ESPN released a report on Thursday morning regarding Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder ahead of next week’s NFL owner’s meeting.
The report, from Seth Wickersham, Don Van Natta Jr. and Tisha Thompson, claims to have over 30 sources, ranging from other NFL owners to former Washington team executives.
Here are some excerpts from that report, in which Snyder believes he has gathered enough secrets to “blow up” the NFL.
“They can’t f— with me,” Snyder is reported to have said in regard to other owners.
The report says the NFL is aware that Snyder is “tracking” other owners and that Snyder has lost the support of longtime ally, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. According to the report’s multiple sources, Snyder has hired private investigators to look into other owners and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“Snyder’s already lost Jerry,” the report said, stating that Jones told confidants he “might not be able” to protect the Washington owner any longer. The report also states that Snyder has “badmouthed” Jones and has “file” on him although the two were spotted with one another at midfield during the recent Washington/Dallas game at AT&T Stadium. It was the first time Snyder had been seen at a game this season.
The Commanders released a statement denying the soured relationship between Snyder and Jones saying he [Snyder] and his wife Tanya “have a close and strong relationship with Jerry Jones and his entire family” and “great respect and admiration for one another.”
Other quotes from the report:
“He thinks he’s got stuff on Roger [Goodell].”
A former Washington executive calls Snyder “the most powerful owner in the NFL” because of what he knows about other NFL owners.
Snyder, who is under investigation by the NFL and Congress, feels as if he’s “backed into a corner” and “he’s behaving like a mad dog cornered.”
“The NFL is a mafia,” he allegedly told an associate. “All the owners hate each other.”
Another NFL owner had the following response:
“That’s not true,” the owner said. “All the owners hate Dan.”
Much more is contained in the report. It’s worth noting that the team released a statement.
A team spokesperson called it “simply ridiculous and utterly false” that Snyder ever said that he could blow up the league, or that the league “can’t f—” with him, or that “the NFL is a mafia” or “all owners hate each other.”
The Commanders [1-4] happen to play Thursday night against the Chicago Bears [2-3] in a must-win game for the franchise.
