(New Poll) The Washington Commanders Brand 2.0: Beer Drinkers and Hail Raisers

[Commander PK]

I knew someone would make that April fools joke… but I just don’t find it all that funny. These wounds run deep, and all it will serve to do is rev up the “change the name back or else” crowd again.

For me, I would like to move forward. I realize some never will, and that is their choice… but our former name and branding will never return.

People say “never say never”… I’m saying never. No amount of complaining on X or elsewhere is going to bring it back.

 

[AngryChuckT]

I knew someone would make that April fools joke… but I just don’t find it all that funny. These wounds run deep, and all it will serve to do is rev up the “change the name back or else” crowd again.

For me, I would like to move forward. I realize some never will, and that is their choice… but our former name and branding will never return.

People say “never say never”… I’m saying never. No amount of complaining on X or elsewhere is going to bring it back.

I hate it, but you speak facts. Name is never coming back. Unfortunately, the most beautiful log in sports history isn't either - even though I hold an irrational flicker of hope deep in my soul that one day they will find a way to resurrect it.

A fool's hope to go along with that stupid April 1 tradition I wish would die.

 

[Chris]

Hope in one hand…

 

[RedWolf]

Hope in one hand…

"Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane"

"Remember, Red(skins), hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"

 

[DieselPwr44]

Some folks told us Dan Snyder would never leave....to give up and live with it.

Just sayin'.........

 

[ES1974]

Maybe it’s a tactful approach, slowly over time appeasing various obstacles, nicely lined up to that new Stadium time line…

 

[RedWolf]

Some folks told us Dan Snyder would never leave....to give up and live with it.

Just sayin'.........

Hear, hear!

 

[Commander PK]

Some folks told us Dan Snyder would never leave....to give up and live with it.

Just sayin'.........

I wish this was the same brother.. but it isn’t.

There is nothing that can occur at this point that will suddenly make the name Washington Redskins and our Native American logo seem less controversial, less racial, and less of a problem… so much less that the NFL endorses us going back to it.

Also, so I don’t become the focal point of people’s anger on this issue…I reiterate again, I personally never found them to be a problem. I would rather this had never happened. However, I realized a long time ago it's not about what I think when it comes to this issue.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I hadn’t read all of this thread but Galdi spoke about the logo on his pod from today, and the Chief of staff from the Montana senator has tweeted a whole lot that they circulated the logo with a PowerPoint presentation to top sponsors and none of them had a problem with the logo being used on an alternate uniform or on merchandise. Including FedEx. And apparently FedEx has approached the league about being ok with the use of the logo.

If that’s the case, while the name isn’t coming back either ever or at least no time soon, there seems like a path for the logo.

Also, the logo has monetary value. I’m sure Harris would love nothing more than to unlock that untapped revenue stream.

I’m not holding my breath for the name.

I think there’s a chance for the logo in the next few years if not sooner.

 

[Boone]

My understanding is that the sponsors verbalized no objection to use of the logo in the context of a 'throwback' uniform or to sell merchandise, which sounds quite a bit different from the 'logo coming back'. And these were sponsors, not top NFL brass who may be quite dug in on simply not wanting any Native American imagery. And yes I know about the Chiefs, lol... but they may view an arrowhead logo quite differently from a depiction of an actual Native American. The biggest barrier to them keeping the Native American logo in the first place vs. doing a full 'rebrand' is it makes no sense with the new name which is a monumental hurdle.

If I had to guess they may find a way to use the logo but it will never be 'the logo' again.

 

[Conn]

Yeah, I think it’s closer to un-blurring the NFL Films videos with the logo in recent years, more of a “maybe we initially over-corrected, now we’ve still moved on but are not ashamed of our past” thing with the logo on a potential historical alternate. But feels doubtful you’d keep Commanders but bring back the logo.

Me, I detest even the suggestion of having this debate all over again on a national stage, with both the informed and uninformed, the opinionated and un-opinionated. I wanted to leave behind all that drama and distraction. So I’d say it’s just as well to leave it all in the past outside of tribute videos and certain historical displays at the new stadium. To me it became about the grinding drama of it all more than who was “right” or “wrong”, I just wanted to be a regular sports fan and now with Snyder gone we’re almost there. Continuing to have this conversation (not here, where I’m choosing to participate, but just in general across the country day-to-day when it’s in the news) is exhausting.

 

[Commander PK]

For me, I see it this way. The loudest opposition in 2020 didn’t create the issue. They rode a wave of broader pressure that had been building for years. Snyder’s situation may have accelerated it, but the reality is the writing had been on the wall for a long time. Fred Smith’s actions caused the issue to go from an irritating/annoying thing to no longer profitable, and once that happened, the outcome was inevitable.

A lot of the fan base didn’t want to see that coming. Now there’s some revisionist history—“only the name was the problem,” “no one had an issue with the logo”—but those of us who followed it closely know that’s just not accurate. Both were part of the broader controversy.

You’re seeing some cooling off now, but if the old logo were reintroduced in any kind of way, it would almost certainly reignite the same reaction.

At this point, the most realistic outcome isn’t a return, it’s acknowledgment of the history without trying to erase it.

I want that and can live with the rest.

 

[Spearfeather]

You’re seeing some cooling off now, but if the old logo were reintroduced in any kind of way, it would almost certainly reignite the same reaction.

