That was the week that WAS

Change your name after 87 years and still it is not the biggest news story in the week for your franchise? There could only ever be one team capable of such a feat: step forward the burgundy & gold in Washington D.C.

On Monday, Washington made the right decision to relinquish the Redskins nickname. I covered my own feelings in UKHTTR Blog 7 and, whilst I fully understand the attachment and great successes in the 80s and early 90s, there could be no better time to move on.

However, it was soon becoming apparent that something larger was brewing linked to the sudden firing of Alex Santos (Director of Pro Football) and Richard Mann II (Assistant Director of Pro Football) for “non-football reasons” on Tuesday.

Play-by-play veteran Larry Michael then also departed of his own accord and the rumour mill cranked up to 100 with news of an impending Washington Post article that would be “sad and disappointing”.

Yesterday the story officially broke with 15 women coming forward to detail allegations of unwanted sexual attention and an extremely toxic culture at Redskins Park.

Santos, Mann II and Michael were all accused of impropriety and it is almost guaranteed there is more to come (you get the impression the delay in breaking the story was a legal one; it has the hallmarks of being redacted).

Washington NFL has hired the premier of all hot shot D.C lawyers in attorney Beth Wilkinson and her firm, Wilkinson Walsh, “to conduct a thorough independent review of this entire matter and help the team set new employee standards for the future.” This is a strong and needed action and one by which a likely infuriated league will welcome.

First, and final, thoughts should be with the employees who had to contend with this damaging work environment.

Although as fans we do see a better horizon possible with this Scorched Earth policy of addressing the culture in Ashburn, we should not jump ahead of ourselves.

We might eventually welcome better days, but the immediate reaction must be one of humility and openness to engage with those affected.

And, without a General Manager in post, Washington NFL is dominated by two individuals. The first is Head Coach Ron Rivera. Rivera is a huge champion of equality, hiring African American woman Jennifer King and being a major advocate of more women coaches.

Since his appointment, Ron has gone above mere football leadership.

We have witnessed his highly rational point of view on the name retirement and his unflinching commitment to culture change no matter how long that road will be.

The other guy is one of only thirty-two in the World. Dan Snyder is the owner of a franchise whose dysfunction and mismanagement has now spanned over two decades.

On the surface, Dan is hugely supportive of Rivera and is 100% behind this coach-centric approach as the platform for success in D.C.

If this heats up further, and more revelations are revealed, can we be sure that Snyder will not intervene or that the respect from fans to Rivera will not start to eat up at him? The minority owners of Washington NFL are looking to sell, no longer wishing to be associated with the franchise and owner.

How will Dan Snyder react to all this? History points to decisions past made in the heat of the moment and without rhyme or reason.

Watch this space.