In a controversy that never seems to fully go away, the great Washington Redskins name change debate rages on after U.S. Senators sent the NFL and Roger Goodell a letter urging the league to change the name of the franchise based in the nation's capital.
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According to ESPN, a letter signed by 50 Democratic state senators, excluding the two in Virginia, was sent to Goodell and the league and drew parallels to the NBA's racism issue with disgraced Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who the NBA banned for life following his racist remarks.
"Today, we urge you and the National Football League to send the same clear message as the NBA did: that racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports," the letter said, according to ESPN. "It's time for the NFL to endorse a name change for the Washington, D.C. football team."
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The Redskins have faced backlash for years regarding the racist undertones the team name carries, but the NFL and Goodell have carried on strongly against the move. The letter is hoping that Goodell and the NFL will reconsider following the Sterling fallout.
"The despicable comments made by Mr. Sterling have opened up a national conversation about race relations," the letter said. "We believe this conversation is an opportunity for the NFL to take action to remove the racial slur from the name of one of its marquee franchises."
Washington owner Dan Snyder has stood by the Redskins name and even started a counter effort with Native Americans stating the name should stay while offering support of the team. Goodell and the NFL have stood by Snyder and even responded to the letter on Thursday.
"We have not received the letter, but the NFL has long demonstrated a commitment to progressive leadership on issues of diversity and inclusion, both on and off the field," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement per ESPN. "The intent of the team's name has always been to present a strong, positive and respectful image. The team name is not used by the team or the NFL in any other context, though we respect those that view it differently."
The Oneida Indian Nation located in upstate New York has pushed for the name change in a national "Change the Mascot" campaign, and lauded the Senators' actions while criticizing the NFL and calling the name a "malicious insult."
"Washington team owner Dan Snyder and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell have claimed that using the R-word epithet somehow honors native peoples, but it is quite the opposite," Oneida Nation CEO Ray Halbritter said in a statement via ESPN. "The R-word is a dictionary defined racial slur."
While there's plenty of controversy off the field surrounding the Redskins and the team name, its players will look to reverse some ugliness on the field next season and bounce back from a 3-13 2013 finish - no matter what the front of their jersey says.
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