The RFK site is officially dead. Virginia lawmakers won't vote on a stadium offer. A Congressional committee is pressuring Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder to testify.
Snyder desperately needs a scapegoat. That usually means firing someone and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio just made himself an easy target.
Del Rio's public comments over the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as a "dust-up" that he later apologized as a poor word choice suddenly has him in the center of controversy. Ironically, Del Rio's poor coaching effort over two seasons might warrant dismissal, but now it would be seen as "woke" politics.
Either way, Del Rio will be lucky to survive this mess even with coach Ron Rivera's backing. Oh, Rivera is surely punching walls over Del Rio creating the latest flap that never seemingly stop for long with this franchise. But, Rivera's main goal, even over winning it seems, is to remove the team from constant controversy. Del Rio thrust it once more into the spotlight.
Suddenly, Virginia lawmakers with buyer's remorse are walking away from their one-time $1 billion offer to entice the Commanders into building their new stadium in the Commonwealth. The deal was already reduced to $350 million, and now a one-time 32-to-8 backing in the state house has lawmakers fleeing from the bill like someone pulled a fire alarm. Del Rio's comments have nothing to do with their reversal, but it's a convenient excuse to do so. Politics at its basic level.
Meanwhile, District politicians told House representative Eleanor Holmes Norton that they back her move to gain the RFK site for city's needs. However, in a letter to Norton signed by seven council members, they will not support a stadium. And, the council has the power to do so. For several years, the council and nearby residents have said they want housing and commerce at the site, not a stadium. The letter is seemingly the death knell to RFK 2.0.
Related
Snyder is suddenly stuck in Maryland, which has offered $400 million to improve the area around a new stadium. The thought is a better surrounding venue will benefit the stadium. It surely wouldn't hurt, but Snyder is still stuck spending $2 billion on a new venue when Buffalo just gave $850 million to the Bills for a new home.
Now a House oversight panel wants Snyder and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to testify on June 22 over allegations of workplace misconduct. Snyder surely won't appear without a subpoena. Even then, he'll seek delays hoping Republicans take over the House in November's midterm elections and make this investigation go away.
But it's tough times for Snyder and history says he'll make a splashy move to distract people. General managers Vinny Cerrato and successor Bruce Allen were dismissed to quell the crowd while plenty of coaches and staffers were fired over the years.
Now Del Rio has made himself a convenient choice. Not that he hasn't done a questionable job with a defense loaded with talent. Del Rio didn't make key changes until midseason the last two years and his in-game corrections are dubious at best. The team seldom effectively counter-punched and was too often run over early.
That's the reason why the Commanders should have changed coordinators, not political statements. But when controversy flames around the team, Snyder must sacrifice something to the crowd and it's not a team sale.
Del Rio made it too easy.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
Related
