Name change argument continues

Yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office cancelled the Washington Redskins' trademark registration.  Now this is not a major, game changing event, since it has happened before, and the Redskins were able to appeal the decision and get the trademark back, which is most likely what they are going to do this time.  What it did do, however, was to add more fuel to the fire regarding the changing of the name.  I had previously made a post about this, but it appears that I have to make another one.

Ever since the news of the trademark hit, I have been talking with my friends about this, and we have gone through and argued a lot of the points both for and against a name change.  I have been, and continue to be, firmly against a name change.  I say that not only because I am a fan of the Washington Redskins, but also because of what may result if the team was forced to change the name because of how some feel about the name.  In order to present my argument, I will go through several points and try to explain my position :

First, and the major point that has to be realized.  The NFL is a private business.  The Washington Redskins are a privately owned part of that private business.  What does that mean?  It means they can name their team whatever the hell they want.  They can call it the Washington N-words.  There is nothing anyone can do to stop them, legally.  If their name is offensive, or what they do is offensive, much like Sterling in the NBA, then the consumers and the players much speak out and boycott the team in order to make a change.  If people stop buying gear and stop going to games, and if players stop wanting to come to DC to play, because of the name, then Dan Snyder will change the team name in a split second.  As a business, the only thing that really matters to Snyder and the NFL is the profit.  The Redskins are one of the most profitable sports franchisees in the world.  As long as they continue to make money off of the name, they will continue to use it, unless Snyder has a change of heart, which does not appear to be the case.

Second.  Last time I checked, we lived in a Democracy.  That basically means that majority rules.  The majority of people don't have a problem with the name, which is why the Redskins are so profitable.  This majority is both Native Americans and other people.  Much like in politics, people vote to voice their opinions, but in this case, they vote with their money.  If they buy a product, then they are supporting the makers/producers and their views.  If people are offended by the team name, then they need to voice their opinions by not purchasing gear or watching games, and to persuade their family and friends to do the same.  Change will only happen if people voice their opinions and back them up, one person at a time.  Get enough people to share your views and agree with your opinion, and the change you want will happen.  That is how this country works.

Third.  Although the origins are still in dispute, according to many historians, the term redskin was NOT originally an offensive word.  There are a number of articles and posts claiming that the term redskin refers to the scalping of Native Americans.  However, many historians have disproved that statement, claiming that when the proclamation for the scalping of Native Americans was made by the English, the word redskin was not used.  The word came into play many years later, when a post referred to Native Americans as "red skins".  In fact, the term redskin was first used by Native Americans to distinguish themselves from the white man.  It was later thought of as derogatory, but the basis of it was not such.  In fact, the word "Indian" was used the same way as the word "redskin" to try and put down the Native Americans at the time, suggesting that Redskin was not a derogatory term, but that most portrayals of Native Americans were negative in general.  Which is why there are so many Native American schools and groups that call themselves Redskins, and do so with pride.  If the term is offensive, then the people being offended should be the first to stop using it.

Fourth, and probably the most sensitive topic.  Being offended by the word, or any word.  Words only have power when we give it to them. If enough people keep saying that a word is offensive, racial, hurtful, then over time it will become just that.  This includes the people using the words, and those that the words are directed to.  That is why certain words in the English language are thought of as taboo, or not intended for society, because of how people have given them power.  If people strip away the hate associated when encountering a word, over time it looses its strength and becomes just another word. If you don't let a word upset you, or get to you, or insult you, then you have not only stripped away any strength there is in the word, but also in the person using it in a hurtful manner.  Letting a word or phrase have an impact on you is giving up control over your own feelings and emotions, and handing over that control to the person(s) uttering those words.

Each person has to make their own choices in life, which include how or why they are offended.  I can not force anyone to not be offended by a word, I can only make sure that I myself am not offended and try to instill the same in my child.  If you find that you are so offended by the name of the Washington Redskins, fine, do something about it, stop buying their product and try and inform those around you, with education information.  What you should not do is try and force the government to step in and make Dan Snyder and the NFL change the name.  If that happens, if the government steps in, then it opens the door for them to do the same in any situation they feel like.

Redskins hire Jay Gruden as Head Coach

So the Washington Redskins have hired Jay Gruden as the head coach for the team for the 2014 season.  Before coming here, Jay was the OC for the Bengals.  While there, the Bengals have had a potent offense, being in the top 10 in scoring per game.  Jay's offense could and did move the ball down the field, and had plenty of deep plays, and they scored a lot.  Under Jay, the Bengals scored an average of 21.5 points per game in 2011, 24.4 ppg in 2012, and 26.9 ppg in 2013.  And each season, they moved up one spot in their division, winning it last year.  Granted, some of those number are attributed to the changes to rules for defensive players, as well as the decline in defensive strength of the other teams in their division, but the Bengals were still able to put up points and stay in games.

Those numbers look pretty good, when looking at them as a Redskins fan.  The first problem is the QB situation.  Would RG3 fit the style of offense that Jay runs?  From what has been reported, Jay wanted to get Andy Dalton instead of Collin Kaepernick, which ended up happening.  It would seem that Jay prefers to have a more traditional QB, who stands in the pocket and reads the defense and delivers the ball, and not so much a mobile, running QB.  Would he prefer to have RG3 or Kirk Cousins?  Now I'm sure the Redskins would not have hired Jay if he had said he wants to start Kirk over Robert, since they have invested their future in Robert and hopefully would not be giving up on him that quickly.  But the question will remain if Robert can learn and adapt to the style of Jay's offense.  I for one don't think there will be any problems with Robert learning the system, since he himself has said he wants to be a pocket passer and not a running QB.

