Redskins

The Washington Redskins' loss to the Detroit Lions, ending the Lions' 19-game losing streak, opened the floodgates of media criticism in and around D.C. The Washington Post's Mike Wise, in a column headlined "A Debacle From Top To Bottom," called the Redskins' performance a "dumpster fire -- this abomination of a loss." Post blogger Dan Steinberg called the defeat the worst sports moment of the year in D.C., which is saying something in the home of the Nationals. Steinberg wrote: "Redskins lose to the NFL's worst team, ending the Lions' 19-game losing streak.

Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder said that the football team is going to stick with its name. "We will never change the name of the team," Snyder told USA Today . "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. " Snyder's comments come a week after David Grosso , a District of Columbia councilman, said he plans to introduce a resolution that would call on the Redskins to change their moniker.

From Bill Plaschke's Aug. 13 column: "How this blatant ethnic slander is continually allowed to proliferate in our nation's capital is one of the biggest mysteries in sports." It's not a mystery. Everyone loves the name, even the players. Isn't it wonderful that in America, white men and black men are proud to play on a team called the Redskins? That's what this country is all about. Get over it, Bill. RAY UHLER Irvine

David Grosso, a District of Columbia councilman, said Wednesday he plans to introduce a resolution that would call on the Washington Redskins to change their nickname, which he says is “racist and derogatory.” “It's time to make a change,” Grosso said. He added a majority of his fellow council members support his resolution and even came up with an alternative nickname: the Redtails, in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen. Not to mention the fact that "red-tailed hawks are a big deal in D.C. and in the area," Grosso said . So, should the Redskins change their name?

When Robert Griffin III, best known as RG3, had his spectacular debut earlier this month, the world got a glimpse of "Griffining. " That's when the Redskins' rookie quarterback signaled touchdown (pictured at left) after getting knocked to the ground on a long scoring pass to Pierre Garcon. RG3, the second overall pick in the draft, led Washington to a 40-32 victory over the Saints in New Orleans by passing for 320 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. "Who would have thought getting knocked on your butt and throwing a touchdown would start a phenomenon like that?"

Washington loves its Pigskins. Pigskins? Yes, a Washington newspaper has dropped the use of Redskins in referring to the town's pro football team. After surveying readers, the Washington City Paper came up with Pigskins over names such as the Washington Monuments, Washington Half-Smokes and Washington Washingtons. The name of the team, which actually plays in Maryland, has long been the subject of debate. But the weekly D.C. paper polled its readers after the Kansas City Star public editor recently defended his publication's long-standing policy of referring to the Redskins in stories as "the Washington team.

Mayor Vincent Gray of Washington, D.C., said the Redskins must consider a name change if the team wants to move from FedEx Field in Landover, Md., to a stadium inside the District of Columbia. “I think that if they get serious with the team coming back to Washington, there's no doubt there's going to have to be a discussion about that,” Gray said at a news conference Wednesday. "I think it has become a lightning rod, and I would love to be able to sit down with the team and see if a change should be made.

Hail to the Redtails? If a newly elected District of Columbia councilman has his way, that's what Washington football fans might be singing once the Redskins change their name from a term he and many others consider offensive to Native Americans. David Grosso, an at-large independent, plans on introducing a resolution that would call on the D.C. area's NFL team to change a name that is “racist and derogatory,” he says. The debate isn't a new one, but it has picked up steam again in recent months with a group of Native Americans launching a court battle to force a name change by denying the Redskins federal trademark protection.

LANDOVER, Md. -- "Avoid, reset and throw." Jason Campbell did just that, then connected with Santana Moss for a 67-yard touchdown pass play that won the game. Campbell and new Washington Redskins Coach Jim Zorn's West Coast offense succeeded in Week 2 as spectacularly as it failed in Week 1. Campbell went from uncomfortable to prolific, completing 24 of 36 passes for 321 yards in a 29-24 win over New Orleans. The big play came with 3:29 left and the Redskins (1-1) trailing 24-22.

Former Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb says Robert Griffin III, expected to be chosen by the Redskins with the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, won't be happy there. "I say that because a lot of times ego gets too involved when it comes to being in Washington," McNabb said Thursday on ESPN's "First Take. " "Is it the spread offense that you try to continue to have flourish that he's been successful in? Or are you just going to have him in a foxhole with a makeshift offensive line, and you keep bringing in receivers," McNabb said.

