Because It Can’t Get Any Worse, Daniel Snyder Throws Support To Roger Goodell
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is having a terrible week. First, as reported here on The Inquisitr, the elevator video of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancée, now wife went public, and sources have said that Goodell knew of the videos’ existence but failed to watch it before levying a ridiculously inept two-game suspension on Rice in July. To end the week, Minnesota Vikings running back–and one time league most valuable player–Adrian Peterson, was indicted on child abuse charges in Houston for disciplining his son with a stick.
Not to mention the ongoing debate over the NFL’s draconian and non-sensical drug policy that could see up to 20 suspensions overturned or reduced under a new policy change. And now, equally embattled Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has thrown his support behind his commissioner–the same Daniel Snyder that defiantly refuses to entertain notions of changing the Redskins team name even as public outcry grows louder with each day. This is the PR equivalent of plugging the hole at the bottom of a sinking ship with an ice cube. At some point, it’s going to get worse.
In a statement released by Snyder and the Redskins, the owner throws his support behind Goodell.
“Roger Goodell has always had the best interests of football at heart, both on and off the field. We are fortunate to have him as our Commissioner. The entire Washington Redskins organization strongly endorses his efforts to eradicate domestic abuse and the independent investigation into the Ray Rice assault.”
Roger Goodell has good intentions. His job as commissioner is to grow the league–and the sport–and to make the billionaire team owners billions more. This is where Daniel Snyder comes in. Snyder is one of the richest owners as the Redskins are worth $2.4 billion and are valued third, according to Forbes, behind rival Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones in first, and the New England Patriots and owner Robert Kraft in second. It’s not that Snyder doesn’t have his own demons to work through. The Redskins name has come under fire from the left for its racist notion as some call it an ethnic slur, but only some feel that way. Recent independent polls of Native Americans show that they overwhelmingly favor the name and the heritage it brings, a stark contrast to opponents’ claims about the name.
For Daniel Snyder to step away from the barrage of attacks on his decision to keep the team name–the same team name that has been in place since 1932–and enter the conversation on calls for Goodell to step down for his failures in the Ray Rice case is head scratching. Maybe Snyder hopes that by siding with Goodell, Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson’s actions may push the Redskins name debate to the back burner for now. It can’t get any worse. And maybe this is retribution for Goodell staying out of the Redskins name debate, leaving the decision to fall on Snyder alone, and he’s publicly said it will never change. So there’s that.
And what of Goodell? As his empire seemingly begins to unravel, he has been silent, focusing more on Josh Gordon’s season long suspension for using pot than policing his players who have beaten women and children respectively. And with San Francisco 49er Ray McDonald under investigation for abuse, it’s not going to get any easier going forward. Support is always nice to have when you are going through tough times, but is Daniel Snyder–and the baggage he carries daily–the kind of support Goodell wants or needs? No other owner has stepped up with support, leaving Snyder and Goodell on that sinking ship–and the ice cube is melting.
Do you think Roger Goodell should resign?
[Images courtesy of AP/Carolyn Kaster; USA Today/Geoff Burke; and Google]
