Report: Dan Snyder claims he has “dirt” that could “blow up” the NFL as excitement mounts over his scandal-laden team ownership

If you’ve been wondering why Daniel Snyder is still the Washington Commanders team owner after years of scandal, allegations and investigations from everyone from Congress to the NFL, a new ESPN report seems to have the answer:

Mutually Assured Destruction.

Report: Snyder ‘cornered like a mad dog’ as NFL conspired to oust him

ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Tisha Thompson reported that Snyder told a staffer he had enough secrets to “blow up” several NFL team owners as well as the league office and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a Notion repeated throughout history by former Commanders executives and other anonymous sources.

Tensions between the league’s franchise owners could keep Snyder in power, or at least allow him to sweep the house with him.

The NFL has its fall league meetings in New York on Tuesday, although a league source told the Associated Press there are currently no plans to vote on removing him from possession. ESPN reported that Snyder will fight to keep the team even if club owners reach the 24 vote threshold to vote him out. “You can’t fuck with me,” Snyder said privately, according to the story.

Word has reportedly spread around the NFL that Snyder has hired private investigators to gather information about individuals who could pose a threat. According to the report, a spokesman for the commander and outside attorneys denied that Snyder hired or authorized private investigators to pursue anyone.

The Commanders issued a response to the story on Thursday, according to The Athletic’s Ben Standig:

Goodell was reportedly reluctant to take action against Snyder, preferring to focus on “the integrity of the game” and let team owners sort themselves when it came to business practice. However, he warned team owners that they would be fined “millions of dollars” if they went on record to discuss league business.

The story goes on

Now, franchise owners, aware of Snyder’s potentially desperate efforts to protect themselves, have reportedly begun to think of more creative ways to push him out, including refusing to loan Snyder money for a “much-needed” new stadium.

Is Daniel Snyder losing Jerry Jones, his greatest ally?

According to the report, Snyder has visited club owners across the league to bolster support. One in particular stands out.

Jerry Jones, team owner of the Dallas Cowboys and Snyder’s longtime mentor, is said to have recently told people close to him that he “maybe not can“ to protect Snyder no more, after being asked “personally and repeatedly” to have his back.

The report mentions that Jones has been careful not to defend Snyder’s character, instead praising how hard Snyder is working to “fix the ship” and trying to build a new stadium.

It doesn’t help that Snyder Jones has also reportedly “talked badly,” recently telling another team owner, “He’s just out to get in your pocket. He’ll sell you down the river. You can’t trust him.”

A source in the report is also quoted as saying, “Snyder has already lost Jerry.”

Snyder also seems poised to take Jones down. He reportedly told a source that “Jerry has his own issues.” The league’s owners are reportedly not bothered by Jones’ alleged troubles, including a reported $2.4 million settlement with four cheerleaders over allegations of voyeurism, as well as a lawsuit (which was ultimately dropped) by a 25-year-old Woman who claims Jones is her father.

Though sexual misconduct is at the heart of Snyder’s alleged transgressions, the other team owners can’t ignore Snyder’s “poor financial performance,” according to the ESPN report. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Congressional House Oversight Committee received information that the commanders were hiding ticket proceeds from other NFL teams.

‘Turning point’ for Snyder’s removal?

The NFL has still not publicly announced the results of an investigation into the allegedly toxic workplace culture of the commanders of Beth Wilkinson, a veteran Washington, DC attorney hired in the summer of 2020.

However, some league executives saw the results targeting Snyder, including details of an alleged $1.6 million settlement made in 2009 with a former employee whom Snyder accused of sexually assaulting her on his private plane to have.

Although Snyder’s attorneys reportedly tried to silence her, the woman has spoken to Wilkinson and attorney Mary Jo White, who is conducting a new investigation into Snyder for the NFL.

According to the report, a former Commanders executive says if the details of the incident are ever released, it could be a “tipping point” for Snyder’s ouster.

However, the story cites other owner sources who fear the limelight could be diverted to their own franchises when the new report’s findings are released.