Another question is how would Alfred Morris fit the system.  Morris is more of a zone-blocking type of RB, which was the system Shanahan was utilizing.  Jay's offense is more power running, and not so much zone-blocking.  Having said that, Morris is a power runner, who can break tackles and move the pile, so even though his style now might better fit a zone-blocking offense, there should be no problems with him leading a power running system.  But that brings to question the offensive line.  The current O-line, except for Trent Williams, are undersized quick linemen.  They have proven they are not able to overpower a defensive line, given how neither Robert nor Kirk had much time in the pocket against a good pass rush.  So I would think the first change would be to bring in new linemen and strengthen the O-line.  This will be the only way the Redskins can run a power running system, as well as give the QB enough time in the pocket to pass the ball.

Next down the line is the defense.  As it stands, it appears as though Jim Haslett will continue to be the Defensive Coordinator of the team.  During the season last year, most of the fans wanted him fired because of the failures of the defense.  But once Shanahan was fired, it seems as though a lot of people have either forgotten about Haslett, or are appeased enough to be ok with Haslett staying on-board.  Whatever the case, if Haslett does stay the DC, I would not be surprised if the Redskins go back to a 4-3 defense.  They do not have the proper players for a 3-4 defense, which is one of the reasons they have been aweful this past number of years.  They are not able to create enough of a pass-rush to cause the QB to make bad throws, which would turn into INT's.  The only way they have put pressure on the QB has been to blitz, which leaves the DB's shorthanded and vulnerable, unless they are damn good at covering WR's, which they are not.  So by going to a 4-3, the Redskins would be able to, in theory, bring more pressure and give the DB's a chance to make a play on bad passes.  Assuming that they have the same players, and do not make any changes, the defense would look like the following for 2014 :

Left DE - Kerrigan
Left DT - Cofield
Right DT - Bowen
Right DE - Orakpo

 

Left LB - Tapp
Middle LB - Riley JR
Right LB - Jackson

 

Left CB - Hall
FS - Meriweather
SS - Doughty
Right CB - Amerson

To me, that would be a pretty good defense.  It would put Kerrigan and Orakpo back into their natural spots they played in College, with their hands in the dirt, which would allow them to put more pressure on the QB.  The interior line would be very good at blocking the run, with Carriker and Jenkins as backups.  The three LB's are good enough at covering any receiver to be able to stay with them, and possibly make a play on the ball, and they are sure tacklers.  The CB's are both ball-hawks who are good at covering a WR and spotting the ball while in the air.  Both Safties are good tacklers, and although they aren't the best at coverage, they are able to recognize plays and not be beat on a pump fake or play-action.  That is all considering that they not only keep the players they have, but they also do not get any help from the draft or free agency.

The next problem would be the special teams.  There are no mentions of who would be heading the special teams as of now, so no telling how they will be.  However, they will have Richard Crawford back from injury, who was very good at returning punts in 2012.  I just hope that Niles Paul is not returning kicks, even if he is on the team.

The remaining question is, who is calling the shots now?  Is it Dan Snyder?  Or Bruce Allen?  I highly doubt Jay Gruden will be anything like Mike Shanahan, and want to be in total control.  So it would fall on either Bruce Allen, who is the GM, or back to Dan Snyder, the way it was before Shanahan came into town.  From the way things are looking, it appears to be Bruce Allen making the calls, since the coaching staff is now full of guys who have worked with and are friends with Allen from previous jobs.  That can be a good thing or a bad thing, only time will tell.

One thing is for sure:  No matter what happens, no matter how good or bad the Redskins are, no matter if they make great decisions or horrible decisions, if the Redskins have any Monday Night Football games, there will be plenty of talk, true or not, about how good the team is doing during the game, as well as how great the QB is performing, by the new head coach's older brother, Jon Gruden.

The Redskins' Name

For years now, the Redskins organization has found itself defending the name of the team.  Every once in a while, the team is taken to court over the name, by people saying that the team should change its name, because it is a derogatory term towards Native Americans.  And for years, the courts have ruled on the side of the team, because of copyright laws and trademark cases.  This year is no different, and even some politicians have taken part in the discussion.

I personally have no issues with the name, but I am not Native American, so it doesn't matter what I think.  My wife is 1/8th Native American, and she has no problems with the team name.  I also know a number of Native Americans who do not have any problems with the name.  Does that mean the majority of people are ok with it?  Of course not, but to say that Native Americans in general find it offensive is wrong as well.

Well, it seems that for the time being the team name isn't going to change.  For one of the few times, the fans of the Redskins will find themselves liking Dan Snyder, which is a major change from years before.  According to USA Today, the owner of the Washington Redskins has said "We will never change the name of the team." "As a lifelong Redskins fan, and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it's all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season."  When asked about possibly changing his mind if the courts were to decide against him in a federal trademark lawsuit that is going on, "We'll never change the name," he said. "It's that simple. NEVER -- you can use caps."

I for one am glad to see that he is standing firm on this topic.  Granted, his reasons are probably not just because of tradition, since he will lose a lot of money if the team was forced to change its name.  Regardless, when Dan Snyder puts his mind to wanting something, history has shown that he gets it, and in this case, that would be just fine for the Washington Redskins fans.