Lots more reactions were coming in Friday morning about the Commanders being sold to a group led by Josh Harris, and ESPN’s Commanders beat writer, John Keim, had some thoughts about the whole process.
“I heard whispers a few years ago that maybe there was some nudging towards a sale, but even in hindsight, I’m not sure that was actually accurate,” Keim said. “Throughout this whole process, the question wasn’t whether he’d sell, it was whether other owners would force him out and make that precedent. You hear a lot of things, but you also know how much of his identity was tied up in being the owner of this franchise.”
Daniel Snyder has always been, as the Junkies said, someone who never has heard he’s wrong, but perhaps, Keim thinks, he maybe came to a realization about his future when he saw his wife, co-CEO Tanya Snyder, booed during a PSA at the stadium.
“I think all the scandals and stuff, but I think it was the realization that maybe this wasn’t going to end,” Keim said. “I think the booing certainly did not go over well – I mean, it was a PSA for cancer, and she was on the screen for two seconds or so. My understanding was that stung, and I think it was the realization that things wouldn’t change.”
The Commanders’ stadium issues, too, could’ve played a role, especially given Snyder’s debt situation.
“In this situation, it’s hard to be definitive on anything because it’s so difficult – but needing to build a new stadium and not being able to get it done, I think if they could’ve pushed that through the Virginia assembly last year I don’t think we’re in this situation,” Keim said. “Even with limited partners, you heard early on wonder if anyone wanted to be associated with the brand, so they knew it would be difficult to get that, and people there felt it was going to be a full sale in part because of that.”
Keim also weighed in on the possibility of a higher bid in the final hours before the deal is finalized – “anything is possible,” he said – as well as the idea of another rebrand in "an unprecedented situation" and more. Take a listen to the whole segment above!
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