As previously noted, the NFL handed ex-Washington Commanders’ owner Dan Snyder a massive $60 million fine on his way out.
Earlier this week, the NFL owners officially approved the sale of Snyder’s Commanders to a group led by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion. It sets the record for the most expensive North American sports franchise ever purchased.
According to a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the hefty $60 million fine on Snyder includes a whopping $27 million in legal fees:
“Per multiple sources, the league collected $27 million in legal fees and related expenses from Snyder. Although the league declined to comment on the figure, the league confirmed that legal fees are part of the $60 million.
That leaves $33 million that the league eventually will decide how to distribute. It could go to the teams as partial restitution for the money that was diverted from the league-wide pool of ticket money (the Visiting Team Share) distributed to the various franchises. It could be donated to charity. It could be sued for various things.
For $27 million of it, the use has been settled. It will reimburse the NFL for legal fees arising from the various recent messes that were made by the Commanders under Snyder.”
Snyder’s $60 million fine was handed down following an investigation from U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White. During Snyder’s tenure as owner, the team was accused of many instances of workplace harassment, sexual harassment and underreported revenues. Snyder had been accused of sexually assaulting a female employee in 2009.
The Commanders were a once-proud franchise that won three Super Bowls over a nine-year span (1982, 1987 and 1991). But they sunk to complete disarray and dysfunction once Snyder took over as a young 34-year-old owner in 1999.
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Aside from never-ending controversy and incidents on and off the field, Washington would only win two postseason games during his 24 years. They haven’t won a postseason game since 2005, and Washington has reached double-digit wins (2012) once since 2006.
Snyder’s run as Washington’s owner couldn’t have ended fast enough for millions of frustrating Washington fans. Now we see if Harris can quickly turn this three-time Super Bowl-winning franchise back into a model of consistency it once was.
