On Tuesday, Jim Irsay shook the entire league up by stating there are “potentially” 24 votes to remove Dan Snyder as co-owner of the Commanders.
“I believe there is merit to removing him as owner of the [Commanders],” he said, adding that he believes “it’s in the best interest of the National Football League.”
Irsay feels there is merit in removing the controversial co-owner. Based on a previous investigation, the NFL already levied a $10 million fine and sanctions on the co-owner.
It took less than an hour for the Commanders to fire back.
“It is highly inappropriate, but not surprising, that Mr. Irsay opted to make statements publicly based on falsehoods in the media,” a Commanders spokesperson said, via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Irsay decided to go public with his statement today, while an investigation is in process, and the team has had no opportunity to formally respond to allegations. The Commanders have made remarkable progress over the past two years. We are confident that, when he has an opportunity to see the actual evidence in this case, Mr. Irsay will conclude that there is no reason for the Snyders to consider selling the franchise. And they won’t.”
The current league investigation and congressional probe against the Commanders are still ongoing.
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“Some of the things I’ve heard doesn’t represent us at all. I want the American public to know what we’re about as owners,” Irsay said, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “… I believe it’s in the best interest of the National Football League that we look at this squarely in the eyes and deal with it.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell added on Tuesday the investigation was ongoing, and that he told owners there’s “no reason for there to be any speculation” or “discussion.”
“It’s an ongoing investigation,” Goodell said. “There were no internal reports. We have not gotten into reports. We do not provide any because we do not have them. When Mary Jo White is done with her investigation, we will share that with the membership and share it publicly as we’ve committed to before.
“I was very clear with them there’s no reason for there to be any speculation at this point in time or discussion until we have the facts. And so that was my message to the ownership.”
According to ESPN’s report from last week, Snyder allegedly used private investigators to look into Goodell and several team owners.
Snyder purchased the Washington franchise in 1999.
