Amid rumblings that a potentially devastating report related to a “toxic culture” inside the organization will soon be published, Dan Snyder, owner of the NFL’s Washington franchise, has hired District of Columbia law firm Wilkinson Walsh LLP to review the team’s “protocols, including its culture, policies and allegations of workplace misconduct.” (The Washington Post finally published the story Thursday evening)
News and rumblings of a “bombshell” report focusing on management and owner Dan Snyder that would “shake the franchise to its core” began leaking out early this week.
“The warped and toxic culture of the Washington Football Team is about to be exposed in a sickening fashion,” reported CBS Sports NFL reporter Jason La Canfora on Tuesday.
Local reporter Julie Donaldson of NBC Sports wrote, “What’s coming is disappointing and sad.”
Former Redskins cornerback Josh Norman tweeted out a cryptic message Thursday: “I will say this, what goes around comes around. What’s done in the dark will surely come to the Light! God seems to always have a way of reposition his people at the right time & reveal Truths without saying a single – word.”
There has been a widespread belief that the Washington Post expose would be released at some point on Thursday, but the much-anticipated report has not yet been published.
Beth Wilkinson, of Wilkinson Walsh LLP, confirmed to The Associated Press Thursday afternoon that Washington had retained her firm.
The first of many, many personnel changes in Washington have already commenced, as the team fired two longtime front office members, Alex Santos and Richard Mann II, on Sunday. The timing was initially considered very odd, with the team set to begin training camp in a couple of weeks. On Wednesday, veteran radio play-by-play man Larry Michael announced that he was retiring after 16 seasons. According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, Washington minority partner Fred Smith and fellow minority owner Dwight Schar have been “actively trying to sell their pieces of the team. However, both have to date been unable to find a buyer.” Back, on July 3, owner Dan Snyder announced that they would undergo a “thorough review” of the team’s controversial nickname (the term “redskin” has long been considered a slur against Native Americans). This past Monday, facing mounting pressure from major retailers and Native American leaders, ownership officially proclaimed the Redskins name and logo would be retired.
One rumor making the rounds on Thursday was that the team had bribed game referees. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted late Thursday afternoon that, “in response to the wild internet speculation that members of Washington’s NFL team paid off officials, one source laughed, strongly denied it, and added ‘if we did, we need to get our money back.’”
“We can confirm that our firm was retained by the team to do an independent review of the team’s culture, policies and allegations of workplace misconduct,” said Beth Wilkinson.
Washington Redskins Officially Announce They Will Change Team Name (Forbes)
Fred Smith, Dwight Schar have been trying to sell their interest in the Washington franchise (NBC)
I’m a New York-based news desk reporter for Forbes covering sports, politics and business. Please feel free to contact me via email (tsbeer7 [@] gmail.com) or Twitter
I’m a New York-based news desk reporter for Forbes covering sports, politics and business. Please feel free to contact me via email (tsbeer7 [@] gmail.com) or Twitter (@TommyBeer).