Super Bowl or Branding/Name Change?

Letthepointssoar

Letthepointssoar

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Ok so I've been trying to figure out how to put this in to words, so here's my attempt.

This season has clearly been one of the most fun in decades. There is such an incredible transformation happening with the Josh Harris led ownership group, and the addition of Adam Peters this offseason I would argue is the most important piece to the puzzle. Throw in what looks to be a potential franchise quarterback and now here we find ourself on the precipice of what may be a very special run.

This Saturday, we will attempt to win and reach the NFC Championship Game for the first time since arguably the greatest team of all time, the 91 Redskins. I'm so excited to see us compete against Detroit, however, if we somehow happened to get the win this weekend, and sneak into the NFC Championship Game.....

....I think I'd then in turn ACTIVELY WANT US TO LOSE AND NOT MAKE THE SUPER BOWL.

I know that sounds nuts, and some may even say that doesn't make me a true fan, etc., but anyone who knows my posting history, certainly knows otherwise. But hear me out - for as long as they remain the "Commanders", this is Danny Boy's brand.

No one remembers the championship game/playoff losers, but Super Bowl match ups are forever etched in history. If we get in the big game with this God awful brand, it's now forever etched in history.

We HAVE to fix the brand this offseason. Even this most homer-esque of us in this group could have never predicted a 12 win season and to be in this position for a deep run. We're playing with house money, but if and when we're knocked out, the most important item to address this offseason has nothing to do with players and on the field.

Fix the brand. Once and for all. RedWolves, Wolves, Warriors, something that gives the nod to our rich Native American history, but buries the controversy forever. And for Christ's sake, do it before we ever reach the Super Bowl so that 20 years from now, the "Commanders" debacle is a forgotten piece of history. That will rid this franchise of the last of the stench of the former regime.

AND THEN LET'S GO STACK SOME MF-ING RINGS.

Hail.
 
Ring.

A rose by any other name… you know
 
And no matter what… the name will not change this offseason. It’s just not a realistic wish.

Then again, this season hasn’t been realistic either.
 
Haha, I agree with you, Chuck. All except the "actively want us to lose" part. That would be impossible for me. My DNA wouldn't allow it. Otherwise, yeah. Honor the native Americans. Absolutely! I do not like the C-word.
 
burgold said:
And no matter what… the name will not change this offseason. It’s just not a realistic wish.

Then again, this season hasn’t been realistic either.
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See I think the exact opposite. I can't fathom a scenario where we start next season with the Commanders brand still intact. This ownership group is too smart and they realize how much money they will lose otherwise. The cost of re-branding PALES in comparison to what they will make back in merch sales to it being done right.

Look at the jerseys at games. We haven't been the Redskins for what 5 years now? Yet the gear you see continues to be more than 50% Redskins related. There's a whole lot of internal boycott still happening that won't ever go away from the fans like myself who refuse to ever buy anything Commander related.

If you fix it correctly, you'll awaken a sleeping fan base giant like the sports world hasn't ever seen before.
 
Maybe I'm wrong about the branding, but it doesn't matter. I'll take the ring.

When Gibbs II came back and led us to the playoffs, we thought all was well again. He followed it with a losing season, a limp to the playoffs and an ouster.

When RGIII had his magical rookie season and led us to the playoffs, we thought we had our QB of the future and everything would be amazing. It wasn't.

When Zorn stormed out to a 7-1 Rookie season, we thought we had lucked into something, then it all fell apart.

When Rivera got us to the playoffs in his first year, we thought he had settled the culture and we would at least have disciplined competitive teams.

So, to go full cliche (never go full cliche) We have a bird in the hand stop staring longingly at the damn bush. Mind you, I really can't see us getting a ring this year, but I'm fine with calling the team Washington or Redskins or 'skins no matter what else they are officially branded. Give me the ring every time.

And for what it's worth, I would never challenge your fandom over this. I know how much losing the name hurts. I know how loud I sang Hail to the Redskins everytime we scored when I went to the game. I know that 95/100 times when I talk about this team with friends, family, or in public I still say 'skins, Redskins, or Washington. So, I'd love a name change and even if they go with my preferred choice (Werewolves) I'd miss Redskins.

Take the ring.
 
Insane to root against a ring. They are never changing the name. Currently they are at fault for nothing with the current name, but as soon as they change the name they will disappoint a lot of people. All while spending a ton of money to do it. Its lose lose, its not happening. Commanders jerseys are selling, winning cures all, whay money do you think they will be losing? We win a Super Bowl the jerseys are flying off the shelves even more then they already are.
 
At this point I want the Ring. I'm invested now. I still call then the Redskins (which my wife annoyingly corrects me on constantly) and I always will. But this year has proved to me that winning is more important.

This team is called the Commanders, but I'm having a blast supporting them this year regardless. I get the same buzz. The same excitement from the wins. I'm loving it.

The sad thing here is that the branding isn't aimed at us old-schoolers. Those who remember the glory years are probably 50+ by now. To sustain a future the franchise needs to bring in new fans. The kids. They need to pump some youth into the fanbase. And those kids don't care about the name, they just want a winning team to identify with. If the Commanders name becomes synonymous with winning, then nobody but us will care about it being a holdover from the Snyder years.

