Dan Snyder’s grasp on the Washington Commanders may not depend on his decision to sell the franchise. 

Front Office Sports confirmed that the push to remove Snyder — an effort that was put on hold when Snyder announced he was exploring a sale of the team in November — has been renewed, according to the latest reports from The Washington Post and ESPN.

The federal investigation that FOS reported last week — which led to at least one subpoena — was thoroughly detailed by ESPN on Tuesday: 

• Snyder allegedly took out a $55 million line of credit without the knowledge or approval of the team’s three co-owners in 2019.
• A source told the network that the co-owners alleged Snyder “possibly committed bank fraud” in NFL arbitration.
• That loan has become the focus of the federal probe led by the FBI and IRS.

A deal was worked out in 2021 in arbitration, and the NFL approved a debt waiver that cleared the way for him to purchase the 40% combined stake held by Frederick Smith, Robert Rothman, and Dwight Schar for $875 million. 

On Monday night, The Washington Post reported that Snyder had requested that a potential new owner of the team take on the financial liability for the multiple investigations and lawsuits the team currently faces. 

The Commanders pushed back on the reporting of both stories. 

“The requested records only relate to customer security deposits and the team’s ticket sales and revenue,” John Brownlee, counsel for the Commanders, said in a statement. “The team will continue to cooperate with this investigation.”

The Washington Post story on Snyder seeking indemnification before he sold the team along with an attempt to suppress the the release of the NFL’s ongoing outside investigation into Snyder and Commanders was called “simply untrue” in a statement from the team.

“Snyder continues to insist on special treatment and protection from the NFL and its owners,” said attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, who represent more than 40 former Commanders employees. “We look forward to seeing the results of these investigations, which we fully expect will confirm the unlawful actions of Dan Snyder and the team, and will result in long-awaited vindication for the brave women and men who made such accountability possible. “No matter how wealthy or powerful, no owner, team or sports league is above the law.”

The headlines come as Snyder and Bank of America — the bank handling the sale — have narrowed its list of billionaires interested in the team down. A source told FOS that the two finalists: Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Snyder remains reluctant to sell to Bezos, although two sources said league execs and team owners have attempted to facilitate a deal between the two in recent weeks.

The other option is Snyder will decide to keep the team since the bids haven’t reached the $7 billion figure he’s sought. While owners had waited until the sale process to conclude to push for a removal that requires 24 votes, sources expect the effort to really gain momentum if Snyder opts not to sell.

Former Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin could be headed for a third court hearing in a quest to obtain the video of the alleged incident that led to his suspension from NFL Network. 

Marriott filed a motion to dismiss the $100 million lawsuit in Texas federal court on Monday, although it will more likely lead to another shift in venue for the case. 

“There is absolutely no reason Marriott can’t produce the video and other basic information upon which they based their decision to start this unnecessary drama. No court order is required to do so,” Levi G. McCathern, Irvin’s attorney, said in a statement. 

On Feb. 5, Irvin was accused of misconduct by a Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel employee. Irvin was in town for the Super Bowl LVII and was staying at the Marriott property. 

Irvin first sued in a Texas state court before Marriott successfully moved the case to federal court, a shift that halted a judge’s order for Marriott to turn the video over to Irvin. 

“They say they were upset about it enough to ban Michael Irvin from the hotel and get him taken off the air, but they won’t show him the tape or give him any details about what the allegations are — not who, not what, not when, not even exactly where in the hotel.”

In Monday’s filing, lawyers for the hotel chain requested a dismissal on jurisdictional grounds or to “transfer the case to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.”

On Tuesday night, Marriott filed a response for Irvin’s motion for expedited discovery.

“[Irvin] has not and cannot show that ‘good cause’ exists for the early discovery he seeks,” a Marriott attorney wrote in the filing. “He has identified no legitimate reason discovery should not proceed in the normal course.”

After extending their mutual opt-out deadline, the NBA and its players association are reportedly making significant progress on a new collective bargaining agreement. 

The two parties have a March 31 deadline to either reach a new agreement, have one side opt out, or extend the process again. Their current seven-year CBA expires after the 2023-24 season. 

The NBPA has informed the NBA it intends to complete a deal in March, according to The Athletic. 

“We want to finish this deal soon and certainly want this wrapped up before the (March 31) deadline,” one source told The Athletic. “It’s close — we need to dot the I’s and cross the T’s.”

The pair are negotiating new luxury-tax tiers and rates. The tax rate is currently $1.50 for every dollar between $0 and $4,999,999 over the cap and $1.75 for every dollar between $5 million and $9,999,999 over the cap.

They’re also discussing lowering the age eligibility for the draft to 18 years old, with the union reportedly pushing “for conditions that would facilitate veteran players providing tutelage and orientation to the high schoolers entering the league,” according to The Athletic.

Other topics of discussion include increasing contract extension limits and adjusting the process of how the salary cap rises.