Category: Name Change

‘Commanders’ brand not growing on QB Mark Rypien

Mark Rypien fully supports the new direction of the franchise, but not the name.

Mark Rypien cares a lot about the current state of the franchise for whom he once quarterbacked to a Super Bowl title.

Rypien was in town Monday for a golf charity event for Heroes and Legends benefiting wounded American military warriors. At the event hosting their weekday afternoon show (106.7 The Fan) were Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier. Here is their discussion with Rypien.

The former Super Bowl XXVI MVP expressed his love for seeing the team move back and play its games at the old RFK site. He spoke of how playing at the site would bring back memories for grandfathers, who could then share them with their sons and grandsons at the new stadium.

“It almost hurt ten years ago to come back to the stadium to a Cowboys vs. Redskins game and see more Cowboy fans in the stadium,” said Rypien. “It’s embarrassing. That’s not what we were all about.”

Rypien is certainly aware that “we need to put a product out there that wins week-in and week-out and be consistent.”

Paulsen expressed he was still trying to get used to the name (Commanders) and asked Rypien, “Is it growing on you at all?”

“No,” responded Rypien.

“It never will. I never played for the Commanders.”

Rypien then elaborated in a very respectful manner, “I absolutely support the Commanders and what they’re doing now. But, I never played for them. It’s just this day and age now that we have to deal with.”

“I just hope they don’t lose the fact that we were ‘Redskins.’ That’s all I played for. That’s what I knew, and that’s all we remember.”

“We are going to support these guys because that’s the era we are in.”

“I am not a Commanders’ legend. I am a Redskin. I love my guys.”

“I want to support these guys, this team, and get this Commanders football team back to playing the type of football the Redskins played back in our era.”

Commanders minority owner does not like Commanders’ name?

What does one of Washington’s co-owners think of the nickname?

Washington Commanders minority owner Mitchell Rales is not a fan of the name “Commanders?”

Burgundy Blog (from X, formerly Twitter), as a guest on the “Al Galdi Podcast” this past week, conveyed to Galdi that Rales is indeed not excited about the name “Commanders”.

An acquaintance told Burgundy Blog that at a social event a few months ago, Rales asked a few attendees what they thought of the team’s current name.

The answer he got was extremely negative, and he (Rales) corroborated his feelings of not being excited about “Commanders” either. Rales reportedly then expressed something to the effect of we will see if we can do something about that.

No, this is not confirmed. Burgundy Blog continues to hide behind his anonymity. Nor did he name his acquaintance who conveyed the story to him.

The vast majority of the fan base would certainly love to hear one of the more visible owners (Josh Harris, Rales, Mark Ein) speak negatively about the current name.

But that is not going to happen—at least for a while. The Harris Ownership Group (HOG) wisely keeps its priorities in order and realizes it can wait and see if a winning team changes the fan base’s attitude.

There has been no season with a winning record since Kirk Cousins led Washington to an 8-7-1 season in 2016. The HOG understands this fan base most needs a winning team, period.

But also, Jason Wright’s terrible television rebranding announcement was executed horribly. How did Wright and Snyder not realize Julie Donaldson would have been so much more energetic, experienced, and attractive in front of television cameras?

Head coach Dan Quinn recently wearing the T-shirt containing the “W” logo while also adding the feathers from past Redskins logos ignited excitement in the fan base. Hopes were raised of a change from Commanders.

But for now, we wait…

 

Will the Harris Ownership Group eventually change the name?

One longtime Washington reporter believes ownership will eventually change the name.

Two older Redskins fans from the DMV got together on the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast. Wednesday.

Tom Friend grew up in Chevy Chase, Md., and went to Rolling Wood Elementary, as did Commanders’ new majority owner, Josh Harris and minority owner Mark Ein. Friend stated that his sister was in their class.

I recall Friend covering the Redskins as the beat writer for The Washington Post back in the late 1980s. He is now a writer for the Sports Business Journal.

Sheehan asked Friend regarding the “Commanders” team name.  He referenced that at one point, the franchise did attempt to move from Redskins to Warriors, but it was shot down.

Friend continued with an objection, “I don’t know why. You look at what the Chiefs fans do, and the Braves fans do, and you think, ‘What is the problem?'”

“I had someone else tell me they (Harris Ownership Group) are looking at it now. More than look at it, they are going to do it at some point. It’s just a matter of when. I am not reporting this. I am just telling you what I hear from people close to the situation.”

Friend told Sheehan that Dan Snyder got rid of Redskins quickly, changing the name, so why couldn’t they get rid of this name that virtually very few in the fan base likes? He went as far as saying, “No one likes it; get the heck rid of it!”

When Sheehan asked if Friend’s sources are “in the know,” Friend instantly responded, “Somewhat in the know, for sure, for sure, absolutely, 100 percent.”

