Washington announces retirement of "Redskins" nickname and logo
After immense pressure, the NFL franchise drops the nickname it had used since 1933.
The Washington Redskins are a thing of the past, as the team announced Monday that the nickname and logo have been retired following enormous pressure and criticism. Owner Daniel Snyder, who stood firm for many years, finally agreed to make a change after seeing numerous retail outlets remove the franchise's merchandise from their shelves.
A new nickname will be announced soon, and Warriors has emerged as the favorite. According to CBS Sports, the team won't use any Native American imagery in its new name and look, but "a name like the 'Warriors' would conceivably allow the club to retain its current color scheme and secondary logos."
Washington announced on July 3 that it would conduct a thorough review of the team's name.
"Today, we are announcing we will be retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion of this review," the team said in a statement. "Dan Snyder and Coach (Ron) Rivera are working closely to develop a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition-rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years."
The franchise received backlash on numerous occasions for the use of the Redskins nickname, which is considered a racial slur against Native Americans. Many Native American organizations recently contacted NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, demanding the nickname finally be changed.
Washington opens the season a 6-point home underdog vs. the Eagles on Sept. 13.
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