Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported the House Oversight Committee was looking into alleged financial improprieties into the Washington Commanders. Now the latest damaging report may explain exactly the scope by the congressional committee into the Commanders.
According to A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports, the committee received information the Commanders withheld ticket revenue that is supposed to be shared with the other NFL teams.
The discovery came about during congress probe into Beth Wilkinson’s sexual misconduct investigation against the Commanders organization, including owner Daniel Snyder.
All 32 teams are required to share 40% of their ticket revenue to the visiting teams. Those funds among others go into the calculation of the league’s annual salary cap for teams.
It’s unclear how long the Commanders’ alleged practice occurred. Both the NFL and Commanders learned of the allegations this week.
The Commanders organization and Snyder have been a lightning rod for scandals and investigations over the past two years. That’s included the NFL’s handling of the findings of Wilkinson’s investigation into the workplace culture of the team.
A second sexual misconduct investigation launched by the league earlier this year after the new allegations directly tied to Snyder. Critics have campaigned recently for Snyder’s removal from ownership of the Commanders.
Since Snyder’s purchase of the Washington franchise in 1999, the team has been riddled with off-field drama that’s defined the team. Former Washington quarterback Alex Smith admitted the off-field drama affected the team’s play on the field.
It remains to be seen how the NFL and its other owners will react to the latest allegations of the team’s manipulation of the books.
