Dan Snyder 'Sorry' for Redskins' Fans

In what has been an incredibly disappointing 2009 campaign, to this point, maligned Redskins owner Daniel Snyder had been noticeably quiet. This movement was pretty shocking because, in the past, Snyder has been a relatively vocal and hands-on owner. His silence opened the door for all kinds of theories as to why he wasn't talking and what he may have been planning.

Tuesday, he finally said a few words about his 2-5 'Skins, who -- in addition to having to climb out of a crater-sized hole in the NFC East -- face a much tougher schedule than they've already played. He managed to come off sounding like a caring and remorseful owner.

"I think, number one, I feel bad for the fans," Snyder said. "I feel sorry for the fans. We're very, very appreciative of our great, loyal fan base. 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."

Asked how the team's struggles have impacted him personally, Snyder replied: "It hurts. I mean, it really hurts. We are really trying very, very hard. Everyone at Redskins Park--the coaches, the players, the organization--quite frankly has held up well. I think we have an opportunity the rest of the season to hopefully get it going.

"But to date we have let everyone down, including ourselves. We know that. We're just apologetic. We've blown some games that obviously we think we should have won."

I'm not sure many fans will be ready to accept Mr. Snyder's apology, judging from the ample venom we see in his direction on any Redskins' message or comment board. Though Vinny Cerrato, Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn all seem to share some of the blame among the general public, Snyder is still usually front-and-center when it comes to discussing the problems of this once-great franchise.

To Snyder's credit, in the present tense, he sounds contrite and determined to turn things around. It is possible for people to change after reflecting upon their past indiscretions. He'll have to do a lot more to prove himself, if this is indeed a new Dan Snyder, but it could be a start.

As for the 2009 team, you'll note Snyder said they hope to "get it going." Their only two wins are against two of the worst teams in football and three of their losses are against teams with losing records. The rest of the way, eight of the Redskins' nine upcoming opponents currently have a winning record.

Thus, they better have fixed a lot during the bye week.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

11-03-2009 @ 10:33PM

rodchesternm said...

geter done

11-03-2009 @ 10:35PM

no free speech at the redskins playing field. sorry about our bad luck.

sorry about our bad luck

11-04-2009 @ 12:52AM

david71173 said...

He feels sorry for the redskin fans? how should we feel for the lions fans?

11-04-2009 @ 1:56AM

Timmay said...

if daniel snyder were truly sorry, he would sell the team to someone who could actually be a competent owner. I won't buy that *%$@ until he does that. Daniel Snyder sux out loud!

11-04-2009 @ 2:16AM

Survivor! said...

IT COULD BE WORSE, HE COULD OWN THE BROWNS, AND WHATS WORSE?
GROWING UP IN OHIO BEING A BROWNS FAN, A ONCE GOOD, COMPETITIVE TEAM AND PROUD,.....to walking around depressed every sunday with your tail firmly planted between your two legs!

11-04-2009 @ 12:03PM

samm said...

its the same here buddy...former superbowl champs to a joke of an nfl team

11-04-2009 @ 4:36AM

pote207 said...

The SKINS are dead until SNYDER is GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-04-2009 @ 8:31AM

phr7yv said...

He and Cerrato shouldn't be allowed to sponser a pee wee team, let alone own an N.F.L. franchise!

11-05-2009 @ 10:18AM

bobschindy said...

Agreed! Lets not forget the McCaskey's...BUMBLING BEARS

11-04-2009 @ 8:45AM

mwalsh63 said...

WE NEED AN OFF. LINE, WE HAVE A GOOD DEFENCE, AND A GOOD OFFENCE, WE NEED SOME PROTECTION AND BLOCKERS.THATS ALL WE NEED. TO ALL THE REDSKINS FANS: SUPPORT THE PLAYERS,COACHES, AND THE OWNER. DAN SNYDER, PLEASE BUY US AN OFFENCEIVE LINE NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU MARK

11-04-2009 @ 9:17AM

saltnj74 said...

it's called chemistry......come together/stand up for each other/fight/SHOW SOME FREAKING HEART!!!!!!!!!

