Commanders’ Dan Snyder burning bridges on his way out of D.C.

All signs are pointing to Dan Snyder selling the Washington Commanders. That process is expected to be completed as soon as March. If fans had any say in the matter, the team would be sold tomorrow, because Snyder is doing his very best to embarrass himself and the franchise on his way out.

On Wednesday, it was revealed D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine will be making a “major announcement” regarding the organization on Thursday. Fittingly, the Commanders subsequently released a statement — seemingly through Snyder — that invoked the shooting of rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr..

"“Less than three months ago, a 23-year-old player on our team was shot multiple times, in broad daylight,” the Commanders said. “Despite the out-of-control violent crime in D.C., today the Washington Commanders learned for the first time on Twitter that the D.C. Attorney General will be holding a press conference to ‘make a major announcement’ related to the organization tomorrow.”” . . . Mr. Racine appears more interested in making splashy headlines, based on offbeat legal theories, rather than doing the hard work of making the streets safe for our citizens, including bringing to justice the people who shot one of our players.”"

To translate, Snyder directly flames the Attorney General, comes out against D.C., and worst of all, uses Robinson as a shield to deflect from a pending investigation. It’s a new low for Snyder, who’s stooped to levels beyond comprehension during his reign as the franchise’s owner, and the statement prompted a fiery response from Robinson’s agent, Ryan Williams of Athletes First Partners.

Commanders’ Dan Snyder invokes Brian Robinson Jr. shooting, Robinson’s agent and team president Jason Wright respond.

We all know who’s hiding behind that statement. And if we needed any clarification, NFL Media insider Mike Garafolo made it very clear it was Snyder.

The Commanders have had their fair share of embarrassing statement over the years. This one might take the cake for the worst of the bunch. The fact Robinson was forced to re-live a near-death experience is sickening. And demanding the Attorney General to do something that’s beyond his pay grade?

It’s no surprise Snyder went on the offensive, but to do so in this manner proves he doesn’t care about burning bridges on his way out.

The statement elicited a response from team president Jason Wright, who said the statement was from “external counsel.”

"I just spoke to Chief [Robert J.] Contee [III], conveying how much we support the work of the [Metropolitan Police Department], as well as public safety leaders and elected officials working to reduce gun violence and crime across the region,” Wright said. “The earlier statement express our external counsel’s ongoing frustration with the Attorney General’s office, as they have been nothing but earnest and transparent in their communications with his team. The lawyers’ legitimate frustrations with the AG should have been separate and apart from referencing the terrible crime that affected our player.”"

Pretty clear what’s going on here. The original statement was issued by Snyder’s lawyers/PR group, and the team didn’t take kindly to it. The fact Wright distanced himself from the organization (Snyder) says it all, and puts Garafolo’s above tweet into proper context.

Don’t condemn the entire front office for what was clearly a Snyder-piloted response. Nobody would blame Robinson if he didn’t want to play another snap for the franchise, even if Snyder is seemingly on the verge of selling.