Former Washington Commanders 'HOGS' suing franchise, owner Dan Snyder

Former Washington franchise standouts Joe Jacoby, Mark May, John Riggins, Fred Dean and Doc Walker are suing the Commanders and owner Dan Snyder, according to a release, via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.

“Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders are trying to profit off the original HOGS legacy by taking that trademark and associated goodwill and brand equity of the original HOGS,” the statement read. “The Commanders are using the original HOGS brand for commercial purposes with NO compensation to the men (whose) blood and sweat equity built the original HOGS brand 40 years ago.”

There’s been mounting pressure for Snyder to sell the team amid a controversial work environment within the franchise.

“The former members of the original HOGS reclaimed their rightful ownership of the Hogs and expect to receive federal trademark in early 2023,” the statement continued in part. “The newly created Washington Commanders are a different franchise with a completely different team name that we believe has no legal claim to the original HOGS legacy and brand created 40 years ago.

“On January 1, the Commanders are going forward with a ‘celebration’ of the HOGS. The original HOGS have tried to amicably resolve this despite for many months now but to no avail with the Commanders before January 1 event. Without substantial control and compensation, the original HOGS do not want to be associated with the COmmanders under its current ownership and management and require that their legacy and brand is protected.”

In October, Snyder even threatened to have dirt on many people across the National Football League. Per a report by ESPN, Synder believed he collected plenty of dirt on names across NFL front offices through the use of private investigators from his law firms. 

It’s a tactic that the report statement said Snyder does when he’s ‘cornered’ but, nonetheless, he believed the information would be able to “blow up” several NFL owners, the league office, and even commissioner Roger Goodell.

Per Mike Ozanian of Forbes Magazine, Snyder has received bids “well north” of $7 billion. Keep in mind, the Denver Broncos recently sold for an NFL record $4.6 billion.

In May of 1999, he purchased the Washington Commanders, along with Jack Kent Cooke Stadium for $800 million.

Wade Peery contributed to this report