Daniel Snyder is officially out as the owner of the Washington Commanders, with $6.05 billion in his pocket. "The privilege of a lifetime,'' the Snyders are calling it. ... Meaning their ownership involvement, but maybe the $6.05 billion, too.
But he will be opening his wallet as the unpopular boss was ordered to pay $60million in fines from the NFL following the approval of the franchise's sale to the Josh Harris group by the league's 31 other owners.
That's well and good, we suppose; we're not sure exactly how much of a financial punishment a billionaire must absorb before he actually feels it. But now there is this about that $60 million ... Where is it going?It seems that in the breakdown of the fines that has been released, a large chunk of it is about the NFL getting compensated for its legal fees. According to Pro Football Talk, that "chunk'' totals $27 million.
Yup. ... $27 million was paid to the lawyers as the NFL essentially fought with itself over all of the myriad Snyder problems. OK, so now we can't ask, "Where's the $60 million going?''
But we can ask, "Where's the remaining $33 million going?'' The first and easiest guess: The other owners, stinging from allegations that Snyder cooked the books over the years to rob them of profits, could push to keep it for themselves. Fact is, though ... How badly does, say, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, need a million bucks?
There are other ideas. Better ideas. Charity? The NFL battlefield has left many old-time players in unfortunate physical and mental shape. That would be a fitting move.
Compensation for the Snyder employees and other victims of his "toxic'' culture of discrimination and sexual harassment within the organization? That would work.
Maybe a few bucks tossed the way of long-suffering fans of the Washington football team - yeah, you! - who have invested heart and soul and time and money into the franchise with a genuine passion Snyder could never match? That would also fit. That would also work. That is also not happening. Sorry.
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