No need to hit the panic button (yet) regarding Commanders' sale

A respected insider stated there was absolutely no need to panic just yet regarding the Washington Commanders sale to Josh Harris' ownership group.

Many fans were hoping for a quick vetting process before their beloved Washington Commanders finally fell into different hands. Dan Snyder's 24-year stint as the team's owner came with almost nothing legitimate to cheer about and scandals aplenty, so it's not hard to see why almost everyone wants him gone with little in the way of fanfare attached.

This also applies to NFL owners, although they are currently going through the necessary documents before bringing the matter to an official vote. However, there was some concern last week following revelations that the Josh Harris group's $6.05 billion offer needed significant changes to the financial structure and number of partners before it got the green light.

The report from Forbes was almost immediately shot down by A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports. He stated any alterations would be minimal and the number in Harris' group stands at 20, which is below the NFL limit of 24.

Commanders sale remains on course for July/August approval

This was a sentiment echoed by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, who added this week that there is no need for Commanders' fans to panic despite the urgency associated with this particular transaction.

"There’s really no reason to panic—if you’re a Washington fan. No, the Commanders' sale didn’t happen this month. Yes, the terms are still at issue, and there’s plenty for the league and its finance committee to work through with Josh Harris’s group. But everyone wants this sale to happen. Other owners want Harris in their club. They also want Daniel Snyder out of it. And going back to square one isn’t an option here."

- Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated

The complexities surrounding the deal and the ongoing rise in price where NFL franchises are concerned led the respected insider to a bigger question. One that wasn't immediately well received by those in positions of power when probed.

"The larger question, to me, would be whether the NFL uses this situation to take a broader look at its ownership requirements, which call for the primary owner in any purchasing group to have 30% of the total price paid in cash. Going forward, with a price point past $6 billion for the Commanders, it’s going to be harder and harder to find prospective buyers capable of meeting that requirement. That said, both the owners who spoke on the record, and those I talked to off the record, last week seemed to have no appetite for changing the rule. "

- Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated

While Harris might not have the equity available to purchase the Commanders himself, the combined projected net worth of his partners stands at around $100 billion. So as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said at the spring meetings, there is a level of confidence everything will come to a satisfactory conclusion.

There is only another month or two for fans to wait. The timeline of July or August for the ownership approval vote remains on track, which would be just in time to formally begin Washington's exciting new era for their Week 1 opener against the Arizona Cardinals at FedEx Field.

And what an occasion that promises to be.