Josh Harris Speaks... Commanders is permanent name.

[Commander PK]

Listening to people call into 106.7 this morning, I don't think people are quite aware of how intensive this process is. Granted people who call into the radio, generally, are not the brightest bulbs. And then you have Drab T-shirt who might be the dumbest person alive.

I heard one caller on the way in to work this morning RAGING that it should have been the #1 priority from Day #1 superseding all others. Above winning, above the stadium, above culture…literally above everything else. You don’t have to like Commanders to understand why that’s an extreme position. I think at that point passion has overtaken common sense.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

I do however wish he would have just from the jump stated the name Commanders was here to stay, kinda felt a bit lead on to think there was going to be a change

I don’t think he was lying at the time.

This season came at everyone fast. Going 5-12 as opposed to 12-5 and 2 playoff wins, likely nets you different decisions about a lot of things.

Whether folks like it or not, Quinn built a culture around being a ‘Commander’ and everyone in the building bought in. Hard to go and force a 3rd name change in 5 years when the last one holds the best memories this team has had since 1992.

 

[formerly4skins]

Hard to go and force a 3rd name change in 5 years when the last one holds the best memories this team has had since 1992.

There's a little recency bias there...I'd say it also holds some of the worst.

It reminds me of Snyd-dogs sexual harassment era, derpy Ron Rivera, and general incompetence as much as anything.

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

There was no answer that was going to satisfy everyone.

Now they can focus on winning more Lombardi Trophies. And that should be what matters.

 

[Riggo44]

being told by new ownership that the putrid legacy of Dan Snyder will hang over this team

As we were pulling win after win out of our ass, I didn't think about Snyder (other than the gleeful schadenfreude from Seth Wickersham's wonderful ESPN article) . I didn't think about the name. I didn't think about the botched years on the crest. I didn't think about the ham-fisted process or 2.22.22. I didn't think about how much I hated the white unis (and man, they suck). I was relishing not having a weekly pre-game scandal week after week. I was enjoying the fuck out of looking forward to Sundays again. Watching our legitimately generational (like the handful of players that come every 20-30 years generational--not the over used label wannabe draftniks on X use) do insane things week after week. When we went into Detroit and beat that overrated asshat of an OC by two scores, I couldn't have cared less if we were the Commanders, Belters, or some other mundane name.

I understand the vitriol over Snyder. If I saw that diminutive shit crossing the street, not only would I not stop, I'd speed up. Hit him. Back over his bloody carcass, and run him over again for good measure. I understand the loathing over everything that jackass did. It was, and still is, so embarrassing to see a sea of that horrid green every time we play the fucking Eagles.

But this is my experience and mentality--I am not going to try to speak for everyone. I've seen this sentiment a lot and it's a general question, certainly not calling anyone out. I am curious, and this is me trying to understand rather than be understood, when we have so much good going on to look forward to--why are people so focused on the negative here?

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

As for worst name in pro sports, the Browns, Dolphins, and Packers alone in the NFL are worse. Another 20 are just as generic if not more.

I completely agree, and I think this gets missed too often.

There are some BAD names out there. And there are some BAD logos out there as well.

People complain about the "W" (it's too plain, it's a taco holder, etc)...the Bears logo is a C. Just a C. And it looks like the Reds C. But it's been around in our memories for decades, so no one thinks it's dumb. The Packers? A G. Ooooh, let's put an oval around it! That'll make it cool! And while we're on the Packers...why isn't it a "GB"? It's Green Bay, not Greenbay... Or the Niners? More letters, surrounded by another oval (hey, Green Bay thought it looked cool, it might work for ours). The Giants? More letters. The Jets? An entire word!

I'm 55. All of those logos have been around as long as I can remember, and I have never thought of any of them as necessarily dull or boring. They're simple, classic looks.

I get it, it's not the awesome Redskins logo (maybe the greatest ever). But the W is also simple. And I think it looks good. It's just barely in preschool at this point. Give it time.

 

[Riggo44]

It's Green Bay, not Greenbay

Along those same lines: Tampa is the city. Their teams are named after a body of water.