11-04-2009 @ 9:30AM

truckcabbie2 said...

I know their pain....
Signed,
Seahawks Fan

11-04-2009 @ 11:32AM

Tkarschner said...

Skins need to get rid of Zorn, have big Dan take a hands-off approach, and hire Bill Cowher as head coach. Take him less than 2 years to turn the program around....FACT!!!!!

11-04-2009 @ 12:34PM

bee5505 said...

What do you call a Redskin with a Super Bowl Ring?
A senior citizen!!!!

11-04-2009 @ 12:37PM

deniz said...

I HAVE BEEN A SKINS FAN FOR 25 YEARS , THIS IS A TERRIBLE TIME FOR THE REDSKINS , THEY ARE NOT MOTIVATED AT ALL , THINGS MUST BE DONE BENCH JASON CAMPBELL FIRE THE NON MOTAVATING JIM ZORN AND HIRE A GOOD HIGH ENERGETIC HEAD LEADER EITHER JON GRUDEN WHO I THINK IS A VERY GOOD FIT , I ALSO THINK THAT CLINTON PORTIS IS OVER RATED

11-04-2009 @ 1:11PM

Paul said...

I see names like Gruden and Cowher being tossed around.
What coach would come to Washington knowing that Snyder and Cerrato are handling the personnel decisions?
There are probably going to be five head coaching spots open after the 2009 season.
Even with Snyder offering $10 mil a year (which he would have to do to attract one of the big boys), I can't see Shanahan, Cowher or Holmgren coming within a 10-foot pole distance of the Redskins- SOLELY because of Snyder and his massive ego.
If anybody is buying this latest Snyder "mea culpa" act, I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you.
PS: Whoever comes in as the new head coach will have no established starting QB. Do you think Holmgren, Cowher or Shanahan wants to start out weaning a young QB ?? Sam Bradford ?? Jimmy Clausen ?? Tim Tebow?? Cowher, Shanahan and Holmgren are all over 50.... wouldn't Romo in Dallas or Rivers in San Diego or Edwards in Buffalo or Rodgers in Green Bay ALL LOOK A LOT MORE ATTRACTIVE to the top head coaches in the 2010 market? I think so.

11-04-2009 @ 1:19PM

Jerry said...

i agree with your assessment, paul.
snyder says he wants a winner and he makes you think he would be willing to step back and turn the reins over to an established football man, but that's a lie. snyder is 1000% ego and 1000% paranoid. Nobody worth anything will ever come to washington without something in writing from snyder saying he will stay away. that document will never be produced. snyder is just full of himself and won't allow the redskins to succeed unless his imprint in on that success. his ego is simply too enormous to ever go away. sad as can be for the 'skins fans.

11-04-2009 @ 2:13PM

marc said...

If Washington's results on the field prove anything- its this. You can have all the money in the world to buy a sports franchise- and plenty do and do- and this is the result. WHY in the hell these franchises don't discriminate better when they're put on sales chopping blocks is beyond me. Its also why you have so many teams now in the 2-5; 1-6 etc losing streaks they're on. Terrible and says plenty about wayward inexperienced franchise ownerships by clueless biz types. Damn sad. Money rules. Class and consideration are chukked out the perverbial window.

11-04-2009 @ 2:57PM

tom said...

Hate to say it, but it HAS been a terrible season-and not just at DC. Only three teams with winning 7-0 stats; though Denver's loss just brought that down to two. Its as if someone in the NFL upstairs, just flipped a switch on everyone to lose- bigtime. Rotten ego inflated dollar oriented owners far removed from the day to day goings on of players surely don't help matters.
No, I can't help but think solid long term team ownership is what really gets a team thru difficult economic times. Saints, Broncos, Colts, Giants all- stable. The rest- mostly in it for short term. Oh well.
Go Broncs!! (and doing so well w/o cutler?? I rest my case).