this troubling conduct," including inappropriately touching a former employee at a dinner and trying to "aggressively push" her into his limousine.

Former Commanders video production employee Brad Baker told the committee that team executives "tasked us with producing a video for Snyder of sexually suggestive footage of cheerleaders, obviously unbeknownst to any of the women involved."

Melanie Coburn, a former Commanders cheerleader and marketing employee, said in the report Snyder "ordered the director of the squad to parade the ladies onto the field while he and his friends gawked from his suite through binoculars."

Mike Ozanian of Forbes reported in November at least four groups had called Dan Snyder with interest in buying the NFL franchise.

Amid multiple investigations into Snyder's tenure as owner and long-term questions about his viability in that role, ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Don Van Natta Jr. and Tisha Thompson reported in October that Snyder told at least one close associate he had enough information to "blow up" other team owners, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league office.

There has been a divide, at least publicly, among two team owners about Snyder. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke out against the allegations Snyder was being investigated for.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay told Maske and Jhabvala there was "merit to consider removal" of Snyder. A vote would require at least 24 owners to approve removing Snyder from his position.

Snyder bought the Washington franchise in 1999 for a then-record price of $800 million. Forbes estimates the Commanders are currently the sixth-most valuable NFL franchise at $5.6 billion.

Attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz wrote a letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform ranking member James Comer demanding that "sexualized and salacious photographs" of ex-Washington Commanders cheerleaders be removed from all official Congressional records.

Per ESPN's John Keim and Tisha Thompson, Banks and Katz wrote the letter on behalf of over three dozen ex-cheerleaders and stated that they were "humiliated and incensed by the GOP's reckless dissemination of these photographs."

Rebecca Shabad and Michael Kosnar of NBC News noted the attorneys are asking that the photos get erased from any congressional servers, websites and the Congressional Record, if applicable.

The letter is in response to a memo sent by Republicans after the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform released its official report following an investigation into what they called the Commanders' "decades-long toxic workplace culture."

As Keim and Thompson noted, the photographs "were originally sent by the team's former general manager and team president Bruce Allen to former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and several other men" via email. Fifty-seven emails were included in the memo sent by Republicans to GOP staff members and media outlets.

NBC News provided more information regarding the photographs in the memo:

"Republicans released the 210-page memo last week that featured explicit photos of the former cheerleaders. Their lawyers said Tuesday that the images, 'which show women's breasts, buttocks and genital areas, were disseminated without the women's permission.' (The GOP report put black boxes over the women's faces and some body parts.)."

Banks told ESPN that including the photos was "outrageous and "unnecessary, inappropriate and unprofessional."

A Committee Republican aide told ESPN "the pictures are not, and won't be, part of the Congressional record."

As for the report, the committee found that "dozens of employees at the Commanders were harmed by a toxic work culture for more than two decades," and that team owner Dan Snyder "permitted and participated in this troubling conduct," among other findings.

The Washington Commanders activated quarterback Carson Wentz from the Reserve/Injured list on Monday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Wentz has been sidelined since breaking his ring finger in the Commanders' Oct. 13 win over the Chicago Bears.

At the time of Wentz's injury, the Commanders were 2-4. Since, with Taylor Heinicke taking over as the starter, the team has gone 6-1-1.

Suffice to say, Washington has already made it clear that Heinicke, 29, will remain the starter going forward.

"We're going to go with Taylor, and we'll work Carson back in and see where Carson is in terms of if he's ready to be the backup, then we'll go from there," head coach Ron Rivera told reporters in late November.

When asked further why he was making that decision, Rivera answered simply: "Winning."

The 29-year-old Wentz struggled in his six starts this season, throwing for 1,489 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 62.1 percent of his passes and taking 23 sacks.

Contrast that to Heinicke, who in his seven starts has only thrown for 1,444 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 61.8 percent of his passes, but has only taken 14 sacks.

"I get it, I get it. It's part of the business," Wentz told reporters in late November regarding Rivera naming Heinicke the starter going forward. "I totally understand where we are at as a team and everything else. Obviously, as a competitor, you want to be out there. ... But at the same time, I have a great relationship with Taylor and all the guys. I've been happy to see him succeed in what he's been able to do."

For Washington, it's simple—why mess with a good thing? The Commanders (7-5-1) are the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs, with key matchups against the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys looming.

