Football fans disgusted with pro football’s sorry record of criminal activity have often resorted to tagging it with the dubious National “Felons” League moniker. This week’s revelations about the despicable behavior of Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson and Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder further justify their criticisms.
Watson has been accused by more than 20 massage therapists for sexual misconduct. Twenty of his accusers have now been settled. Watson previously offered each accuser a settlement of $100,000. This would have meant that Watson bought the accused off for $2 million if they reached a settlement. Watson was not able to settle his original accuser Ashley Solis and at least three other individuals.
Snyder’s sexual assault allegations reached all the way up to Congress today. The Washington Post is reporting details on his sordid behavior that were previously unknown to the public.
It is a messy, gimmicky mess for the NFL.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee Wednesday. Snyder refused to make the request, so Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (Dem.-N.Y.), chair of the committee promised she would subpoena Snyder next week.
Goodell and Rep. Maloney argued about Snyder’s claims that Snyder has been held responsible for Washington’s shady work environment. He claimed that his league placed “unprecedented” discipline on the Commanders to address this environment.
Snyder is not permitted to oversee the operations of his staff.
Maloney said Snyder and his team have not been properly disciplined for a “culture of widespread harassment.” Snyder was also accused of conducting “a shadow investigation to target his accusers, pin the blame on others and influence the NFL’s own internal review.” Maloney stated that an investigation had “confirmed that the Commanders created sexually explicit videos of cheerleaders in order to enjoy Daniel Snyder’s private pleasure.”
Six former Redskins’ employees testified in Congress on the team’s toxic culture.
The Washington Post claimed Snyder’s pattern of sexual harassment goes back at least to 2009. On a private flight with the team, Snyder allegedly forced an employee to have sexual relations with him. However, he eventually denied that he did it. The team reached a settlement with him for $1.6 million months later.
Two years ago, the Post reported that a former Redskins’ senior executive instructed employees to tape a video for Snyder that would include partially naked team cheerleaders. Also in 2020, the Post published an article detailing the sexual harassment experienced in the workplace by 15 former employees. A former employee claimed that Snyder tried to force her into his private limousine.
Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission fined Washington $10 million for engaging in a “potentially unlawful pattern of financial conduct that victimized thousands of team fans and the National Football League.”
Some lawmakers have questioned the purpose of Congress becoming involved in the situation with hearings on a football team, but regardless of one’s take, the league is still mired deep in the muck of all this scandal.
Michael Fabiano, of Sports Illustrated, said: “Regardless of the settlements, the NFL still looks bad if it doesn’t ban Deshaun Watson for the entire 2022 season. Otherwise, it’s ‘another rich athlete paying his way out of trouble” in the court of public opinion & another weak decision by the NFL pertaining to abusing women.’ “
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