Snyder ranked as league's 5th best owner

SI.com - Writers - Michael Silver: Ranking the NFL owners - Monday July 2, 2007 4:25PM (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/michael_silver/06/27/ownerrankings/index.html)

5. Daniel Snyder, Redskins

http://i.cnn.net/si/images/1.gifhttp://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/writers/michael_silver/06/27/ownerrankings/t1-snyder.jpg
Though he has yet to make the Redskins a consistent winner, owner Daniel Snyder has succeeded in making his team one of the most valuable in all of sports.
William E. Amatucci Jr./WireImage.com


http://i.cnn.net/si/images/1.gifIf anything, Snyder tries too hard to build a winner. In January '06, when Snyder wooed former Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders with a three-year deal worth more than $2 million annually, it seemed like a great move on paper. Instead, Saunders' philosophy clashed with that of head coach Joe Gibbs, which was one reason the team fell from a playoff appearance in '05 to a 5-11 finish last season. Snyder's zealous mentality also enables Gibbs and VP of football operations Vinny Cerrato to overpay for free agents like Adam Archuleta, Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd, none of which helps the on-field product.
But hey, at least he's trying. Snyder will get it right eventually, if only because he won't settle for anything less -- a quality far too owners possess. And he is pulling in an enormous profit in the meantime, thanks to his innovative marketing strategies. He's also more of a team player on the league level than you might imagine, as evidenced by his willingness to go along with the revenue-sharing plan that ensured labor peace in the spring of '06.

aren't the redskins the most valuable franchise at like 1.6 billion?

Fair assessment, I'm actually surprised to see him that high.

I agree that it was a fair assessment. That is also why, in light of that assessment, I was initially shocked to see #5 next to his name. I agree that he wants to win and is relentlessly dedicated to that end. But his ego go in his way. He thought because he was an avid FAN that he could run a team. No dice. It took him a decade to realize that he has to turn things over to football people. And we still don't have a GM.

But the criteria were: business savvy, devotion to league growth, aggressive pursuit of winning. That in mind, he deserves the #5.

Synder definately does some things correct but from what people outside the area tell me, hes kind of viewed like Steinbrenner in NY...just trying to buy a champ every year.

This was a very good assessment, ranking owners relative to their worth to the entire NFL. Snyder is one of the better owners in the league. He is one of the most controversial owners also. A lot of fans hate him because they think he just wants to buy a championship. Isn't that a novel idea, "An owner that wants to win!" Don't you think the people in Arizona want to see a championship. Don't you think the people in Arizona want an owner that will invest in his team to put the best product on the field. I will take a Dan Snyder over a Bill Bidwell any day.

aren't the redskins the most valuable franchise at like 1.6 billion?


I think we're the most profitable, but the Yanks may be the most valuble.

The Skins are valued #1 in all of sports

ESPN.com: SPORTSBUSINESS - Forbes Franchise Values (http://espn.go.com/sportsbusiness/s/forbes.html)

I wonder how much it will cost to buy the Expos...

Very good assessment. People that bash him typically don't factor in the biz side of thing, or if they do they point out that he gouges fans to pay for overpriced free agents.
I like that it said he'll evenutally get it right. I believe he will, he's too smart & committed not to, plus he's got a hall of famer to learn the business from, somebody that he may actually listen to, rather than the other way around.