It's a tough stretch to close out the season, and it's no surprise that they'll be sticking with Heinicke to guide them through it.

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder might not be willing to sell the team despite previously hiring BofA Securities to "consider potential transactions," a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

"The source is aware of no objective indication that the process is moving forward," Florio reported. "Indeed, multiple interested parties (per the source) have encountered some 'resistance' in their effort to move things forward."

The source reportedly is concerned Snyder might not sell at all and agreed with the possibility that the initial announcement was simply to clarify the interest from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Charlotte Triggs and Natasha Dye of People reported in November that Bezos had an interest in purchasing the Commanders in a potential partnership with rapper Jay-Z.

According to Peter King of NBC Sports, Snyder refuses to sell the team to Bezos due to his association with the Washington Post.

"It'll never happen," a source told King. "Dan Snyder detests The Washington Post. No way he'd sell to the owner of that paper."

There has been pressure on Snyder to sell the team regardless, including from other owners.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said in October there was "merit" to remove Snyder from ownership. Other owners have spoken to Snyder privately about the issue, per Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal.

On Thursday, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform released a 79-page report that revealed Snyder "permitted and participated" in the organization's toxic workplace culture.

An investigation by attorney Beth Wilkinson on behalf of the NFL previously determined there was widespread sexual harassment, bullying and intimidation within the organization, resulting in a $10 million fine and Snyder being temporarily replaced by Tanya Snyder, his wife, in overseeing day-to-day operations.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported in November that Snyder could sell the entire team for $7 billion.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones criticized what he called a "politically biased" congressional investigation into Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder.

During an appearance Friday on 105.3 The Fan's K&C Masterpiece, Jones said lawmakers had an ax to grind and that the report "doesn't even come out if the Republicans were in Congress":

It's that stupid. My point is there is biasness all the way through. There are stories behind the stories. The facts are that Mr. Snyder's minority partners really went out a long way to try and make him sell. He ended up buying them out. But a lot of this is that.

A lot of the testimony I was involved first-hand. I was among the handful of owners that looked at all of the transcripts. That looked at all of the messages. That looked at all of the data. This attorney is on a campaign to stop having settlements. When you have workplace settlements that's another issue. But that's part of why this has the front that it has.

On Thursday, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform released its report after investigating the Commanders' workplace culture. The inquiry included a series of interviews and depositions. Former team employees and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell were among those the committee reached out to.

Through the investigation, the committee said it found "sexual harassment, bullying, and other toxic conduct pervaded the Commanders workplace, perpetuated by a culture of fear instilled by the Team's owner."

The House members contend Snyder "also obstructed the Committee's inquiry" and "failed to provide full and complete testimony" during his private deposition.

The Republican Oversight Committee issued a response to the report, arguing it "has been an egregious waste of taxpayer-funded resources."

Republicans also attempted to connect the investigation with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' interest in potentially purchasing the Commanders.

The franchise came under significant scrutiny after a pair of Washington Post investigations outlined allegations of misconduct and harassment toward female employees. Bezos owns the Washington Post, and Republicans claimed there was a coordinated effort to force Snyder out and pave the way for Bezos to own the Commanders.

The House Committee's report came more than one year after the NFL announced the findings of an independent investigation led by Beth Wilkinson in July 2021:

Based on Wilkinson's review, the Commissioner concluded that for many years the workplace environment at the Washington Football Team, both generally and particularly for women, was highly unprofessional. Bullying and intimidation frequently took place and many described the culture as one of fear, and numerous female employees reported having experienced sexual harassment and a general lack of respect in the workplace.

The Commanders were fined $10 million and Snyder no longer maintained day-to-day control of the organization in the wake of the Wilkinson investigation.

ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Tisha Thompson reported in October there was "a growing consensus around the league that, despite news releases to the contrary, the Commanders have struggled to establish a more inclusive culture."

The report also called into question how much power Snyder had truly relinquished behind the scenes.

The final report from a 14-month-long investigation into Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform was released on Thursday, and it included information about the leaked emails of former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.

Per Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the 79-page report stated that former Commanders president and general manager Bruce Allen testified that he was told by NFL senior vice president Lisa Friel that the Commanders leaked the emails containing racist, homophobic and misogynistic language that led to Gruden's resignation in October 2021.

Allen also testified under oath that Snyder hired private investigators last year and spoke of plans to follow other individuals, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The committee's report said Snyder gave misleading testimony and didn't admit to targeting Goodell.

