Last year, Josh Harris added the Commanders to his sports portfolio that includes the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. It wasn’t clear how involved he would be in the management of the team. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Harris has been more involved than people expected him to be.
The truth is that most owners are more involved than media and fans realize. They typically like to be able to blame bad decisions on others, in the same way that owners collectively use Commissioner Roger Goodell as a highly-compensated pin cushion. This dynamic created a significant potential problem.
Whether the owner realizes it or not, his employees are paying attention to everything he says, every question he asks, every move he makes. When you’re a multi-billionaire and the person who ultimately runs the team, anyone with any desire to remain employed by you will be searching for any clues as to what will make you happy. It’s the calzone effect, as Constanza learned while working for the Yankees. The owner wants what he wants. The best way to maximize job security is to be the one who gives him what he wants.
So when it comes down to choosing a quarterback for his new team, Harris won’t hold back on expressing his preference. He met with quarterbacks at the Scouting Combine and knows how important this decision is for both himself and his team. While there may be some debate among members of management about which prospect would be best for their squad, it ultimately comes down to what Harris wants and needs for his team’s success. And if anyone around him senses what direction he’s going in, they’ll follow suit – unless someone decides to take a risk by going against their boss’s wishes.
