The Cheerleader Videos

[Boone]

Go to the 5:03 mark and listen to the freelance production guy who made copies of the Redskins nude cheerleader videos that are at the center of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against Dan Snyder and his previous front office staff.

Megan Imbert has stated she believes this was likely an ongoing annual exercise that Snyder knew about and encouraged (if not outright ordered).

Om has suggested that maybe these videos need to come out so folks can see directly just how salacious and wrong they were. It might take that kind of physical evidence to finally force the NFL to do something about Daniel Snyder.

 

[Om]

Unfortunately, only viral video seems to have the weight to prompt meaningful action from glacial and insular institutions like the NFL these days. I do believe that only release of some or all of the video(s) will light the necessary fire. It doesn't have to be unedited or raw, it can be done with appropriate black- or grain-out so as to protect individuals' privacy as much as possible. It just has to make clear what was involved. It's the kind of salacious and titillating stuff made to order for today's social media driven world and would set off a fire I'm not sure even Goodell & Co. could stamp out.

 

[Chris]

I have been saying this for weeks. Look at how the Ray Rice situation changed after video of his assault came out.

 

[Win4us]

Another direct accusation has gotta sway Roger at some point to boot Dan’s ass out. Hell he may even have copies as well, why he’s been reluctant to open that can.

Snyder is such a pos

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[Boone]

I have been saying this for weeks. Look at how the Ray Rice situation changed after video of his assault came out.

I'm not as convinced as you guys that releasing the video results in Snyder getting the boot. Physical assault like what we saw on that Rice video is shocking and horrifying. Unfortunately, the NFL is male dominated and a lot of men still haven't learned that just because we get aroused by images of nude or nearly nude women, doesn't make it okay to view them without their consent. My point is, while the whole idea of filming female employees in the nude and then actually sharing those images to satisfy our prurient interest, while disgusting and wrong, is considered 'no big deal' by something approaching the majority of males.

All you have to do is look at what relatively scant attention this has gotten. It gets scant attention from the NFL, from the public, on social media, and honestly - even here. There is still a 'boys will be boys' mentality in America, no matter what people say in public. I get it - because I am a healthy male and I have the same wrong impulses and appetites most others do. But I like to think I have evolved and continue to try and evolve.

I'm just very skeptical that enough people actually care about this to take or force action. If our own fans only minimally care about it, what hope is there that folks that are empowered to do something about it, or who have vested interests in ensuring nothing is done about it, will take action?

 

[Om]

I dunno, brother. Viral videos have had a tendency the last few years of getting more public outcry/outrage going than anything we've ever seen before. Ray Rice keeps getting mentioned, and is the most relevant NFL-related one I can think of off the top of my head. With the knowledge this is could open a pandora's box better left closed here, there was also George Floyd. We could probably come up with other videos that sparked something far larger than would have happened on a particular case/issue otherwise.

I can't say, obviously, that release of the Snyder video would result in his ouster. What I do believe is it could spark something viral out there that could bring more heat/focus on him than any of the myriad things he's been associated with in the past that were "just" word of mouth or even document.

 

[Boone]

I get it - but you skipped my primary point - people (men specifically) have far more tolerance for sexual abuse/impropriety ('boys being boys' mentality) than they do for violence against women or murder. It's not the same thing. I hope you are right, but I'm skeptical even a video would put this on most peoples radar to the extent it would force Snyder's ouster.

And the other thing here - it's highly unlikely the videos will ever be made public - because the women in those videos likely would not approve doing so (for obvious reasons), and I don't think the folks pushing for something to be done are going to 'retraumatize' the victims in order to get more attention on Snyder's culpability.

I agree with your overall point, that it could only help to move the ball forward.

 

[Boone]

I know I sound pretty negative this morning, it's just very discouraging how few fans really give a rat's ass about this topic. If anything, I think most find it 'annoying' when it is discussed as it somehow distracts or challenges their 'fandom'. I really don't get that. We should all a) be horrified at what these women were subjected to, and b) personally commit to doing everything we can as fans to move Dan Snyder on and find an owner we aren't ashamed of. I don't see this fanbase as particularly invested in either of those two components and it's disappointing.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I know I sound pretty negative this morning, it's just very discouraging how few fans really give a rat's ass about this topic. If anything, I think most find it 'annoying' when it is discussed as it somehow distracts or challenges their 'fandom'. I really don't get that. We should all a) be horrified at what these women were subjected to, and b) personally commit to doing everything we can as fans to move Dan Snyder on and find an owner we aren't ashamed of. I don't see this fanbase as particularly invested in either of those two components and it's disappointing.

Unfortunately this "ambassador" thing they developed is working to shield some of this stuff. There is now a very vocal army that's been tasked to speak out publicly on social media in favor of the team, and likely would lose their 'status' if they were to be overwhelmingly critical.

Add to that the name change discouraged a lot of passionate fans to be, well.... LESS passionate. I'm sure there is a segment of the fanbase that would be outraged if this went down and the team was still named the Redskins. There would have been boycotts and absolute mutiny if this went down in 1995 (obviously if reporting / social media was then the way it is now).

On top of that, there is a a segment of the fanbase (we've seen it on our board) that has walked away, and a lot of those fans likely are the ones that simply would not have stood for it.

The final point is we've seen Dan Snyder ruin this fanbase for 30 years, so looking at something like this, fans may simply just not beleive anything can / will happen, so they're just shutting up and moving on... as sad as that sounds.

 

[Chris]

Washington has been turned into an inconsequential NFL franchise by Snyder except for everything off the field.

Perhaps if one of the premier franchises, like Dallas, were exposed for similar conduct directed at female employees and it was covered up by an internal investigation and multi-million dollar NDAs things would change.

Wait, what?

Well, never mind.

 

[Chris]

Cowboys paid $2.4M over cheerleader allegations

A Cowboys representative says the team thoroughly investigated two alleged incidents involving Richard Dalrymple and found no wrongdoing. Dalrymple declined to be interviewed but released a statement calling the allegations false.

www.espn.com

No NFL inquiry into Cowboys cheerleaders claims

The NFL will not investigate the events surrounding the Cowboys' $2.4 million settlement with four cheerleaders, saying through a spokesman, "the club handled the matter."

www.espn.com

VP backs Cowboys' culture amid voyeurism claim

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday he believes the franchise has 'a solid culture' in response to an ESPN report regarding a $2.4 million settlement the organization paid four cheerleaders after a voyeurism allegation.

www.espn.com

"I feel like we have a solid culture”- Stephen Jones.

Sound familiar?