Friend continued, “This was always a franchise that did nothing but celebrate Native Americans. I went to RFK my entire life from six years old, and not once did I ever Tomahawk chop or do the war chant. All we said was, ‘Hail to the Redskins!’ In all seriousness, there was no mocking going on.”

Of course, Friend is correct; the hypocrisy is evident. But the bigger news was Friend saying the Harris ownership group is already discussing changing the Commanders’ team name in the future.

Should we be surprised? The Harris Ownership Group has been impressively ahead of the game, and in time, they are going to get this right as well.

Jayden Daniels and the Commanders will face Kirk Cousins in 2024

Washington’s new QB will face the franchise’s old QB in 2024.

What do you think of Jayden Daniels and Kirk Cousins squaring off this season?

They are set to do battle in Week 17, on Dec. 29, in what will be a home game for the Commanders against the Falcons.

Cousins was the lone starter for the 2015-17 seasons for the then-Washington Redskins. There are fans out there that to do this day, possess a disdain for Cousins. They seem to never be able to accept the fact that he did have some success in Washington.

He is often blamed for the 2016 season finale loss to the NY Giants. It is true the Redskins could have qualified for the playoffs with a win that day; however, they fell 19-10 to the Giants.

It is also true that Cousins did throw two interceptions that day.

Of course, as long as we are interested in truth, it is also just as true that Washington, after ten games, was 6-3-1, and then Trent Williams was suspended four games by the NFL for his continued use of marijuana, having already failed drug tests that season. As long as we are talking “truth.”

Cousins did not deliver a playoff win for the Redskins. It is also true that though some vocal fans want to continue to bash Cousins, the Washington offense has not been the same since he last played in Washington.

Another glaring fact is Washington has not even finished with a single winning season record since 2015 and 2016 when Cousins was under center.

Some are quick to say, “Well, 9-7 and 8-7-1 are barely winning seasons.” Of course, that is obvious. It is also just as obvious that Washington has struggled so much at quarterback since his departure, with all their quarterbacks being much less effective than Cousins was in Washington.

Which leads us to Jayden Daniels. Please, please, let’s not weigh him down with outrageous expectations just yet. Yes, he was the second player drafted. However, it will still be his first season in the NFL, and he will not have played against the level of defenders he will see this his rookie year.

He will be learning, and the pace of the game will sometimes be much faster than he has seen. So, let’s keep things in perspective this season and remember Daniels is not the Messiah.

But wouldn’t it be great if he could lead Washington to their best season since Cousins?

What has happened since the Commanders opened on the road?

A lot has happened since the last time Washington opened a season on the road.

The Commanders will open their 2024 season at Tampa on September 8.

How long has it been since the NFL Washington team opened an NFL season on the road?

Well, put it this way: Jay Gruden was the head coach, and Case Keenum was the starting quarterback. Keenum’s backups were Colt McCoy and Dwayne Haskins.

Terry McLaurin was playing in his first NFL regular season game, and the two running backs who had carries for Washington that day were Derrius Guice and Chris Thompson.

McLaurin made a huge splash debut into the NFL that day, catching five passes on seven targets for 125 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown from Keenum. The other receivers catching passes that day other than McLaurin were Vernon Davis, Paul Richardson, Trey Quinn, Kelvin Harmon and Jeremy Sprinkle.

Washington had traveled to Philadelphia to open the 2019 season and started magnificently. Keenum connected with Davis on a 48-yard touchdown and McLaurin on a 69-yard touchdown. Plus, Dustin Hopkins’ 41-yard field goal was sandwiched between, and the Redskins were beating the Eagles at Lincoln Field 17-0.

When Hopkins booted a 48-yarder on the closing play of the first half, the Redskins led the Eagles 20-7. However, Carson Wentz led the Eagles to 25 consecutive second-half points for a 32-20 fourth-quarter lead. The final was Eagles 32-27 over the Redskins.

A great first half had launched the season with great hope and excitement. However, the second half would be a microcosm of the season, as the Redskins began 0-5, and Gruden was fired.

Things were so bad in 2019 when the Dolphins were unsuccessful on a game-ending two-point conversion attempt; it actually saved the Redskins from starting the season 0-10.

The dreadful season saw Haskins celebrating with fans and thus missing the final possession for the victory formation snap against the Lions. The silly act was a sign of Haskins’s future actions with Washington, which resulted in his not lasting two seasons before being released.

In a bizarre twist, the following Sunday, the Redskins went down to Charlotte, defeated the Panthers 29-21, resulting in Ron Rivera being fired by Carolina’s new owner David Tepper.

Washington owner Daniel Snyder hired Rivera as the team’s next head coach one month later. Snyder strangely kicked off the press conference with a mysterious “Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody.”