Hail to the Redtails? If a newly elected District of Columbia councilman has his way, that's what Washington football fans might be singing once the Redskins change their name from a term he and many others consider offensive to Native Americans. David Grosso, an at-large independent, plans on introducing a resolution that would call on the D.C. area's NFL team to change a name that is “racist and derogatory,” he says. The debate isn't a new one, but it has picked up steam again in recent months with a group of Native Americans launching a court battle to force a name change by denying the Redskins federal trademark protection.

Jack Pardee, an All-Pro NFL linebacker whose career with the Los Angeles Rams was interrupted in the mid-1960s when he battled malignant melanoma before returning to the field and becoming a well-traveled coach, has died. He was 76. Pardee, who was found to have gallbladder cancer in November, died Monday in Denver, said David Bassity, a spokesman for the University of Houston, where Pardee coached in the 1980s. After 13 seasons with the Rams, Pardee finished his playing career with the Washington Redskins and then began his coaching odyssey.

In his first game in 1963 with the San Diego Chargers, Walt Sweeney established a pattern that would mark his 13 seasons as a star in professional football. Even though it was only an exhibition, Sweeney played with a fearsome aggressiveness. As a special teams player, he raced down the field ahead of the veterans, making several tackles over the course of the game and becoming a fan favorite as the Chargers beat the Oakland Raiders. But there was something the fans did not know: Sweeney, then a 22-year-old first-round draft choice from Syracuse University, was so high on speed that his heart would not stop pounding after the game.

NEW ORLEANS - Just when this week's Super Bowl celebration reaches its bourbon-fueled, Cajun-spiced peak, the football player with the most to celebrate will be leaving. On the 25th anniversary of the game in which he became the first and only black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, Doug Williams will drive back to the northern Louisiana community where he is the football coach at Grambling State University. "Getting up early Sunday morning, getting in the car with my wife, and just going," Williams said.

Even though Robert Griffin III continued playing for the Washington Redskins on an injured knee, the NFLPA will not demand a formal investigation of the team's handling of his injury, the union announced Friday. The NFLPA launched an informal inquiry this week but decided that a formal probe was not needed. “The quality of medical care [Griffin] ultimately received is only one part of this,” the union's medical director, Thom Mayer, said in a written statement. Griffin appeared to re-injure his knee in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks yet he continued to play.

Mayor Vincent Gray of Washington, D.C., said the Redskins must consider a name change if the team wants to move from FedEx Field in Landover, Md., to a stadium inside the District of Columbia. “I think that if they get serious with the team coming back to Washington, there's no doubt there's going to have to be a discussion about that,” Gray said at a news conference Wednesday. "I think it has become a lightning rod, and I would love to be able to sit down with the team and see if a change should be made.

Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer and Cris Collinsworth provides the color commentary for tonight's Dallas at Washington game (5:15 p.m., Channel 4): Michaels says ... "The Redskins will be an easy team to look past but this is no time for the Cowboys to revert to an inconsistent pattern. A win tonight sets up a battle with the Eagles next Sunday to determine the NFC East champion. The Cowboys barely beat the Redskins in Texas last month so take nothing for granted.

The Washington Redskins, shaking up their roster in the wake of their third defeat in four outings and worst beating in 24 years, cut veterans Pete Cronan and Todd Liebenstein on Tuesday. In other moves, the Redskins signed former Cleveland Brown kicker Steve Cox to replace the injured Jeff Hayes. Hayes, who tore a thigh muscle in his kicking leg on Sunday against Chicago, was placed on injured reserves and will be lost to the team for at least four weeks.

Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain was pulled over Tuesday afternoon in Decatur, Ala., for driving a car with overly dark window tinting. That seems simple enough. You get a ticket, sign it and go about your business after promising to have the issue fixed. But not if you are McClain. Rather than signing his name to the ticket, he reportedly signed an obscenity followed by "y'all. " When asked by police to sign his name properly, McClain said "That is my name. " McClain was then arrested and taken to jail.

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III had surgery Wednesday morning to repair a torn lateral collateral ligament and to see if there is any other damage in his right knee. The surgery was conducted by Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Griffin sent out a tweet early Wednesday saying, "Thank you for your prayers and support. I love God, my family, my team, the fans, & I love this game. See you guys next season. " The torn LCL requires a rehabilitation that will last into the start of next season.