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Jay Gruden makes damning claims over Dan Snyder's involvement in NFL draft picks

21 July 2023 , 10:54
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Former Washington Commanders coach Jay Gruden criticised former team owner Daniel Snyder (Image: Larry French/Getty Images)
Former Washington Commanders coach Jay Gruden criticised former team owner Daniel Snyder (Image: Larry French/Getty Images)

NFL coach Jay Grunden has blasted Dan Snyder' s involvement in player recruitment, claiming the former owner didn't watch tape of players but would still choose who to draft or trade for.

After spending 24 years as owner of the Washington Commanders, the 58-year-old millionaire has now officially sold the franchise to an investment group led by Josh Harris. Gruden, who coached the team from 2014 to 2019, recalled some of his experiences leading the team with Snyder as owner.

During an appearance on Kevin Sheehan’s podcast, he claimed he did not always get the chance to trade for players of his choosing. This was because Snyder sometimes intervened in drafts and free agency, and Grunden claimed he had done so with very little experience and without watching any film of players he wanted to bring in.

“He wasn’t experienced enough in the business to make those decisions.” Gruden said via USA Today. “He didn’t put in the work. For him to pick a player in the draft is asinine. He didn’t put the work in. He didn’t watch the players. He didn’t go to the meetings. He didn’t go to the scouts’ meetings.”

Before heading to the US capital to coach the Commanders, Gruden spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. He praised Bengals owner Mike Brown for playing an active role in scouting and film study before any decisions were made.

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Grunden claimed he does not have respect for guys who did not embrace everything that goes into being affiliated with an NFL team. “Mike Brown, when I was with the Cincinnati Bengals, sat in meetings, watched the film, put in the work,” he added.

“When he made a decision, it was based upon what he saw, what he took in from the coaches and from the scouts. So I respected that. I don’t respect the guy that doesn’t watch the film and comes in, makes the pick, and tells you who he is signing in free agency.

“It makes no sense when we and the scouts are doing all of the film work, and all of a sudden, he comes in and makes the pick. So, I think it is going to be a very beneficial move for all of the fans and for the organization moving forward.”

Jay Gruden makes damning claims over Dan Snyder's involvement in NFL draft picksAfter 24 years Dan Snyder sold the NFL franchise Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion (Patrick Semansky/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Following the £4.7billion ($6.05bn) Commanders sale, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Harris a "great addition" to the sport, pointing to his record in business, sports and his work in communities. "As someone who grew up in Washington, I know how important that franchise is to that community," he said.

"The franchise is in good hands with this group. They want to put that franchise where they think it belongs, where it's respected -- not just in the community, but worldwide." Harris’ investment group includes NBA legend Magic Johnson, who described the announcement as his biggest business achievement so far.

"This is truly the biggest achievement in my business career and a historic moment for the entire Black community," Johnson wrote on Thursday. "Talk about God's perfect timing. This was the right organization for me to be a part of given its global appeal, history of winning, and diverse fanbase and DMV community. I am honored and ecstatic to be a co-owner of the Commanders franchise!"

Liam Llewellyn

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