Next summer, Federal Express owner and Redskins minority owner Fred Smith challenged Snyder that the team needed to change its name from the historic “Redskins.” Nike and Pepsi soon hopped on that bandwagon, pressing Snyder to cave, and the “Redskins” were history.

Rivera then coached the Washington Football Team/Washington Commanders to four consecutive losing seasons and was subsequently fired by new majority owner Josh Harris.

Harris then hired Adam Peters as general manager and Dan Quinn as head coach, who hired his coaching staff. Sam Howell was traded to Seattle, and Peters blew up the roster, signed many free agents, and drafted nine new college players, including LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who won the Heisman Trophy.

Isn’t that a tremendous amount of water under the bridge since the last time Washington opened an NFL season on the road?

 

U.S. Senator demands Commanders honor Native American family

A U.S. Senator speaks on the Commanders honoring the franchise’s past regarding a return to RFK.

RFK, the former home of the then-Washington Redskins, was in the news again Wednesday.

A U.S. Senate subcommittee met regarding the administration of RFK being transferred to the city (Washington) from the National Park Service.

However, Republican Steve Daines of Montana spoke up, saying he represents his constituents in Montana: “I’m here representing a voice that is not being listened to, and that is the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana and the Wetzel family. I serve them…”

The U.S. House has approved the transfer, which would provide the city the go-ahead to redevelop the area where RFK stands deteriorating presently. The District mayor has, in the past, declared she wished for affordable housing and retail shops in the area. However, then she was opposed to the former owner Daniel Snyder and the name “Redskins.”

Daines appeared at the hearing with two posters dating back to the Redskins history with Walter “Blackie” Wetzel and Robert F. Kennedy and the Redskins old logo, which was actually suggested by Wetzel and approved by the franchise, resulting in their iconic helmet worn from the 1972 through 2019 seasons.

The shorthand of the entire presentation by Senator Daines was that he was actually not demanding the Washington Commanders reach back and take on again the name “Redskins.”

He is, however, demanding the Commanders bring back the old historic logo. Daines threatens that if they do not, he will block the RFK site bill.

Prior to Wednesday’s subcommittee meeting, the Commanders released this statement, “We have spoken directly with the Wetzel family and are working collaboratively to recognize Blackie Wetzel for his contributions in creating our former logo,” a Commanders spokesperson said in a statement.

Commanders fans have no reason to get excited. Nothing here points to the Harris Ownership Group making a huge leap back to the team being named the “Redskins.”

However, perhaps there will be some sort of utilization of the old logo in limited circumstances.

In 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd death, former minority owner Fred Smith began an attack upon majority owner Daniel Snyder threatening Snyder should drop the “Redskins” name. Shortly afterward, Federal Express, Nike, and Pepsi withdrew their support from Snyder, and the name “Redskins” was dropped.

Overreaction Saturday to Commanders coach Dan Quinn’s T-shirt

Trying to make sense of some people’s overreaction to Dan Quinn’s shirt.

The most excitement at Commanders’ rookie minicamp Saturday was actually a T-shirt.

Yes, Dan Quinn’s T-shirt is what caused the biggest stir.

Quinn’s T-shirt was short sleeves, black in color, with a capital “W” above the word “Commanders.”

But the T-shirt also contained two feathers reminiscent of the old Washington Redskins logo.

Many Commanders fans were excited, seeing that they don’t like the “Commanders” brand, which dates back to the efforts of Daniel Snyder and Jason Wright.

Saturday, many fans declared the Harris Ownership Group (HOG) was again being subtle, asking Quinn to wear the T-shirt to honor the past when “Redskins” was the team name. While some, like Scott Abraham, simply voiced their approval of the shirt.

Actually, we have no idea if the HOG was involved in this in any way. It could actually be something as simple as Dan Quinn played his college ball in the area, is familiar with the history, saw the shirt and thought it was a neat reminder of some of the glory days of Joe Gibbs’ teams.

ESPN’s Jason Reid disapproved, tweeting Quinn alone was responsible for what he wore Saturday and that others in the organization should have taken great measures to stop Quinn from wearing the shirt.

Goodness, why was Reid suggesting Quinn’s shirt was so horrible and ill-advised? Had Quinn worn a shirt endorsing Joseph Stalin?

Reid tweeted several more times, insisting his concern was not about racism but more interested in the shirt, bringing up the old name of the team again. He later suggested a concern was the licensing of the shirt.

Were we supposed to believe that was why he had earlier tweeted, “Why? I mean, why?”

Also, he posted the Commanders “can’t get outta their own way, my man.” Why was Reid suggesting Quinn had really done something wrong? Quinn’s shirt had illustrated this team simply can’t help itself? Really?

Quinn committed no great blunder on Saturday. Plain and simple, Quinn was not an example Saturday of the organization simply not being able to get out of its way.

Nor did Quinn’s T-shirt prove the HOG is dumping the “Commanders” any day now. Yes, the HOG has inherited a branding flop, but if there is going to be a name change, it will most likely not be “Redskins,” nor will it occur anytime soon.

Petition challenging ‘Commanders’ name is picking up steam

More news on the name….or old name.

There has been much-stirring news for the Washington Commanders over the last week.

Crowds have been much, much larger and more excited at the Commanders training camp than in previous years. Fans are in a celebratory frame of mind that the Josh Harris group has replaced Daniel Snyder.

Also picking up momentum is the Native American Guardian Association (NAGA). The association constructed a petition asking that the Commanders NFL franchise change the name back to “Redskins.”

This petition will not be impacting the football that is played on the field this season by the Commanders. Yet, the association announced Sunday evening on Twitter that they have received 30,000 signatures. One of their videos they produced was also making its rounds on Twitter Sunday evening.

Perhaps head coach Ron Rivera on Friday might have fueled some of the excitement of the fan base, which is hoping the name “Redskins” will be returning.

When asked about “Redskins” being used by the new ownership group, Rivera responded.

“Well, I know this, Mr. Harris and that ownership group talked extensively about bringing back the glory,” Rivera said. “And again, what Coach Gibbs did, the traditions, that alumni group of guys that are around. It’s hard to escape it. It really is. That’s just the truth of the matter. Just so everybody knows, we do that with the utmost respect for the native tribes and for the American Indian. Anytime that’s brought up, it is brought up with the utmost of respect.”

Here is some of the official statement of the NAGA group from its website:

Redskins / Redmen is a Native American iconic name and is revered by the vast majority of Native Americans and general public alike. Redskins/Redmen represents honor, respect and pride for Native American culture. Redskins / Redmen is and has been a self-identifying term for Natives since the early 1800s.

Context and intent matter.  Activists intend to make Redskins / Redmen a pejorative term. NAGA disagrees and chooses to elevate and reclaim the Name Redskins / Redmen.

NAGA is fighting an uphill battle, with the name having already been removed from its history, which dates back to 1933 when the Boston Braves became the Boston Redskins. Moving to Washington for the 1937 season, the team remained “Redskins” through the 2019 season.

Commanders trademark application denied

Another roadblock, but this doesn’t appear to be anything major.

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The Washington Commanders’ business side has been hit again.

Wednesday, we learned that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has denied the trademark application for the Washington Commanders.

The decision was actually rendered on May 18, and the USPTO cited two reasons for their rejection of the trademark application: 1) There is a trademark for the “Commander’s Classic” and 2) Application has already been made for “Space Commanders” and “Wolf Commanders.”

The concern appears to be potential confusion over the “Commanders Classic,” which is an annual game between the Air Force Academy and Army, sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

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Also, Washington fans will recall the name Martin McCaulay from past years, where he has invested time in filing applications for sports teams’ names. In this particular case, the concern is McCaulay had already filed applications for the names “Wolf Commanders” and “Space Commanders”.

This rejection does not mean the Washington franchise will again need to change its name. In addition, frankly, the “potential confusion” would appear to be minimal and should be worked out with little to no problem.

What will be the obstacle will be the court process. This type of process is much more crowded and delayed than it was even only five years ago. The below image from Twitter displays the expected delays.

The Commanders released the following statement via John Keim of ESPN.

 

Washington shunned via a Super Bowl banner

It’s as if the NFL completely removed Washington’s rich Super Bowl history.

This week, someone displayed a blatant disregard for the Washington Redskins Super Bowl history.

Apparently, there were nylon parking lot banners representing NFL Super Bowls. When it came time to represent the 22nd Super Bowl, in which Washington defeated Denver 42-10, it was determined to remove the Redskins and Washington logos altogether.

The banner correctly stated Super Bowl XXII, displayed the Broncos logo, but instead of the Redskins logo they wore on their helmet for all five of Washington’s Super Bowls, the NFL logo was used instead.

Yes, someone or some group was attempting to distance themselves from the iconic logo. But even more, the decision-maker shunned Washington by not even choosing to use the current “W” logo of the Commanders.

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What in the world was the person thinking who made such a decision?

“Let’s not give Washington the time of day.”

“Let’s give Washington the brush off.”

“Let’s shun and ignore Washington, even if they did win that Super Bowl in a 42-10 route.”

Is this going to be the future trend of the NFL? Will there be a move to remove Redskins Super Bowl history and NFL history in various ways?

What is the explanation for such shaming, scolding and scorn toward the players and coaches who won that Super Bowl as the Washington Redskins?

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