Washington Football Team: Everything fans need to know from latest investigation fallout

For as ugly as the Washington Football Team’s on-field product has been this season, the franchise has been living up to its reputation as one of the most dysfunctional organization’s in the world of sport.

Listing all of the controversies Washington is currently embroiled in would take too long, but let’s provide a quick summary so fans are in the loop.

Essentially, former employees of the organization — and now members of Congress — are demanding the NFL to release the full findings of the Beth Wilkerson investigation into Washington’s toxic workplace culture after it uncovered hateful emails that were sent by former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden to former Washington president Bruce Allen and others.

The investigation wasn’t aimed at Gruden, but it still led to his resignation mere hours after the scathing details of his emails were publicized.

If the probe could take Gruden down is such swift fashion, couldn’t it do the same for owner Dan Snyder? That seems to be the consensus thought process amongst former employees, pundits and fans alike.

That brings us to current events, so let’s delve into a complete breakdown of what fans need to know about the latest fallout.

Everything fans need to know about the latest updates from the investigation into the Washington Football Team.

After the first day of NFL owners meetings this week, commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the media and said that the league would not release the report from the investigation as a means to protect the identities of those who testified and asked for anonymity.

"“When you make a promise to protect the anonymity, to make sure that we get the right information, you need to stay with it,” Goodell said. “And so we’re very conscious of making sure that we’re protecting those who came forward. They were incredibly brave.”"

So since some former employees didn’t want their names publicized (understandably so), the entire investigation is kept behind closed doors? Got it. That definitely doesn’t reek of a cover-up. Oh wait…

As you would expect, these comments didn’t go over well, as former employee Rachel Engleson and Lisa Banks, an attorney representing 40 former employees of the franchise, came out on Twitter to contest Goodell’s remarks.

Goodell had that one coming. However, he found himself in an even bigger crosshair over the comments he made regarding Snyder.

Later in the presser, Goodell stated that he believes Snyder has been “held accountable” for his involvement in the toxic workplace culture which is said to have included a disturbing volume of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

That so-called accountability included fining the organization $10 million while Snyder surrendered involvement in daily operations to focus on long-term projects like the new stadium. His wife, Tanya, was appointed as CEO in his absence.

In his quote, Goodell noted that Snyder “hasn’t been involved with the organization for now almost four months,” despite the fact that he’s still been attending games. And though he might not be running the team, his wife has been doing so in his place. Surely an honorable man like Snyder has abided by his punishment and hasn’t whispered any input or recommendations during their day-to-day conversations.

See what we’re getting at?

To quote “A Few Good Men,” the NFL can’t handle the truth. That’s why they’re hiding behind the excuse that they’re protecting the employees whom asked for anonymity. Because if the truth came to light, it would likely result in Snyder having to sell the team. The league is in too deep to back out now. Do they want to protect Snyder? Probably not. They likely know he’s unfit to own a franchise. But in doing so, they’re protecting themselves for being outed for what they truly are: a corrupt, multi-billion dollar corporation.

For those wondering how far the NFL will go to hide from the depths of their own corruption, you have your answer.