Daniel Snyder: "We're Disappointed And We're Embarrassed"
The Redskins Charitable Foundation partnered with Prince George's County Public Schools to announce a formal business partnership today, the gist of which is that the team will be helping to improve and maintain the fields at twelve P.G. county public schools, which adds to the thirteen already renovated and maintained in the Greater D.C. Metro area. It's a program that the Redskins are immensely proud of, one that costs almost a million dollars a year, and I'll have some more about that tomorrow. Today, the field at Surrattsville High School in Clinton, Md., was unveiled, and promptly put to good use for a soccer game.
The unveiling was attended by several Redskins players -- including Clinton Portis, who drew the loudest cheers -- but perhaps the most surprising element was that team owner Daniel M. Snyder spoke briefly to the media afterward, and apologized to the fans for the team's lackluster start to the season.
"I feel bad for the fans," he said. "I feel sorry for the fans. 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."
The media session was cut short by the school's marching band, so only Lindsay Czarniak was able to get any questions in, and the audio of the session is occasionally muffled by high winds, but as much of a transcript as Redskins.com's Gary Fitzgerald and I could put together is after the jump; video to follow shortly. Courtesy of the Redskins Broadcast Network, the high-quality video is now posted above.
Lindsay: What does this mean to you, to be able to be out here?
"It's great. It's really important that we really work hard with the community to give back. We've got an obligation with our football team and our players, and an opportunity. So we're excited. I mean, they're beautiful fields, and we hope they're put to good use."
Does it mean something special to get the cheers out there? Is it a refreshing feeling for once?
DS: "Well, y'know, we're doing good here. We're doing [for a] good cause, and it's nice."
One thing I wanted to ask you, Dan, is about some of the negativity that has been around this team. When you look at things like the ticket controversy and then the signs being banned, does it feel like being out here and getting a chance to turn things around, where do you stand on that stuff?
DS: "I think number one I feel bad for the fans. I feel sorry for the fans. 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."
You're human. How does it impact you?
DS: "It hurts. I mean, it really hurts. We are really trying very, very hard. Everyone at Redskins Park, the coaches, the players, the organization's really quite frankly held up well. And I think we've got 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. We've blown some games that obviously we think we should have won. And I think the players are playing hard, and we still hope to do well starting this Sunday."
People look at you and see the uber-Redskins fan. What are your thoughts about what's going on with this team?
DS: "I see disappointment. I see the same way I feel and I share their frustration. It's hard. We're going to try to put it together and get it going."
What do you need from here on out? What's the next step for you?
DS: "The next step is Sunday. It's that simple. We hope we can put together a good performance down in Atlanta and start a winning streak."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-03-2009 @ 3:37PM
DrKrull said...
The next step is canning Cerrato and hiring a real GM.
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11-03-2009 @ 3:41PM
Mike said...
what kind of joke questions are those? if snyder FINALLY gives media time, why not ask him the tough ones?
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11-03-2009 @ 4:10PM
Matt Terl said...
Not sure why my comments aren't posting, but there you go. Sorry if this shows up twice.
Anyhow, I'm letting Lindsay off the hook on this one. We all thought the media session was going to last longer, she started with gentler questions to get the interview going ... and then the marching band cut her off, right in the middle of a question about the playcalling switch. Disappointing as all get-out, but not her fault.
11-03-2009 @ 4:07PM
Eric B said...
how about a follow up on banning the signs? i mean, that was about the only question worth asking, and he didn't even answer it.
one positive: the revolution is cracking him. this, i think, is the first time he's given an interview during the season as an owner...hopefully, if we keep it up, he will crack enough to actually realize how ignorant he is.
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11-03-2009 @ 4:08PM
jmy said...
If Dan Snyder really gave a darn about anyone but himself he would have hired competent professionals to guide this teams football operations long ago.
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11-03-2009 @ 4:14PM
Andy said...
I assure you that no one looks at Dan Snyder and sees "the uber-Redskins fan."
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11-03-2009 @ 4:52PM
Andy said...
Those are all pretty mundane answers from Snyder. We're embarrassed for the fans... yada yada yada... we're working very hard... yada yada yada... things will get better. Are we sure it was just a coincidence that the marching band interrupted the media session?
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11-03-2009 @ 5:22PM
Gnome said...
Well anyone reading the text of what Dan had to say and not having empathy for him because he is expressing empathy for us . . . is just sour grapes.
I applaud the statements. I do disagree that Dan is the uber-fan . . . he's the boss. And as the boss of the team I care about with a passion rooted in a lifetime of 'rooting', I would like to hear from him more often. If for no other reason that he no longer lets the media set his agenda with fans. It's generally assumed that Dan pulls all the strings and that's why he gets the heat . . . and that assumption is based on media reports.
I'd rather hear more from the boss or the person who is the boss and less of the press reading between the lines. This is a start.
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11-03-2009 @ 5:43PM
geb202 said...
If Snyder cared about the fans he'd hire a GM and take a back seat.
Mostly what Snyder cares about his is ego.
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11-03-2009 @ 5:52PM
Paul said...
Huh? What Gnome?? I dont get what youre saying...So I either like you or hate you. I guess if you are in favor of what Danny did..Then I hate you
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11-03-2009 @ 6:18PM
woodyscarborough said...
Dan needs to look at old interviews with Jack Kent Cooke when he owned the team.There was a true Redskin owner with genuine compassion when his team was struggling.Hire a real GM and get out of the way,hold him and his coaching staff accountable for the team and you will see real success.
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11-05-2009 @ 3:18AM
Jim Burneti said...
Cleveland's owner agreed to meet with the fans, and fired the GM and VP of Football Operations. Now there's an apology!
Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Vinny.
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11-04-2009 @ 12:26AM
steven said...
Were doing it my brothers and sisters!!!!! I told you guys this revolution would crack dan snyder. We can not let off the gas peddle! Continue to heckle bring your fire vinny and hire a gm tshirts and boo the redskins until vinny is fired a gm like bill parcells or marty schotenhiemer is hired and money is given back to the scouting department. If these things dont happen we will NEVER EVER be a winning franchise. So my brothers and sisters continue to bash snyder and do not pay attention to idiots like punchdaclock or any snyderatto lackies.
P.S some of you dont know that daniel snyder took away a HUGE chunk of money from the scouting department, no wonder we miss on draft picks, because our scouting department continuously gets the SHAFT!!!! when it comes to building a winning team the department that should get the most money is scouting department. If you dont have a good scouting department then you will NEVER WIN and how can you get a good scouting department when your taking money away from them when it comes to scouting?
we need to TAKE this team back!!!!
another thing man the questions were so DUMB, they should have got dan stienberg to ask the question now THAT GUY has the voice of the people he understands us and i love his bog.
FAIL to the redskins until vinny is fired a GM is hired and danny boy gives back money to the scouting department.
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11-04-2009 @ 8:16AM
punchdaclock said...
Sour grapes is probably an understatement.
If I were Dan Snyder, I wouldn't have made a statement. I understand why he did it by I wouldn't have. People who have made up their minds will not change them because you answer questions no matter how many times you do it. And no matter how sincere you are when you answer. They will just take a part whatever you say and use it against you. That's how the modern media (bogs, blogs, web articles, whatever) operate. Anything for those hits baby........
Later
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11-04-2009 @ 9:46AM
Jon said...
fans should band (haha?) together and make signs up to get themselves banned from the football games. If everyone brings signs to the game saying that Vinny and Danny are tearing down a good franchise then they can't ban everyone can they? Eventually there will be no fans left.
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