 

[Riggo44]

it's too plain, it's a taco holder

What cheap ass place are these people going to that they only get two tacos per order. I go to places that give you at least three. Yes, I'm fat.

 

[Commander PK]

When you put the Taco Holder next to the Redskins logo… yes it’s plain. If you put it up beside all the other logos in the NFL that are not animals…it fits in just fine. I’ve liked the W since day #1. I’d rather it stand for Warriors….but you can’t always get what you want.

You can’t always get what you want.

…but if you try sometimes, you might find… you get what you need.

 

[ArtMonkWasMyHero]

There was no answer that was going to satisfy everyone.

Now they can focus on winning more Lombardi Trophies. And that should be what matters.

That's the thing. Look how many divergent opinions we diehards have about a different name. To me, the answer was always obvious: Redhawks, Redwolves, Redsomething. Traditional B&G uniforms with the R logos. Minimal disruption to history and traditions (1/2 word!). But most don't see it that way and everyone's opinion is valid. Harris knows that and it probably contributes to his- I will just say it- laziness.

 

[AngryChuckT]

I completely agree, and I think this gets missed too often.

There are some BAD names out there. And there are some BAD logos out there as well.

People complain about the "W" (it's too plain, it's a taco holder, etc)...the Bears logo is a C. Just a C. And it looks like the Reds C. But it's been around in our memories for decades, so no one thinks it's dumb. The Packers? A G. Ooooh, let's put an oval around it! That'll make it cool! And while we're on the Packers...why isn't it a "GB"? It's Green Bay, not Greenbay... Or the Niners? More letters, surrounded by another oval (hey, Green Bay thought it looked cool, it might work for ours). The Giants? More letters. The Jets? An entire word!

I'm 55. All of those logos have been around as long as I can remember, and I have never thought of any of them as necessarily dull or boring. They're simple, classic looks.

I get it, it's not the awesome Redskins logo (maybe the greatest ever). But the W is also simple. And I think it looks good. It's just barely in preschool at this point. Give it time.

I turn 50 this year. I honestly think the W is the only thing branding-wise they got right. You can't get any better than the most beautiful logo in the history of sports, you can only get degrees of worse. I would 1000x rather have a simple and clean W, hopefully slapped on the side of a WFT helmet than some attempt at placing a contemporary Gen Z anime looking logo that will always pale in comparison to Wetzel's masterpiece. I might be open to the crest in a circle given the proper colors, but nothing beyond that. Too me, that space is sacred and it needs to remain as untouched and unforced as possible.

 

[burgold]

Just a favor, please don't bring Trump into this conversation even as a joke.

 

[RichmondRedskin88]

Josh not changing the brand is really tone deaf tbh. You are talking about a name and brand that was made by an owner that brought absolute shame and embarrassment to this organization. Scandals, bad business decisions, nepotism, govt investigations, etc. Keeping the brand is like keeping a giant stain on the franchise. That’s not moving on. That’s allowing his stain to stick with the fanbase forever. Everytime we see the name and logo it’s him we see.

 

[burgold]

I agree it's tone deaf, but it's also the opposite. This season, the Commanders is the hottest brand in football. We are everyone's darling. Now, most of that is due to Jayden and almost none of it because due to the team name, but what businessman is going to risk upsetting all this positive energy to make a name change when they are making the most money and are the most popular thing in the League? To do so would risk destroying all the goodwill and positivity this season has generated.

Would you take that risk for something as bland as Warriors, a name that is already in use in pro sports? Would you do it for Wolves when there are half a dozen wolf-based teams already being marketed? If we had a slam dunk name that had 90% approval maybe, but at the risk of being mean, I think we're the ones who are being tone deaf.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

There's a little recency bias there...I'd say it also holds some of the worst.

It reminds me of Snyd-dogs sexual harassment era, derpy Ron Rivera, and general incompetence as much as anything.

To each their own obviously.

I thought the rollout of Commanders was lame. The name is meh, made worse by the fact that it was Snyders doing.

I’d go so far as to say that had Snyder never sold the team, I’d still be drowning myself in how bad it is. I was as close to checking out as one could be to begin with. I spent most Sundays hate-watching, which is just a conflicted way to be a fan.

