DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - One of the writers of the Dan Snyder bombshell report says the Washington Commanders owner appears to have already lost the support of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, as Colts owner Jim Irsay became the first NFL owner to publicly call for his ouster from the league at the owners meetings in New York on Tuesday.
Jones, who has long been a supporter of Snyder's, played a somewhat prominent role in ESPN's story. While he and a Cowboys spokesperson declined comment to ESPN, the story said, citing anonymous sources, that Snyder has directly told another owner that he has “dirt” and “a file” on Jones.
In that same article, it was reported that the Cowboys owner recently told some close to him that he "might not be able" to protect his protege any longer. "Snyder's already lost Jerry," a source told ESPN.
Don Van Natta Jr., one of the three writers who collaborated to break the story, joined 105.3 The Fan on Wednesday to discuss where things stand between the two owners and why Jones' support is so vital to Snyder not being forced out of the league.
"I'm not really sure Jerry is backing him. ... If you really listen carefully to his (interviews on 105.3 The Fan when he spoke about Snyder), is he saying, 'I'm in Dan Snyder's corner?' No. Is he saying, 'he's my guy, I'm going to defend him, he's done a great job as the Washington Commanders?' No, he doesn't say anything like that. In fact, the best thing I heard him say (on 105.3 The Fan) is that he has a long relationship with him, which is true. They've known each other since Dan bought the team in 1999 as the youngest owner at the age of 34," Van Natta Jr. said on Shan and RJ.
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"My sources close to Jerry, these are excellent sources, again told me last night, 'Jerry is not in Dan's corner, but he's keeping all of his options open. He wants to see the results of the Mary Jo White report. He's been talking to other owners about this as I understand it. In owners meetings, he has not been giving adamant enthusiastic defenses of Dan Snyder. The best thing he's been able to say is that Dan Snyder is trying. He's trying hard to get a stadium. He's trying hard to right the ship of the Commanders' organization. But he never, as I understand it, defends Dan Snyder's character, or defends him from the allegations that have been made about sexual misconduct and a toxic workplace."
And why did Snyder decide it was a good idea to turn his back on his closest ally?
"That's a really good question. I don't know why Dan Snyder would say what he said to this one owner that he 'has dirt on Jerry' and 'badmouthed' him. ... As you guys know, the most important thing to Jerry is loyalty. Look at the grudge he's held on Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy's still not in the Ring of Honor all these years later after promises and everything else," Van Natta Jr. said.
"That bothered Jerry, as I understand it. Why Dan Snyder would do that? I can't get inside his head. Now people around him, who know him, suggest that he's desperate. His back is against the wall. Jerry has been his main defender. Jerry has been his guy for all these years. They sit next to each other at owners meetings. And so, he's sensing that support is slipping, and perhaps because of that, because he's so desperate, he has now turned on him. I don't know. I'd love to ask Dan Snyder (why he did that). If he loses Jerry, and we quote somebody in our story I believe is close enough to Jerry to be able to give us a good assessment of this, that Snyder has already lost Jerry, but if Snyder loses Jerry, then I don't see how he survives because of Jerry's influence."
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