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NFL owners have been told to set aside July 20 as the date to fly to Minneapolis and vote Josh Harris through as Washington’s new principal owner. The expectation is the sale will close by mid-July, setting up the vote, which would allow the new owners to be introduced (locally and to the media) just before training camp opens July 26 in Virginia.
Because it’s been covered like the moon landing, it may seem like there have been a lot of fits and starts, but compared to other sales, this one’s actually been pretty fast and fluid.
And, honestly, I can’t imagine how exciting it must be for the team’s passionate, knocked-down fan base. To bring real perspective to this, just consider that in the 20 years before Daniel Snyder’s arrival, Washington was .500 or better 14 times, went to the playoffs eight times, won the NFC East five times and won Super Bowl titles with three different quarterbacks. In the 24 seasons since …
• Washington has been .500 or worse 18 times.
• The Commanders have made the playoffs six times, with just two playoff wins.
• Washington has won the NFC East four times (that one is actually comparable).
• The franchise has employed eight full-time head coaches.
Even better, at least on paper, Harris shouldn’t have the learning curve most NFL owners do, because he had to learn the ropes, and stub his toe a bunch, in his stewardship of the NBA’s Sixers and NHL’s Devils. He’s also got an intimate understanding of the psyche of the fan base since he was a part of it growing up in the D.C. suburbs.
So if you’re from there, too, and want to celebrate early, I’d say go ahead.
