<\/p>\n
The NFL vetted Harris during his pursuit of the Broncos last year, and while Rob Walton\u2018s $4.65B bid won out, Harris finished second in that race and is well-regarded by NFL owners.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Monday\u2019s development moves this process closer to completion, as Harris is not expected to run into any hurdles in clearing the 24-vote barrier to be approved as the next Commanders owner. Harris\u2019 group also includes NBA legend Magic Johnson and billionaire Mitchell Rales.<\/p>\n
Following the review, the next step will be for the league to send the papers back to Snyder and Harris for signatures or ask the parties to amend the agreement. Signatures would put this sale in position for a league vote, potentially as soon as the next round of owners\u2019 meetings \u2014 set for May 22-24 in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
Until signatures emerge, however, the door remains open for other bidders to step in. Canadian real estate billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos remained in the running as of late last week, but Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta said he would not raise his bid from the $5.6B place. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos\u2018 refusal to submit a bid<\/a> looks to have accelerated this process, with a Harris acquisition appearing imminent hours later.<\/p>\n Not previously known to be involved in this pursuit, Davis either came in at the 11th hour or led the aforementioned mystery fourth ownership group<\/a>. WUSA9 reported Davis is willing to indemnify Snyder \u2014 meaning he would assume any legal liability stemming from the investigations currently surrounding Snyder \u2014 and would pay the first billion within 24 hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n The remaining $6B, per WUSA9, would be paid out within a week. For now, at least, Harris still looks like the clubhouse leader.<\/p>\n Neither the Broncos nor the Panthers went to the highest bidder, with Albert Breer of SI.com noting<\/a> the Pat Bowlen Trust passed on Harris\u2019 $5B offer because the proposal could not be shopped. Walton had long been expected to top any bid that came in; shopping that offer would have likely put Harris to a decision on raising his price.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even though Ben Navarro\u2018s Panthers bid came in higher than David Tepper\u2018s, Jerry Richardson sold to Tepper, a former Steelers minority owner who sailed through the vote process.<\/p>\n Owners have shot down Snyder\u2019s aim at indemnification, but that may well remain a wild card here. Snyder is still the subject of multiple investigations, including the NFL\u2019s second probe into Commanders workplace misconduct and financial impropriety and an inquiry by D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/p>\n The latter investigation is ongoing, with the Washington Post\u2019s Nicki Jhabvala indicating<\/a> a Commanders sale will have no bearing on the AG\u2019s investigation into<\/a> Snyder, Roger Goodell and the NFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n The NFL reversed course on releasing a public report in its first Snyder investigation, generating widespread scrutiny, but NBC Sports\u2019 Peter King adds<\/a> a sale will not change plans for the current Mary Jo White probe to include a summary of findings.<\/p>\n A desire for Snyder to be out of the league has led to the NFL\u2019s silence regarding a potential sale thus far, King adds. Snyder has owned this franchise since 1999, buying it for $800M.\u00a0<\/p>\n The embattled owner\u2019s return on investment aside, his tenure has sunk the reputation of a three-time Super Bowl-winning franchise. The investigations of recent years \u2014 and the report of Snyder gathering dirt on Goodell and select owners<\/a> \u2014 led to the prospect of a sale, a path Snyder had insisted he would not take. That journey now nears the end zone, though it is not yet final.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n