Some owners around the NFL are reportedly growing concerned that the Washington Commanders sale may not be a good-faith attempt by owner Daniel Snyder to actually sell off his majority control of the team.
The Washington Commanders are up for sale due to the negative attention the league has received over several investigations surrounding the team that started last year. A history of sexual misconduct under Daniel Snyder’s ownership led to two different investigations by the NFL, Congress, and regional authorities over the last year.
The questionable management style of the team over the last decade produced a groundswell from in and outside the NFL for Snyder to end his tenure as a league boss. After months of resistance, he eventually did begin the process to sell his control of the team in December and hired Bank of America to facilitate the process.
Related: Washington Commanders sale reportedly in jeopardy, Snyder not happy with offers
However, the action is now closing in on a fourth month with no sale in sight. Several bids were put in at the end of the year, but none came close to Snyder’s reported asking price of $6 billion — which would be a record amount for the sale of a professional sports team.
The one individual that could easily purchase the Washington Commanders, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, reportedly has interest but is viewed as an enemy by Snyder due to his ownership of the Washington Post. A publication that has put a bright spotlight on the negatives of Snyder’s time as Commander’s boss.
Now, with stories last week claiming Snyder is trying to block Bezos — one of the wealthiest men on Earth — from putting in a bid, Front Office Sports reported on Monday that there is now a growing concern in the league that the Commanders boss may not be acting in good faith when it comes to a Washington sale.
One source claimed that Bezos being blocked from a bid could be an attempt by Snyder to squeeze well beyond $6 billion out of the former Amazon CEO in a purchase. The outlet also claims that quite a few NFL owners are “vexed” about the situation because some theorize the hurdles that keep arising are all just an attempt by Snyder to bog down the process and eventually retain control of the team.
Along with potential interest from Bezos, Josh Harris, owner of the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers, as well as Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, and former New York City Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg are all interested in a Washington Commanders purchase.