Latest controversy proves Daniel Snyder wasn’t the only problem within the Commanders
The more things change in D.C., the more they stay the same. While the Washington Commanders have gotten a new name and owner over the last couple of years, dysfunction seems to remain a staple of the organization.
In a bizarre set of circumstances, the team’s vice president of content was caught on camera saying a variety of derogatory things. Believing he was on a date, Rael Enteeen — who was hired under previous owner Daniel Snyder — revealed the inner workings and sentiments of the club, both now and in the past, to an undercover reporter for O’Keefe Media Group.
For example, in 2021, during a game at the team’s stadium, a video emerged showing water streaming from a pipe onto seats. It turned out, however, that it wasn’t water. Said Enteen: “We had like pipes leaking sewage on our fans in the middle of a game, and I have to put out a social post saying ‘It wasn’t sewage water, we promise.’”
This was far from the only inflammatory comments Enteen made. He was derisive about fans, referring to them as “mouth breathers” and saying that most of them are alcoholics with high school educations. He said that a large percentage of the Commanders roster is made up of players who are homophobic. In addition, he said some players are “dumb as hell” and that even if they are smart, continual hits to the head change that.
Enteen also commented on league business. He called the NFL’s social justice and diversity initiatives “performative,” saying, “It’s not done out of the goodness of their heart … It’s to make as much money as possible. The NFL cares about the bottom line, like any corporation, above all else.” He also said that commissioner Roger Goodell is a “$50 million puppet.”
Washington responded by releasing a statement that read, “The language used in the video runs counter to our values at the Commanders organization,” via ESPN’s John Keim. The team didn’t mention Enteen by name, but just referred to him as “the employee,” and said he was being suspended pending an investigation. Enteen has since been fired.
It remains to be seen what — if anything — the NFL will do to penalize the Commanders. It seems clear, however, that Snyder was far from the only problem in the organization and it may be time to further clean house.