That said...I hate the name - it's booooring - and would also prefer it changed. More important though, is I want our identity back (as I've mentioned in other threads). This means I want the old colours back. The old uniforms. Give me a yellow facemask. Give me the stripes on the pants. Give me the helmet stripes. Give me a cool logo that inspires, not a boring uninspiring font.

What the teams marketing team have done with this branding is outstanding when you think how limited it is. The gothic fonted stuff. The awesome social media posts. Etc. Just imagine what they could do if we had an imaginative identity other than a crappy name and a crappy W.
This is the main place where I think the team leaves money on the table. It's really hard to create merch around this name and logo. Could you imagine for instance the merch opportunities if we had a Wolf branding? The sky would be the limit.
 
I just asked the BGO Oracle about a name change possibility, and its response was not particularly positive. But then I asked my generic AI and it said a name change was likely. See the BGO Oracle forum if interested.

In my mind, changing the name would help with the cleansing process. And I am 100% in favor of honoring our native Americans in some way.
 
The name is the name, the team is something else. It is insane not to want the team to win a Super Bowl imho.

No one hates ‘Commanders’ any more than I do. But you can’t root against this squad getting to and possibly winning a Super Bowl. I can’t anyway.

As far as ‘they will never change the name’ - I don’t think that’s accurate at all and frankly, we heard the same declarations about our owner for years. And then he sold the team.

Quite possible one or more of the ownership group thinks the name is as stupid as many of us do. I also don’t think winning a Super Bowl as the ‘Commanders’ would rule out a name change. They might view it as simply Washington winning it all, and that they did it as the ‘Commanders’ will be historical trivia.

If they really don’t like the name or feel they cannot build a great brand around it, they may well change it regardless of how the team does in the immediate future.

Personally, I’m losing hope they will do what the vast majority of fans want them to do. But I hope that sense is wrong.

Finally, I don’t think this current team can win a Super Bowl - we are just missing too many pieces, so it’s likely just a messageboard dilemma.
 
MisterPinstripe said:
....but as soon as they change the name they will disappoint a lot of people. All while spending a ton of money to do it. Its lose lose, its not happening. Commanders jerseys are selling, winning cures all, whay money do you think they will be losing? We win a Super Bowl the jerseys are flying off the shelves even more then they already are.
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I couldn't disagree with this more.
A change is going to disappoint very few.
Relatively speaking re-brands are not  that expensive. How many will be saying, " If they change from Commanders, I swear I'm never buying another jersey. "
Almost no one.
Its not so much that " Commanders " jerseys are selling. It's more like a winning quarterback and teams jerseys are selling.
Harris and Rales have been saying for over a year now, that they've been doing " research ".
When it comes to Daniels jerseys...

1736863151489.jpeg
 
The idea of rooting for a loss to protect the possibility of a name change is silly, imo. But, Letthepointssoar does have a valid point. A championship most likely does resolve the issue.
 
To me, I have no harsh judgements if that is the way that anybody feels.

But for ME - this season has been SO FUN. It's been fucking great! Making core memories with my daughter, family, and friends and my brothers here. New ownership, AP, DQ, a SPECIAL QB. I have been enjoying the season so much. Rebranding is not on my radar at all. I cannot at all root against JD5, Terry, Reaves, Wagner, Luvu, Sainstril, etc. I would 100% take a Super Bowl!!
 
If I knew that losing Saturday's game would ensure a complete rebrand that was more in-line with the first 85 years of our history, I'd be all in on that. I believe that this team is on its way to a decade of contention, so a year 1 hiccup would be well worth correcting Snyder's final mistake.
 
There are several types of animals that have a surprising amount of empathy. They can bond with animals that might even be their prey. It's heartwarming to watch, but humanity takes it to the next level. Humanity can bond with inanimate objects. We bond with rocks, trees, cars, pens, and that stain on the shirt that just won't wash out after it suddenly appeared during an awesome party.

In the year 2025, we are the pinnacle of humanity. You are. I am. Everyone here, using the internet to hold conversations from opposite sides of globe. And I will bond with this stupid name that is a stain on this franchise. I love my stupid Commies, and if they win, you should too. Don't resist human nature.
 
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Really nice composition of thoughts there NickyJ. 👊🏼

The current name will never hold sway with me and that’s perfectly OK. For those who embrace it, that is perfectly OK, as well. I will call the team what I choose but I will never, never root for them to lose.
 
skinsmarydu said:
My position all along has been that I'd rather be WFT than have a name that damn near everyone hates.

I stand by it.
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Meh. Football Team was the worst. It's like Chevy having a big press conference as they announced with excitement that the model will be named Car. It's just so so stupid IMO, rooting for something called The Washington Football team was embarrasing. Hard to have a back and forth with an Eagles fan when your team sucks and was the only team in organized sports throughout the world who doesn't even have a name. .

As they contiunue to win I am getting more comfortable with the name Commanders although I look forward to the inevitable change.
 
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