The Washington Redskins have announced "a thorough review of the team's name" and reports from multiple media reports indicate the review will end in a new name.
Later on Friday, PepsiCo, another of the team's sponsors, released a statement in support of a change: "We have been in conversations with NFL and Washington management for a few weeks about this issue. We believe it is time for a change. We are pleased to see the steps the team announced today and we look forward to continued partnership."
And judging from reports from people who cover the NFL, the sentiment is near universal that a name change is not an
if, but a when.
This league source on Dan Snyder and potential changing of racist team name: “If he doesn’t change it, he will be seen as a pariah in a world that is rapidly growing and evolving. There’s no more tolerance for this. That era is over.”
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL)
July 3, 2020 My understanding of the #Redskins situation, based on conversations with several sources: A name change is likely.It would truly be a monumental decision. It is time. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s statement was supportive, as well.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
July 3, 2020 From our story, source familiar with the discussions between Daniel Snyder and the NFL: “You know where this leads. They’re working on that process [of changing the name>. It will end with a new name. Dan has been listening to different people over the last number of weeks.”
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske)
July 3, 2020 Source on whether it's 100 percent certain that the Redskins will change their team name: "I don't want to say 100 percent. It’s very likely headed in that direction."
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske)
July 3, 2020 Asked two different people very plugged into Snyder’s decision-making about this name review and chances of “Redskins” remaining. Both said “It’s over.”Snyder’s got no choice.
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones)
July 3, 2020 And the change could potentially happen before the 2020 NFL season starts.
Another person with knowledge agrees that the change could happen before the season.
— Les Carpenter (@Lescarpenter)
July 3, 2020 Sources added, with announcement from Snyder, there’s no way to come out of this review and draw conclusions the current team name is acceptable. Plus with NFL backing, belief and feeling is it’s a forgone conclusion the name is changing. To what, we’ll see.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay)
July 3, 2020 Of course, the debate has begun for what the new name should be with many tossing out Washington Redtails. However, whatever name is chosen it will take fans a long time to get used to this, especially after the debate had fans so entrenched.
The Sports Junkies producer Matt Cahill had this idea for the interval: Go with no nickname and a generic: Washington Football Club.
Unofficially, fans can still call them the Redskins. Naming them Warriors, Redtails, Warthogs or whatever the flavor of the month is just does not fit this franchise, imo.
— Matt Cahill (@drabtshirt)
July 3, 2020 Follow @BenKrimmel and @1067theFan on Twitter.
