Snyder to buy out other WFT owners
Dan Snyder will soon be the sole owner of the Washington Football Team.
Snyder is buying out the team’s minority owners in a move that gives him total control and should end a lengthy, bitter court dispute along with any speculation that he’d be pushed to sell his boyhood team he bought in 1999.
An NFL spokesman on Wednesday confirmed that Snyder’s application for a debt waiver of $450 million was approved by the league’s finance committee and that the deal is pending approval from team owners. Three-quarters, or 24 of 32 teams, need to sign off during a vote at the annual league meeting next week to make it official.
Fred Smith, Dwight Schar and Bob Rothman currently own 40.5% of Washington Football Inc. They sued Snyder in federal court in Maryland in November, seeking an injunction to allow them to sell their shares of the team.
This effectively settles that matter and puts Snyder completely in charge of the team, which Forbes most recently valued at $3.5 billion. Washington is in the midst of an organizational upheaval after dropping its name last year and launching an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace by several former employees.
The NFL took over that investigation run by Washington-based lawyer Beth Wilkinson last summer. A league spokesman said that investigation is still ongoing, which is separate from Snyder buying out full control of the team.
Amid the allegations was a report that Snyder himself was involved, which he denied. Snyder separately vowed to change the “culture” around the organization and at the Super
Bowl earned some support from Commissioner Roger Goodell for initiatives he and wife Tanya have already taken.
Changes include hiring Jason Wright, the league’s first Black team president, and revamping gameday presentation. Petra Pope was hired to run a new dance team, which will replace cheerleaders. A new name — or making “Washington Football Team” permanent — is expected in time for the 2022 season.
• Longtime Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton will re-sign with the club after agreeing to a one-year contract worth $10 million with $8 million in guaranteed money.
The four-time Pro Bowler was Indy’s thirdround draft pick in 2012 and has spent his entire career with the Colts.
Hilton has 608 career receptions for 9,360 yards and 50 touchdowns.
Indy also announced it had re-signed starting cornerback Xavier Rhodes and added offensive tackle Sam Tevi from the Chargers.
• The New York Jets agreed to terms on a oneyear contract with running back Tevin Coleman.
Coleman has dealt with injuries the past two seasons while with the San Francisco 49ers.
He was drafted by Atlanta in the third round in 2015. After a career-high 800 yards rushing and 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2018, he signed a two-year deal with the 49ers, worth $10 million.
For his career, Coleman has rushed for 2,937 yards and 24 touchdowns and caught 117 passes for 1,224 yards and 12 scores.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars signed former 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, giving them an experienced backup if they trade Gardner Minshew.
Beathard started 12 games over four years in
San Francisco, throwing for 3,469 yards, with 18 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. NFL Network reported he signed a two-year deal worth $5 million.
Jacksonville is expected to select Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s NFL draft.
are shutting down left-handed starter Steven Brault for at least a month to address discomfort in his throwing shoulder.
Brault will be out for a minimum of 10 weeks. The team had expected Brault to be a part of a totally revamped starting rotation.
Brault was 1-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) last season.
• Newly acquired slugger Khris Davis will miss the start of the season for the Texas Rangers because of a quadriceps strain suffered on a bunt single Tuesday.
Davis, who likely would have opened the season as the starting designated hitter, will be out 3-4 weeks.