ESPN Mosley Blog: Interesting Dan Snyder comments

[WoodysGirl]

Snyder: This is easy for me
April 2, 2008 1:55 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's director of Hashmarks development Matt Mosley

Davd Elfin of the Washington Times scored a rare exclusive with Commanders owner Daniel Snyder at the annual NFL meetings in West Palm Beach, Fla. It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since Snyder took over the team at age 34. He's taken a lot of (deserved) heat for his free-agent and coaching fiascos over the years, but judging by this offseason, Snyder has apparently learned the art of restraint.

"There are a bunch of things I wish I would have done differently," Snyder told The Times on Tuesday. "I've made plenty of mistakes, but I've learned from my mistakes as a good entrepreneur, a good CEO would do. I've matured. I wasn't patient enough in certain areas early on. I didn't understand the game the way I do now. I didn't understand the agents, the contractual relationship with the salary cap, the importance of the age of players. Now it's easy for me, second nature."​

Snyder certainly didn't make his recent coaching search look easy, but he's convinced that Jim Zorn is the right man. And by the way, one of the coaches who didn't get the job told me yesterday that he was amazed at how knowledgeable Snyder was about the game.

"When you sit in there for 12 hours or so, you get a pretty good feel for a person. I'm not sure what my preconceived notions were, but I came away very impressed with him." ​

Here's what Snyder had to say about his new head coach:

"We were really impressed with Jim Zorn from the moment we met him. We were late because we were the only team looking for a coach that had been in the playoffs. We were under pressure to make sure we had an offensive coordinator. We met Jim. Joe [Gibbs] called me that night. I said, 'That guy would make a terrific head coach.' He was like, 'Really? That's interesting. That's neat. I hear he's a good guy.' We continued the process and circled back. We were talking to coordinators [about replacing Gibbs] and we said, 'We really ought to look at Zorn.' We kept coming back to that. The last interview we did was with [New York Giants defensive coordinator] Steve Spagnuolo, and afterwards we said, 'We've really got to talk to Zorn.' "​

Not sure Spagnuolo will enjoy reading that last sentence since he appeared to be the frontrunner immediately after the Super Bowl, but he'll eventually land a head coaching job. Regarding Snyder, I think he has a lot more respect in NFL circles than fans realize. He's matured quite a bit, and I think Commanders fans will start to see more and more evidence of that on the field.


Daniel Snyder, Steve Spagnuolo, Jim Zorn, Joe Gibbs

Read comments or leave a comment

 

[superpunk]

The last interview we did was with [New York Giants defensive coordinator] Steve Spagnuolo, and afterwards we said, 'We've really got to talk to Zorn.' "​

Not sure Spagnuolo will enjoy reading that last sentence since he appeared to be the frontrunner immediately after the Super Bowl, but he'll eventually land a head coaching job.

Ummmmmm....

 

[Woods]

"The last interview we did was with [New York Giants defensive coordinator] Steve Spagnuolo, and afterwards we said, 'We've really got to talk to Zorn.' "

===========================

Yhea, they had to go back and talk to Zorn because Sgagnuolo told Snyder to take a hike. :laugh2:

 

[Chocolate Lab]

"There are a bunch of things I wish I would have done differently," Snyder told The Times on Tuesday. "I've made plenty of mistakes, but I've learned from my mistakes as a good entrepreneur, a good CEO would do. I've matured. I wasn't patient enough in certain areas early on. I didn't understand the game the way I do now. I didn't understand the agents, the contractual relationship with the salary cap, the importance of the age of players. Now it's easy for me, second nature."

 

[superpunk]

He also says this in the interview.

Q: So signing no free agents and having nine draft picks isn't a trend?

A: Not necessarily. It's a point of where we are. We're at a good place from a franchise perspective. We're at a place where the organization has a great deal of stability. The roster is on the younger side of football. Our starting running back is 26. Our quarterback just turned 26. We're by far not the oldest team anymore. We've got good depth coming up.

Not sure that's true.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Oh well. It's his way of saving face on the fact that he's still not really learned as much as he'd like people to believe.

 

[lkelly]

I'll live with the track record of Danny and Vinny running the team.