The story of the origins of the logo was rarely, and I mean hardly ever mentioned by the media when debate about the name was going on, and actually things had kind of died down the last few years after the team won its case by default in the Supreme Court, before it went up in flames in the spring of 2020. Bringing the logo back in a limited way would give the team another opportunity to drive that point home. It would help having representatives ( Wetzel, Danes, the Blackfeet tribal council ) speaking on behalf and with the team, a coalition of sorts to smooth things out. Of course, some would have their usual visceral reaction, but ... The history of the logo is what it is, and that's in the team's favor.
There had been some talk about a year ago about money from merchandise with the logo being used for the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women fund, for example.
I think with the right people speaking on behalf of the team, it could be a possibility, and help blunt any possible uproar from the media.
It would again though be about those sponsors and apparal representatives being on board, and as Galdi has been talking about for almost a year now Danes' Chief of Staff has claimed that sponsors, since learning of the history of the logo, have had no objections to the idea.

 

[Chris]

Fwiw- Senator Daines is not running for reelection in November. That voice will be removed from any discussion soon.

 

[AngryChuckT]

For me, I see it this way. The loudest opposition in 2020 didn’t create the issue. They rode a wave of broader pressure that had been building for years. Snyder’s situation may have accelerated it, but the reality is the writing had been on the wall for a long time. Fred Smith’s actions caused the issue to go from an irritating/annoying thing to no longer profitable, and once that happened, the outcome was inevitable.

A lot of the fan base didn’t want to see that coming. Now there’s some revisionist history—“only the name was the problem,” “no one had an issue with the logo”—but those of us who followed it closely know that’s just not accurate. Both were part of the broader controversy.

You’re seeing some cooling off now, but if the old logo were reintroduced in any kind of way, it would almost certainly reignite the same reaction.

At this point, the most realistic outcome isn’t a return, it’s acknowledgment of the history without trying to erase it.

I want that and can live with the rest.

I agree with this take as to the inevitability of the name change.

Again it goes back to the WOS having no foresight or vision. The hand writing was on the wall 20 years before the events of 2020. Society changes. What is acceptable changes. Then with the internet age perception, who screams loudest and whoever has the faster propaganda machine will always trump thoughtful consideration and critical thinking.

However, I truly I believe the logo could have been saved if the name had been changed in the early 2000s and there had been true education and collaboration by/with NA stakeholders, especially tribes out west who wore the logo as a source of pride. Unfortunately, the WOS was always a reactionary moron instead of a talented businessman of vision.

If they made new throwback gear with the logo, I would be thrilled and spend entirely too much money on gear. If they did a throwback uni with the logo once or twice a season, I would breakdown and weep like a baby as it would be better than all the birthdays and Christmas mornings off my lifetime wrapped up together. Pipe dream I know, but that irrational flicker of an old fool's hope will not die.

 

[Spearfeather]

Fwiw- Senator Daines is not running for reelection in November. That voice will be removed from any discussion soon.

He wouldn't be senator anymore, but his voice and relationship with the Wetzels, along with any group he had possibly put togetber, would still carry some weight.

 

[Chris]

He wouldn't be senator anymore, but his voice and relationship with the Wetzels, along with any group he had possibly put togetber, would still carry some weight.

I disagree. He only had a notable voice or power because he was a sitting US Senator in the party under control of that body. (And that was the predominant reason that the vast majority of fans even know his name.) He is a current member of the Senate committees on Appropriations, Energy, Finance, and Indian Affairs. Take away his congressional position and he is just another rich guy from Montana.

 

[Spearfeather]

I disagree. He only had a notable voice or power because he was a sitting US Senator in the party under control of that body. (And that was the predominant reason that the vast majority of fans even know his name.) He is a current member of the Senate committees on Appropriations, Energy, Finance, and Indian Affairs. Take away his congressional position and he is just another rich guy from Montana.

Right, and we dont know whats been possibly going on behind the scenes so far, and what could happen over the next nine months, and if things could continue with the new senator there.

 

[Single-Bar Facemask]

At this point, the most realistic outcome isn’t a return, it’s acknowledgment of the history without trying to erase it.

I want that and can live with the rest.

^This.

As much as I want our beloved name and logo to return, I just don't see it happening. IMO, the very small minority who oppose it would get extremely loud. Again.

Don't erase the history. Don't fuzz out the logo on the helmets. Don't be afraid to say or write the name "Redskins" (I'm looking directly at you, ESPN).

Just win, and (maybe more importantly) be considered one of the classiest organizations in the league, like we used to be. A Lombardi Trophy as the Commanders with a "W" on the helmet isn't going to make me cry any fewer tears of joy, or shout any quieter off of my front porch (annoying my neighbors in the process) that, finally, we are back...

 

[Commander PK]

AngryChuckT I agree with you that we still might be the Washington Warriors now with the Wetzel logo if he had been forward thinking enough to bite the bullet when he still had that trademark. I think he and so many others just couldn’t read the tea leaves. I’m not gonna sit here and type that I was some kind of genius either that saw it coming the whole time. There was a point where I wanted him to fight it tooth and nail. If he did nothing else right at least he could fight for the name…but at some point, I realized it was a losing battle. I realized once they figured out a way to hit the money it was over. In this argument, the pro-name crowd was never going to be able to claim the moral high ground.