I expected to die with him still ruining our beloved team along with everything else he touched. Him selling the team was like winning the fan lottery after living in poverty for 25 years. The name is just something I’m willing to accept given this opportunity we never expected to get.

 

[Riggo44]

You are talking about a name and brand that was made by an owner that brought absolute shame and embarrassment to this organization. Scandals, bad business decisions, nepotism, govt investigations, etc. Keeping the brand is like keeping a giant stain on the franchise. That’s not moving on. That’s allowing his stain to stick with the fanbase forever. Everytime we see the name and logo it’s him we see.

I'm talking about the fun, energetic, well-run, exciting team that just went to the NFCCG with a bright future--lead by good, decent, smart people. People that have developed a culture to be proud of. Every time I look at the logo, I see something entirely different. I understand the disdain for the name, but please don't speak for me.

 

[JoeyG]

After thinking about it overnight I have a few thoughts:
1. I am surprised at how disappointed I am over keeping the C name. I think it feels more like a betrayal than anything else. When Josh Harris says "it's up to the fans" and 63% want the name changed-how does that make sense? The beginning of the Harris ownership felt like it was righting several wrongs done by Snyder. This feels like an un-righted wrong.

2. One of the things that I was excited about this year was the anticipation of the name changing in the future. Given the data the team had shared (63%) I thought it was very likely the name would change. That in addition to how the team was playing had me very hopeful for the future. As of today this has destroyed my enthusiasm. I wonder how many people are like me-that the hope of a name change and on field success both contributed to excitement around the team? This could hurt the business more than they realize.

 

[RichmondRedskin88]

I agree it's tone deaf, but it's also the opposite. This season, the Commanders is the hottest brand in football. We are everyone's darling. Now, most of that is due to Jayden and almost none of it because due to the team name, but what businessman is going to risk upsetting all this positive energy to make a name change when they are making the most money and are the most popular thing in the League? To do so would risk destroying all the goodwill and positivity this season has generated.

Would you take that risk for something as bland as Warriors, a name that is already in use in pro sports? Would you do it for Wolves when there are half a dozen wolf-based teams already being marketed? If we had a slam dunk name that had 90% approval maybe, but at the risk of being mean, I think we're the ones who are being tone deaf.

You could argue he already hurt good will by upsetting many fans now by not understanding their point of view. Jayden would sell jerseys regardless. If they named the team something fans voted for they would probably sell twice the jerseys in months. There are fans that absolutely refuse to buy and or wear Commanders stuff because they associate it with Snyder. Having a great season doesn’t wipe away all the negative attached to the brand. If this season was bad he would wipe it out. Having a good year should not change that. You are looking at the future not the short term. The brand should be something fans are proud of 20 years from now. Not simply one good year after 30 years of misery. The fans have made it clear in polls that they still don’t like the name. It was a name and brand forces on them and then told to get on board or get out.

 

[SkinsGuru]

You could argue he already hurt good will by upsetting many fans now by not understanding their point of view. Jayden would sell jerseys regardless. If they named the team something fans voted for they would probably sell twice the jerseys in months. There are fans that absolutely refuse to buy and or wear Commanders stuff because they associate it with Snyder. Having a great season doesn’t wipe away all the negative attached to the brand. If this season was bad he would wipe it out. Having a good year should not change that. You are looking at the future not the short term. The brand should be something fans are proud of 20 years from now. Not simply one good year after 30 years of misery.

I'm with you on that . . . IMO the team is leaving a lot of $$$ on the table. This past Christmas we bought jerseys, sweatshirts, t-shirts and hats . . . NONE of them were Commanders. We bought 3rd party Redskins merchandise instead. Only way i buy something from the team now is if they come up with a throwback with the redskins logo on it. If not i will just keep buying Redskins gear from 3rd party sources.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I agree with Commander PK and AngryChuckT about the W being okay. It’s nowhere near as good as the old logo, but it could have been a lot worse. Sometimes simple is best. I’ve grown to like the new helmets with the numbers in back. Another point in the new logo’s favor is that W means winning.