Colts owner Jim Irsay says he believes there is some “merit to remove” Daniel Snyder as the owner of the Washington Commanders.
Irsay added he thinks there “potentially could be” the 24 votes from the league's other owners to remove Snyder while speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting in New York Tuesday.
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"I think it's something that we have to review, we have to look at all the evidence and be thorough in going forward, but I think it's something that has to be given serious consideration," Irsay said, adding it was a difficult situation.
Irsay said a vote would not happen today and that it is "hard to say" when any potential vote on Snyder's ownership would be held.
"You know, I don't know how long it would take. Certainly, we're going to be thorough and look at everything and it could be at the March meetings, it could be... I don't know," Irsay said. "But I know we want to be thorough and look at everything carefully."
But Irsay did indicate there was broader support among the NFL's owners.
"When we look at the evidence and go forward we'll have to determine what the situation is," Irsay said when asked if he believed others agreed with his assessment. "I just believe in the workplace today the standard that the shield stands for and the NFL that you have to stand for that and protect that. And I just think that once owners talk amongst each other they'll arrive at the right decision and my belief is that unfortunately, I believe that’s the road we probably need to go down and we just need to finish the investigation. But its greatly concerning to me the things that have occurred there over the last 20 years.”
A Commanders team spokesperson responded to Irsay's comments by calling them "highly inappropriate"
"It is highly inappropriate, but not surprising that Mr. Irsay opted to make statements publicly base on falsehoods in the media," the Commanders' statement read. "It is unfortunate that Mr. Irsay decided to go public with his statement today, while an investigation is in process, and the team has had no opportunity to formally respond to allegations. The Commanders have made remarkable progress over the past two years. We are confident, that when he has an opportunity to see the actual evidence in this case, Mr. Irsay will conclude that there is no reason for the Snyders to consider selling the franchise. And they won't."
Irsay was asked if he believed Snyder should be removed and clarified he said there is “consideration that he should be removed.”
"We have to complete the investigation,” Irsay said. “But to me, it's something that serious consideration has to be given to the removal and we have complete authority to do that."
Is that for the removal of only Dan Snyder as owner or the entire Snyder family, Irsay was asked.
“I think in general of him, being removed and selling the franchise,” Irsay said.
Details will be added as the story develops.
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