Snyder sincere in apology, but doesn't get it

November 4, 12:27 PMWashington Redskins ExaminerMark Newgent

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Washington Redskins Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Dan Snyder Apologizes
(AP Photo NIck Wass)

Even after I ripped his management team in my previous article, I do feel I need to be fair to Dan Snyder, given his brief comments after a Redskins Charitable Foundation event . Matt Terl has the video here.

Snyder was asked about the current negativity surrounding the ticket scandal and the sign ban. “I think number one I feel bad for the fans. I feel sorry for the fans. And we're very, very appreciative of our great, loyal fan base. And I'm understanding; I mean, we just feel terrible. We're disappointed and we're embarrassed. And we hope to get it going soon. We're disappointed.” Reflecting on the personal toll this season has taken Snyder said “It hurts. I mean, it really hurts.”

Curious that only one reporter not on Snyder’s pay role was present at the event. Lindsay Czarniak, the NBC 4 reporter who queried Snyder is also a member of the Redskins Broadcast Network.
Still, despite the obvious dodge, I believe Snyder’s sincerity.

Snyder certainly deserves a lot of blame for the devolution of the franchise over the last decade. However there is a line of criticism that I believe isn’t fair. The notion that he’s just milking the team for profit, winning and fans be damned, is just wrong. Snyder comes from the same well of fandom as the rest of us. He grew up bleeding Burgundy and Gold. I cannot and will not subscribe to the argument that he’s in this just for the money. For another often over looked side of Snyder, I highly recommend Harry Jaffe’s 2006 piece in the Washingtonian.

Sure eschewing value in favor of splurging on over priced free agents is foolhardy. However, the fact that he is willing to spend big money even in a misguided philosophy is a sign that Snyder does indeed care about winning, and returning the franchise to the elite ranks of the NFL. You want an owner willing to spend money to win. In Snyder’s case he doesn’t spend it the right way.

It’s, as John Keim points out with the signs and general mismanagement of the team, along with dodging the media—it’s not that Snyder doesn’t care, he just doesn’t get it.