Washington's NFL franchise has new name but same old problem - Dan Snyder runs the team

With the announcement Wednesday of Washington's new nickname, the NFL club took another step in an effort to repair its image. Now, the team's owners must continue the momentum: For the good of the franchise, it's time for Daniel M. Snyder and his family to step aside and hire someone to run their business.

The unveiling of the Commanders' logo and uniform colors marked the latest major turning point for Snyder. For years, he vowed he would never change the name the team played under from 1933 until 2020, a name which many considered a racist slur toward Native Americans, until finally bowing to public pressure from corporate sponsors.

Before this week's development, Snyder was already deep into an organizational shift he initiated a little more than two years ago by hiring coach Ron Rivera and team president Jason Wright. In July 2021, Snyder accepted the NFL's $10 million fine and instructions to make changes after an independent investigation revealed Washington's toxic workplace culture. He elevated his wife, Tanya, to co-CEO to take over day-to-day duties. And Snyder turned his focus to «a new stadium plan and other matters.»

With an eye toward the future, Snyder made a series of moves — Julie Donaldson became the first woman to be a regular on-air member of an NFL team's radio broadcast booth, and hiring GM Martin Mayhew made Washington the only NFL team with a president, GM and coach from minority groups — and shouldered responsibility for unprofessional conduct that occurred on his watch.

That's something. However, after a generation of Snyder's inept stewardship, it's not nearly enough to inspire confidence that Washington is on the correct path.

The fact is, he has exhausted much of the fan base's goodwill. In