"For example, although Mr. Snyder admitted to using private investigators, he testified that he was 'unaware' whom his investigators approached and did not 'remember' having conversations with his counsel about the individuals targeted," the report stated.

Former Washington team president Bruce Allen testified under oath that Dan Snyder hired private investigators to monitor him last year.

Allen also testified that Snyder commented on plans to follow other individuals, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. pic.twitter.com/kZGTM4cE0t

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 8, 2022

A bombshell report from the New York Times contained the leaked emails Gruden sent to Allen's team account from 2011 to 2018 while Gruden worked as an analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football. The committee's report stated that Allen called Friel upon learning about the leak to complain and "she indicated that the team was responsible for the leak, stating: 'We didn't do it at the league office. It came out of their side.'"

Last November, Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell alleging that he was "forced to resign." The 59-year-old said that the leak of the emails was "a malicious and orchestrated campaign" to "destroy [his] career and reputation."

Maske and Jhabvala reported that Commanders co-CEO Tanya Snyder told fellow NFL owners at a league meeting in October 2021 that the emails were not leaked by her or her husband.

However, the committee's report stated that Daniel Snyder's lawyers sent the committee "a batch of internal emails containing inappropriate content from Mr. Allen's Commanders email account" one day prior to Allen's remote deposition subpoena in September, and that batch included the leaked emails from the New York Times report.

It remains to be seen what repercussions this new revelation will have on Gruden's lawsuit against the NFL.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform released a 79-page report on Thursday following an investigation into the Washington Commanders' organizational and workplace culture.

Per Mark Maske, Liz Clarke and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, the report said that "Commanders owner Daniel Snyder evaded questions by saying more than 100 times that he did not know or could not recall information and gave 'misleading' answers when he testified remotely in July."

It was difficult to even reach terms for Snyder to participate in the testimony considering he initially declined the invitation to do so in person at a June 22 hearing. His attorney also refused to accept the electronic service of a subpoena.

"Over the last year, Mr. Snyder engaged in a series of attempts to interfere with the Committee's investigation," the report said. "Mr. Snyder publicly assailed witnesses, refused to release former employees from their confidentiality obligations, and blocked the Committee's access to tens of thousands of documents collected during the Wilkinson Investigation."

The investigation concluded that Snyder "permitted and participated" in a toxic workplace environment that harmed dozens of employees.

Jhabvala tweeted a statement in response from the Commanders' attorneys:

Statement from the Commanders attorneys on the report from the House Committee: pic.twitter.com/i0gASX8vXJ

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 8, 2022

The investigation started in the aftermath of emails between former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and former Washington team president Bruce Allen becoming public.

Gruden resigned because the emails revealed he used racist, anti-gay and misogynistic language, although the Washington Post noted he also filed a lawsuit against the NFL and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell accusing them of leaking the correspondences in an effort to "publicly sabotage Gruden's career."

Thursday's report revealed Allen testified that a league official said the Commanders "leaked" the emails. Allen also said Snyder discussed using private investigators to look into Goodell.

Seth Wickersham, Don Van Natta Jr. and Tisha Thompson of ESPN reported in October that Snyder used investigators to look into fellow team owners and Goodell and said he has enough information to "blow up" some of his colleagues.

This all comes after Washington hired attorney Beth Wilkinson in 2020 to investigate the organization's workplace culture. The NFL took over the investigation, which never produced a written report, and eventually issued the Commanders a $10 million fine and said Tanya Snyder, who is Daniel's wife, would take over day-to-day operations of the franchise.

Wilkinson's investigation determined there was a culture of sexual harassment, bullying and more misconduct.

Yet Thursday's report, which was titled Conduct Detrimental: How the NFL and the Washington Commanders Covered Up Decades of Sexual Misconduct, said "the Commanders paid half of the $10 million penalty directly to charitable organizations … This payment structure may have allowed the Team to take tax deductions for its charitable contributions and payments to the League, thereby conferring the Commanders a benefit."

The report also said the NFL did not "address Mr. Snyder's interferences" in Wilkinson's investigation and helped cover up the Commanders' workplace environment.

According to Ken Belson and Katherine Rosman of the New York Times, Snyder "went to extraordinary lengths to stall investigations."