Just as many of our division rivals are happy watching Jerry post-Jimmy. Neither are going to be mistaken for the Patriots, Steelers (with Cowher), or Colts franchises from a success standpoint.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

that is a pretty good catch Zoners....

 

[speedkilz88]

So much of that read like an April Fools joke.

 

[Rack]

but judging by this offseason, Snyder has apparently learned the art of restraint.

What?! Do these morons even realize that they SKins don't have any cap room?


FACT: IF THE SKINS HAD MONEY TO SPEND, SNYDER WOULD BE SPENDING IT.

 

[CATCH17]

I honestly had forgotten who the Commanders coach was until I read this thread.

I really haven't thought twice about it since they hired him.

 

[JPM]

What?! Do these morons even realize that they SKins don't have any cap room?


FACT: IF THE SKINS HAD MONEY TO SPEND, SNYDER WOULD BE SPENDING IT.

He'd be OVER-spending it.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

He'd be OVER-spending it.

Agreed. If he had the room he'd be over spending for some people, as usual.

 

[sacase]

What?! Do these morons even realize that they SKins don't have any cap room?


FACT: IF THE SKINS HAD MONEY TO SPEND, SNYDER WOULD BE SPENDING IT.

Rack man, you need to get to work on that car. Give us monthly updates!

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

What?! Do these morons even realize that they SKins don't have any cap room?


FACT: IF THE SKINS HAD MONEY TO SPEND, SNYDER WOULD BE SPENDING IT.

It has not seemed to stop him from doing so in the past. I don't know how many years I have heard cap hell for the skins and yet they keep on going.


Plus it does not appear they are already giving their draft picks away, however there is still plenty of time.

 

[Hostile]

So, let me get this straight.

All of us "ignorant" Cowboys fans (according to Commanders fans) have been saying Snyder's spending sprees were a terrible mistake that were nto going to get the Commanders anywhere but in the hole.

All of the "brilliant" Commanders fans (according to Commanders fans) have been defending Snyder's activities and saying that we just don't understand the cap the way the Commanders fornt office does.

Now, the owner of the Commanders, the guy we've been laughing at is ratifying what we've been saying for the last several years.

Think any of the maroon, black and yellow legions are honest enough to give us the credit we deserve? I don't.

 

[JerryFan]

I did the same thing when I read that. He doesn't think much of himself does he? If someone ever claims to know it all or have the most money that's going to be the person I'm least likely to think they have or can do what they actually say.

 

[TheCount]

lol, am i the only one that sees the similarities between the Snyder interview and Pacman interviews?

 

[Skinsmaniac]

What?! Do these morons even realize that they SKins don't have any cap room?


FACT: IF THE SKINS HAD MONEY TO SPEND, SNYDER WOULD BE SPENDING IT.

The Skins are 9 million under the salary cap and could easily clear another 10.

So, let me get this straight.

All of us "ignorant" Cowboys fans (according to Commanders fans) have been saying Snyder's spending sprees were a terrible mistake that were nto going to get the Commanders anywhere but in the hole.

All of the "brilliant" Commanders fans (according to Commanders fans) have been defending Snyder's activities and saying that we just don't understand the cap the way the Commanders fornt office does.

Now, the owner of the Commanders, the guy we've been laughing at is ratifying what we've been saying for the last several years.

Think any of the maroon, black and yellow legions are honest enough to give us the credit we deserve? I don't.

There is a difference between managing the cap, i.e. spending more money than other teams, and choosing the right players to spend it on. The salary cap is not hard, and the Commanders have been able to manipulate it to spend more money to attract the players they want. They have done a poor job in choosing those players.

 

[jterrell]

Until Dan Snyder stops trading off draft picks like dog-eared baseball cards he is not going to get much respect as a football man.

He fancies himself as a peer of Jerry Jones but Jerry is light years ahead of Snyder in league influence and has 3 or 4 years of actual GM experience advantage.

I dislike the skins but honestly Snyder is so easy to insult I don't even have to break a homeristic sweat doing so. He is simply not a good football man and his decision-making has kept the team from winning as opposed to helping it do so.
It is clear he still focuses far too much on the Cowboys and far too little on just improving his front office, coaching staff and personnel.