Jerry Jones is perhaps the shrewdest of owners, in terms of marketing, in the NFL. So when he says that the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office refusing to extend the "Redskins" trademark to Washington is concerning to him, that should be a red flag to Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.
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USA TODAY Sports reported Thursday that Jones, while refusing to enter the moral debate over the use of "Redskins," did weigh in on the business ramifications facing the Washington franchise if doesn't win an appeal.
"As far as the big debate that's going on, I don't have any statement on that," Jones told USA TODAY Sports. "But as far as having team marks that aren't protected, that's a disadvantage.
"That would be one of the things that you'd consider if you're going to do everything that you could to promote the franchise, to promote that name. If you didn't have exclusive use of that name, then that would be a deterrent to using it."
NFL doesn't believe "Redskins" to be a racial slur
Asked again whether Jones thinks it is justifiable for a franchise to use a controversial moniker that some Native Americans have said is disrespectful, he replied, "That's a different issue, relative to that ruling.
"But they (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) make that a criteria. They say we don't give anybody copyright protection if we think it has a disparaging aspect. I understand that."
Without a patent, Snyder would have to determine whether continued use of the unprotected name would be feasible, financially.
The Cowboys receive a portion of the revenue generated by the sale of Redskins merchandise - even though they have a marketing deal that is separate from the rest of the teams in the league that allows Jones to make local marketing deals - but Jones said he wouldn't use that to pressure Snyder to change the name and didn't think any of the other owners in the league would apply pressure, either.
"... Certainly, they are impacted. To the degree that it would cause another owner to get into the business of the Redskins, I doubt it. I don't see it being of that consequence economically. I don't see it as having enough economic consequences to create any inertia.
"But that's not to address anything about anybody's opinion, one way or another."
If the Redskins don't win their appeal from the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office in securing a trademark for their moniker, do you think the team will change its nickname? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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