Per that report, Snyder's efforts included an "attempt to pay former employees 'hush money' to not discuss their experiences, the refusal to release one woman from her nondisclosure agreement after she settled a sexual misconduct claim against Snyder for $1.6 million, and the use of private investigators and leaked emails to intimidate former employees from participating in interviews."

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform was not the only investigatory body looking into Snyder and the Commanders.

As the Washington Post noted, there was a settlement reached after Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh fined the Commanders $250,000 for withholding security deposits from ticket holders.

What's more, D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine's office filed two civil lawsuits against the NFC East team, with one alleging it created "an illegal scheme to cheat District ticket holders out of their deposits" and the other suggesting the Commanders lied to fans about the workplace culture and the investigation into it.

The Eastern District of Virginia has interviewed people regarding allegations of financial improprieties, and attorney Mary Jo White is conducting a second investigation that Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN noted is looking into an allegation that Snyder sexually assaulted a woman on his plane in 2009.

It remains to be seen whether Snyder will eventually sell the team, but the Commanders released a statement in November that said they retained Bank of America Securities to "consider potential transactions."

Taylor Heinicke will remain the starting quarterback of the Washington Commanders, head coach Ron Rivera confirmed Sunday after a win over the Houston Texans.

Ron Rivera: “We’re going to go with Taylor.”

Rivera said he spoke with Carson Wentz, and that he’ll work back toward being the backup. pic.twitter.com/jHChhZZhuA

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) November 20, 2022

Earlier Sunday, it was reported Heinicke would keep the job "as he continues to play well and the team keeps winning," according to ESPN's John Keim.

Carson Wentz, who began the season as the team's starter after an offseason trade from the Indianapolis Colts, has been on injured reserve because of a sprained right ring finger. He was not activated for Week 11 despite being eligible to come off IR.

After going 2-4 with Wentz as a starter early in the season, the Commanders are 4-1 with Heinicke under center.

Washington handed the Philadelphia Eagles their first loss of the season with a 32-21 upset last Monday, although Heinicke had no touchdowns and one interception.

The 29-year-old hasn't produced great numbers when active, totaling just five passing touchdowns with four interceptions and a 82.7 passer rating. Wentz has a 84.1 rating with 10 touchdowns and six picks in six games.

The team has still performed better with Heinicke on the field, earning impressive wins over the Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers. The only loss in this stretch came by three points to the 8-1 Minnesota Vikings.

Heinicke started 16 games for the Commanders last season after first impressing in a playoff game after the 2020 season.

Washington still gave up a 2022 third-round pick and a conditional 2023 third-round pick to acquire Wentz, who has a $22 million salary this season. The 29-year-old is signed through 2024, although the organization can save $26.2 million by releasing him after the season, per Spotrac.

The Commanders could give Wentz another shot to prove himself when healthy before making a decision in the offseason. However, the squad believes Heinicke has earned more playing time while looking to contend for a playoff spot.

If Jeff Bezos wants to buy the Washington Commanders, the franchise is reportedly his to lose.

The Washington Post reported potential buyers have settled on the reality that Bezos could easily outbid them if he chose to purchase the franchise from Dan Snyder.

The Amazon founder is the world's fourth-richest person with a net worth of $120.5 billion, per Forbes.

Snyder announced his intention to explore a sale of the Commanders earlier this month amid public and private pressure from fans and other owners. The franchise has been embroiled in controversy throughout Snyder's 23-year tenure as owner. DC Attorney General Karl Racine recently announced a lawsuit filed against Snyder, the Commanders and the NFL, saying the parties intentionally tried to deceive the city during an investigation into workplace misconduct.

While Bezos has been exploring the potential ownership of a sports franchise for years and the Commanders are a natural fit given his business holdings in the nation's capital and its surrounding areas, his attempt to buy the team could be fraught. Peter King of NBC Sports reported Snyder would never sell to Bezos because he "detests" the Washington Post, which Bezos owns.

The Washington Post has been consistently critical of Snyder over the course of his ownership, though it's hard to call any criticism of him unfair given how far the team has fallen during his stewardship.

NFL owners could and likely would attempt to force Snyder's hand into selling to Bezos if his bid winds up being the strongest among interested parties. Forbes values the Commanders at $5.6 billion, but it's a virtual certainty they will sell for more than that figure—increasing franchise values around the league by proxy.

The NFL is unlikely to allow Snyder to sell the Commanders to a lesser offer over a personal grudge.