Will they ever change the name?

[Kel Varnsen]

if nothing else, it's a further testament that this regime is not trying to eliminate history.

The mural added during the announcement of the retirement of 28 was Darrell Green with the Redskins logo being very clearly displayed. Next to it is another mural on a different wall of Sean Taylor with the logo also very visible.

I don't think by any means this means Redskins is coming back, but it does mean that the people within the organization are not forgetting our past.

Yeah, and that’s what bothered me previously. The whole marketing campaign and everything that went with it was to pretend there was no other name previously. They said they wanted to relate the new name to the successful history of this franchise, but their actions said the exact opposite. At least at this point, Harris and company are willing to acknowledge the past and understand how much it meant to the fans and former players.

 

[Knightingale]

Interestingly, that T-shirt logo appears to be fan made. There’s a thread on Facebook about it and buried in the comments was the following.
Seems this logo has been around a while and you can buy this merch on eBay.

 

[Bulldog]

The NFL is in a tight position because the Chiefs use Native American imagery on their helmet and mascot.

I think you could call this team the Warriors and use the feather against a circular scripted 'W' in a rebrand and get it done.

 

[Chris]

Eh, the KC mascot is a wolf. The team moved away from their Indian-inspired one (copied from Florida State) in 1989.

 

[Boone]

Maybe so but they use an Arrowhead as a logo, play in Arrowhead Stadium and openly tolerate the tomahawk chop enmasse within the stadium. So they have a lot of remaining issues in the current climate of political correctness and sensitivity.

 

[Bulldog]

The NFL is glad to be rid of Snyder, I think any reasonable thematic brought by this ownership group will pass muster.

 

[Chris]

Maybe so but they use an Arrowhead as a logo, play in Arrowhead Stadium and openly tolerate the tomahawk chop enmasse within the stadium. So they have a lot of remaining issues in the current climate of political correctness and sensitivity.

Yeah. And the chop was also stolen from FSU (also by the Atlanta Braves) which has a financial arrangement with the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida. They should be cancelled just for being unoriginal.

 

[Chris]

Would Washington Casinos be ok? Considering the leagues love of gambling? 😉

 

[MikefromOH]

The braves, Seminoles, chiefs, Aztecs....all should be under the same pressure, but aren't.

Not saying "they do it, too!!" because I hate when my kids do that. But, I would like to see it go back to how it was. I have never in all my life met a person offended by the name Redskins. I grew up on a reservation and it was never once used as an insult. If you said Redskins most people will tell you they suck or they love the team and that's it.

 

[Boone]

It's a shame that we didn't land on 'DC Defenders' first. Cool name. Cool logo. It just works.

 

[Boone]

The braves, Seminoles, chiefs, Aztecs....all should be under the same pressure, but aren't.

Not saying "they do it, too!!" because I hate when my kids do that. But, I would like to see it go back to how it was. I have never in all my life met a person offended by the name Redskins. I grew up on a reservation and it was never once used as an insult. If you said Redskins most people will tell you they suck or they love the team and that's it.

It's a completely valid point - there is literally no consistency. I've said for decades - you go into a crowded public space and starting screaming 'Redskins' - there won't be one person who thinks you are making a racist attack. They'll think you are a Washington football fan who is having some kind of a meltdown. 'Redskins', with the possible exception of a couple of 1930's-1940's westerns, has never been used as a Native American epithet culturally. I get the abstract argument that it 'sounds racist' but as my father always taught us, there is no such thing as bad words, there are only bad intentions. Context, for anyone with a brain, matters. But we know that we no longer live in a world where context matters.

I agree - if you deem all Native American imagery/iconography/symbols racist, where are the demands to rid all sports leagues of those things?

 

[Bulldog]

Chris, maybe we could use that nickname if the team secures a site near National Harbor and MGM

 

[Ashburn Dave]

My two concerns with Warriors are that it's already being used in the NBA; and secondly, I see Luther and his clanking bottles when I hear it. Regardless, Warriors is as good as any other name being suggested so I would be OK with it.

As much as I would love for Redskins to return, I just can't believe that the team would try to go down that path.

 

[MikefromOH]

Quinn is receiving some "backlash" from certain mediots looking to start some drama. Typical, and this is the kind of stuff that needs to be cut off immediately

 

[Boone]

I don’t know why they wouldn’t go with ‘Wolves’. Warriors is fine but in addition to already being a pro sports name, it not only elicits some of the same Native American objections as Redskins did, it offends the more pacifist segment of the population.

