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Daniel Snyder told a select group of reporters he's 'disappointed' and 'embarrassed' with his club. |
BY RICH CAMPBELL
ASHBURN
--Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder broke his media silence yesterday by apologizing to fans about the team's 2-5 start, but he did not address in detail any of the issues that have rankled supporters in recent weeks.During a brief session with a small group of reporters at a function hosted by the team's charitable foundation, Snyder dodged a question about his stance on the team's strict enforcement of a ban on homemade signs at FedEx Field and about a recent Washington Post report that detailed the team's lawsuits involving several premium season-ticket holders.
Instead, he expressed his dismay about the team's woeful record.
"I feel sorry for the fans," Snyder said, according to a transcript on the Redskins' Web site. "And we're very, very appreciative of our great, loyal fan base. And I'm understanding. I mean, we just feel terrible. We're disappointed and we're embarrassed. And we hope to get it going soon. We're disappointed.
"It hurts. I mean, it really hurts," he continued. "We are really trying very, very hard, everyone at Redskins Park. The coaches, the players, the organization has really quite frankly held up well. And I think we've got [an] opportunity the rest of the season to hopefully get it going. But to date we've let everyone down, including ourselves. We know that. We're just apologetic."
Snyder went on to lament the Redskins' losses in light of their weak schedule.
"We've blown some games that obviously we think we should have won," he said. "And I think the players are playing hard, and we still hope to do well starting this Sunday."
It is rare for Snyder to grant an interview during the season, and this one lasted less than three minutes, according to an Associated Press report. Snyder ended the interview during a question about the front office's decision to strip head coach Jim Zorn of play-calling responsibilities, the AP reported. Snyder was reportedly interrupted by a high school band that performed at the event, and he left without answering.
Snyder has become the target of some fans' ire as the team has floundered this season. The Redskins recently announced that fans are not allowed to carry signs into FedEx Field, though the team says the ban has been in place all season.
It garnered headlines after the Monday night game on Oct. 26 as part of a backlash from some fans who were reportedly upset because their signs--some of which were critical of the Redskins' management--were confiscated.
Snyder did not address the future of Zorn or executive vice president of player operations Vinny Cerrato. He was not asked whether he is considering ceding control of the team to a general manager, a move for which fans have lobbied in recent weeks. Snyder is influential in the Redskins' personnel decisions, and the team has won only two playoff games during his 10-year tenure.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
