After nearly a year-long investigation into a workplace environment that was rife with sexual harassment claims, the NFL found that Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder should be held accountable to the tune of a $10 million fine.
In releasing its findings from attorney Beth Wilkinson's investigation, the NFL neither released Wilkinson's full report nor directly acknowledged any specific allegations, choosing instead to issue a summation of Wilkinson's oral report to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
That left many feeling outraged, especially Lisa Banks, an attorney representing more than 40 former Washington Football Team employees, who'd already felt uneasy about the lack of communication she'd received from the league after her clients voluntarily opened up to Wilkinson in good faith and "at a great personal risk" nearly 12 months ago.
Banks, who'd said earlier this week that the NFL refused to acknowledge her repeated requests to make the Wilkinson report public, came down hardest on the league after the release of its findings, saying, in part, "The NFL has effectively told survivors in this country and around the world that it does not care about them or credit their experiences. Female fans, and fans of goodwill everywhere, take note."
Various members of D.C. sports media also weighed in on Thursday, voicing their reactions to the NFL's findings:
And, lastly, some clarification on a few key points from the NFL's perspective:
