There has been a "dark cloud" hanging over the Commanders organization ever since he arrived in Washington, second-year cornerback Benjamin St-Juste told a newspaper in French, adding that it would be nice for the organization to have a "fresh start."
St-Juste, speaking to Le Journal de Québec (a French-language paper based out of Canada), said it feels like any time something good happens on the field, it's followed up by something bad happening off the field.
Here's how the paper framed the St-Juste quote (via Google Translate): If there is a single shadow on the board in the great adventure of Benjamin St-Juste in the NFL, it is that the organization of the Commanders raises tons of criticism. Scandals besetting owner Daniel Snyder are likely to force him to sell this once-respected franchise. The Quebecer does not hide that the situation can become serious.
And here's what St-Juste had to say about Snyder's ownership of the Commanders (also via Google Translate): "Since I arrived here, it's been a dark cloud over our organization. Every time there is something good happening on the pitch, something bad is happening off it. It would give us great energy to have a fresh start and regain the confidence of the fans."
The Commanders have been decent enough on the field with a 4-5 record this season, and it's been a breakout season of sorts for St-Juste, who's taken over as Washington's top cover corner.
Off the field, however, Snyder — presumably pressed into action from multiple investigations of the organization — is shopping for potential buyers of the Commanders, which he's owned since 1999 and has previously said he'd never sell.
Just Wednesday, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine announced a press conference to come on Thursday, during which he plans to make a "major announcement" about the franchise.
In response to that announcement, the Commanders released a statement stating that Racine's office is focusing on its investigation into the team in lieu of combatting "out-of-control violence" in D.C. while referencing the shooting of Commanders rookie Brian Robinson "in broad daylight."
Shortly thereafter, Robinson's agent responded that the organization had previously handled his client's shooting with "so much care, sincerity and class," but called out whoever "whoever is hiding behind this statement."