Not saying either of those things should be dealbreakers but the name does have its own baggage and Id prefer a name that no one can reasonably object to.

Wolves is alliterative. It is a name that could inspire a really cool and iconic logo. It’s a fierce aggressive animal fitting the mold we want to create for this franchise. The swag and mascot potential would be huge. And it would be the first canine-inspired team name in the NFL. It’s an absolute no-brainer to me, and even the ‘Redwolves’ proponents would accept it as the next best thing to their Pokémon name.

Some will say that the ‘Timberwolves’ would raise a fuss or challenge it legally but there’s no way that holds up - it’s far too generic a name for anyone to claim exclusive rights to.

Some would also question what ‘Wolves’ has to do with Washington. My counter to that is to ask what ‘Redskins’ had to do with DC? The problem with wanting a DC theme is that the only thing Washington. Is know. For is the Federal Govt and that doesn’t leave much room for a great name you can build around.

I would be thrilled if they went with Wolves

 

[Chris]

I have read that the wolf population has been organizing in order too make an issue out of the white man’s appropriation of their heritage for financial gain.

 

[burgold]

I don’t know why they wouldn’t go with ‘Wolves’. Warriors is fine but in addition to already being a pro sports name, it not only elicits some of the same Native American objections as Redskins did, it offends the more pacifist segment of the population.

Not saying either of those things should be dealbreakers but the name does have its own baggage and Id prefer a name that no one can reasonably object to.

Wolves is alliterative. It is a name that could inspire a really cool and iconic logo. It’s a fierce aggressive animal fitting the mold we want to create for this franchise. The swag and mascot potential would be huge. And it would be the first canine-inspired team name in the NFL. It’s an absolute no-brainer to me, and even the ‘Redwolves’ proponents would accept it as the next best thing to their Pokémon name.

Some will say that the ‘Timberwolves’ would raise a fuss or challenge it legally but there’s no way that holds up - it’s far too generic a name for anyone to claim exclusive rights to.

Some would also question what ‘Wolves’ has to do with Washington. My counter to that is to ask what ‘Redskins’ had to do with DC? The problem with wanting a DC theme is that the only thing Washington. Is know. For is the Federal Govt and that doesn’t leave much room for a great name you can build around.

I would be thrilled if they went with Wolves

It's not only fierce and aggressive, but wolves are also very loyal and pack-oriented (which works great with a team construct). There's a lot to like about Red Wolves. I kind of wish it had a more specific link to what DC or the DMV is about, but that's the only drawback in my book.

Lobbyists are more like hyenas then wolves. Politicians are more like sloths, skunks, and rats.

 

[tomwvr]

Well ive been reading a lot about the reaction to the shirt. 90 percent plus has been positive and hell Ive even went on a cowboys fan site. Every cowboy fan there said bring the name back no one calls them the commanders. Our new owners have to fix this mistake. Stop caving to the 1% or less of society that is offended by everything and give the fans what they want. This is the way.

 

[Boone]

Hoping that will happen is just going to end in disappointment. The new ownership group has stated that the name will not be going back to Redskins. And I doubt even if the Harris Group wanted to change it back that the NFL, in a million years, would allow it.

Not trying to squelch the conversation - I get the desire. But we have to live in the real world, and in the real world a return to 'Redskins' is not one of the possible outcomes. And for anyone who wants to know 'How do YOU know that Boone?' - well, I know because the owners have already told us. They aren't going back to Redskins.

And I actually differ on the Quinn shirt. First of all, why is he wearing bootleg gear at official events? I guarantee you he heard about that both from the NFL and the team's apparel provider. Secondly, it's a clumsy thing to do apparently not realizing that fans were going to seize on that as some possible sign we'll be going back to the old name. I doubt seriously this was some calculated move to signal anything. He likely got the t-shirt as a gift or freebie and thought 'that's a cool looking t-shirt'. I'd prefer he not be creating unnecessary distraction.

But the whole thing supports my original point, which is that the Harris Group's refusal to provide a final answer to the question 'are we going to rename the team' just sets the franchise up for ongoing drama.

 

[Bulldog]

I agree. I don't think Harris and Co. realize how much the name issue is out there for fans.

No way the team is going to be able to dodge the name and rebrand issue for 3-4 years as they get other ducks in order.

The ownership does not need to come up with a new name and logo in the next 6 months with everything else going on, but they need to signal that change is not only on the table but something that will be addressed in good time.