Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is disappointed in the season.
He said it five times in a short session with a couple reporters and the team’s own Web site after dedicating a new ball field in Clinton on Tuesday. “Apologetic,” “embarrassed” and “frustrated” also were used.
“I feel bad for the fans,” said Snyder, according to Redskins.com. “I feel sorry for the fans. … 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.”
Disappointed? Funny, that’s how I feel over Snyder’s method of breaking his silence. The owner picks a high school 50 miles from Redskins Park, gets a couple of reporters to come while stiffing the rest of the media herd camped out regularly in Ashburn, then never addresses anything of substance.
Go back to saying nothing. Oh wait, you did anyway.
If Snyder wants to talk to the media, do it at Redskins Park or FedEx Field. Let people ask real questions, not a couple softballs before the high school band interrupts.
This was a staged event, with no chance the media would hit Snyder with tough questions. Like:
How thin-skinned must you be to ban signs from the stadium under the pretense of safety issues?
Signs have been at games for decades with no known fatalities. Signs are at least the 28th leading cause of death among males 18 to 54 after streetcars and sausage sandwiches.
Or how about these: Why are you leaving Jim Zorn to twist in public shame like he’s a foreign spy? Is Zorn really safe for the season? Are you considering whether to fire vice president Vinny Cerrato and hire a real general manager in the offseason? Which would you hire first — GM or coach? Will you sign a free agent quarterback or use the first-rounder next spring for a quarterback?
Snyder hasn’t put himself in the crosshairs since earlier this decade after a few bruising sessions with the media. Talking at a field dedication is like hiding in plain sight.
“I think No. 1, I feel bad for the fans. I feel sorry for the fans,” Snyder kept saying. “And we’re very, very appreciative of our great, loyal fan base.”
Snyder learned one thing from Joe Gibbs — when in doubt, praise the fans. Too bad they’re not listening anymore.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
