The latest Washington Commanders controversial move was succinctly summed up as, “Daniel Snyder doing what Daniel Snyder wants to do.”
This is from NBC’s Pro Football Talk host Mike Florio, expressing how Snyder seems often to not be submitting to what others want him to do. This was in response to Snyder announcing they were going to conduct their own investigation into the claims of Tiffani Johnston. Johnston last week claimed Snyder had put his hand on her thigh under a table, leaving it there until she herself removed his hand, and then attempted to get her into his limo later that evening.
PFT cohost Chris Simms spoke of hearing the news of Snyder hiring investigators and thought, “Is the NFL really that stupid? Are they that blind to the optics of how this looks in the current situation?” Simms said he was satisfied to learn that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had responded firmly, stating that the NFL was going to be handling the further investigation and not Snyder.
Simms then expressed, “This is the first time, I have actually thought, ‘You know what? Daniel Snyder is actually in trouble’. I feel like it is real trouble now.” Sims added that he wondered if the other NFL owners are thinking, “Is Daniel Snyder crazy? Does he really think this looks right?”
Florio agreeing with Simms, advanced the notion expressing the NFL owners have been protecting Snyder to protect themselves. Florio indicated in his opinion that Snyder was lucky the NFL had not demanded a written report from Beth Wilkinson’s original investigation. Due to the toxic workplace environment and Snyder’s actions himself, Florio feels the report might have gone as far to say, that the NFL should force Snyder out from ownership of the Washington franchise.
Florio indicated Beth Wilkinson already being the most knowledgeable of what transpired, could be brought back by the NFL to conclude her investigation, getting to the truth, and calling for Snyder to be held accountable.
Also important, Simms admitted for years he thought so much about how “the NFL was special and impeccable” and that he now sees the NFL often “cannot get out of its own way.” Echoing Simms, Florio went further, saying he was a sucker and mythologized the NFL as a kid. He now struggles with why the NFL cannot simply move to get to the truth, not covering for its own owners and for its own league?
Florio reiterated he does not hate the NFL. He simply wants the NFL to do the right things, and conduct investigations with integrity.