Who could end up being the big winners from the Washington Commanders' official sale agreement, which has been months in the making?
One could have been forgiven for feeling a sense of trepidation following a report from The Washington Post earlier this week that plunged the sale into doubt. However, this was thankfully not the case, and any fears were officially alleviated thanks to a bombshell statement on Friday.
Dan Snyder has finally relinquished power and sold the Commanders to the ownership group led by Josh Harris for $6.05 billion. The transaction still requires formal league approval via a voting process between owners, but it should be a relative formality all things considered.
This latest and perhaps most important development regarding the sale was met with incredible enthusiasm among the fanbase. They've waited a long time and gone through some significant hardship under Snyder's dark cloud, so this moment is for them.
With that being said, here are four big winners from the Commanders' sale agreement, which should get rubber-stamped in the very near future.
Winner No. 1
Roger Goodell
It's been clear for some time that Dan Snyder was becoming a stain on the NFL. A problem that brought constant shame to the league and was an ongoing distraction for Commissioner Roger Goodell.
With Snyder now selling up and riding off into the sunset, it'll probably be a massive relief to Goodell. However, there are plenty of mitigating factors to navigate before then, such as the Mary Jo White report and various other allegations surrounding the disgraced billionaire.
Once Snyder is removed entirely, Goodell will be sitting back with a smile on his face.
Dan Snyder - Outgoing Commanders owner
Many have Dan Snyder tabbed as a weasel - someone that would put his own personal gain before anything and anyone. And whenever the going gets tough, the billionaire goes missing.
The Washington Commanders will be far better off without Snyder. He's brought nothing but underachievement, poor standards, incompetent decision-making, and scandal to the franchise, which saw a storied organization descend into the proverbial NFL abyss over the last two decades.
And yet, one gets the sense that Snyder will emerge from this sale as a winner. No matter how undeserving he is of such a distinction.
First of all, Snyder is making a monumental profit. After buying the Commanders for $800 million initially, he'll receive $6.05 billion for basically running the franchise into the ground.
Snyder also has a specific set of demands surrounding indemnification that could be approved. Specifically, the Mary Jo White report and the repercussions that might follow.
Anything less will be considered a slap in the face to those who've suffered under Snyder's watch. But that doesn't mean the NFL won't grant this wish to guarantee his departure once and for all.
Either way, Snyder will go down as the worst owner in league history. Not that he'll care all that much with more than $6 billion in his pocket.
Incoming Commanders ownership group
It's probably been a nervous few days for the ownership group led by Josh Harris. But after some intense discussions and paperwork alterations, their ambitious plan to purchase the Washington Commanders is now in its final stages.
Harris is riding on the crest of a wave in the sporting world lately. The Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils both made noise in the postseason, which is exactly what he'll be aiming for in Washington sooner rather than later.
This is an impressive group of figures Harris has put together. It might take some time, but the infrastructure and accountability will be night and day compared to how Dan Snyder ran things.
The likes of Mitchell Rales and Magic Johnson will be prevalent. Johnson, in particular, can become the figurehead to legitimize the Commanders and potentially return them to the NFL's top table at long last.
Changes will arrive regarding staff already around - that's just what happens when new owners come in with different ideas. But if Harris and his group get Washington humming after so much misery, they'll be lauded in the biggest way imaginable.
Commanders fans
To say Washington Commanders fans suffered under Dan Snyder would be understating things slightly. There's been little to celebrate on the field and with all the scandal enveloping the franchise, it's embarrassing to associate themselves with what unfolded across a once-proud organization.
Their ordeal is almost at an end. Snyder is on his way out and will be replaced by an experienced group of wealthy figures that want to restore pride to the Commanders and the wider community.
While expecting miracles overnight is unrealistic, fans can finally start looking forward with a sense of optimism. The new owners have a vision and are willing to invest to make their goals become reality.
This should be music to the ears of every Commanders fan walking the earth. With Snyder now gone, expect to see them return in their droves to FedEx Field, which could be on its way out too if new stadium proposals gather pace in the coming months.
Where once there was dismay and not much else, there is hope. After coping with a constant stream of failures under Snyder, it's nothing more than Commanders fans deserve.