It was cold, hard cash, not character, that made Daniel Snyder change Washington's NFL nickname
The Washington Redskins are no more.
The NFL team in Washington announced Monday that it will drop its "Redskins" nickname and logo after 87 years following the completion of its review into the matter.
But the team did not yet announce a new nickname for the franchise.
The decision to retire "Redskins" comes as the team conducts a formal review of the name, which was announced July 3 amid mounting pressure from key stakeholders — including FedEx, a major sponsor that holds the naming rights at the team's stadium.
But, as our Nancy Armour writes, let's be clear: the reality is that it was cold, hard cash that forced this move. Not the character of the franchise or its owner.
Meanwhile, across the NFL ...
Biggest. Contract. Ever.
The numbers are simply staggering: a 10-year extension worth up to $503 million, with $477 million in guaranteed mechanisms. The deal (first "reported" by the most unlikely of sources) makes Mahomes the highest-paid player in NFL history and is the richest contract ever in American team sports.
The deal shows the 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl LIV MVP is on his own level as a quarterback and businessman, our Mike Jones says.
But the deal does bode well for Mahomes' peers, even if they won't be making quite what the Kansas City Chiefs star is.
Other notable NFL stories from last week:
- DeSean Jackson: Anti-Semitic Instagram posts made by the Eagles wide receiver – he's since apologized and been penalized by the team – provided a painful yet important lesson for all of us, Mike Jones says. Jackson has promised to educate himself and Julian Edelman, one of a handful of Jewish players in the NFL, invited him to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
- Colin Kaepernick: The former 49ers QB and the Walt Disney Company announced a partnership to distribute the work of Kaepernick’s production arm, Ra Vision Media.
- NFL big men, unite: What happens inside the summit for offensive linemen? It's a mix of strategy and uncertainty.
- JC Tretter: The NFLPA president says the NFL is putting the season and players at risk with its coronavirus approach.
- Nate Solder: "There is no football in 2020" if the NFL doesn't keep players healthy, the Giants lineman said.
- Donovan Smith: The Buccaneers player says NFL players' return to action amid the coronavirus pandemic "does not seem like a risk worth taking."
- Fan limits: The Jaguars said they will be limiting fan capacity to 25% this NFL season, while the Ravens will allow fewer than 14,000 fans per game.
- No exchanges: Jersey swaps will be against the rules this season as part of the NFL/NFLPA game-day protocols.
- Raheem Mostert: The San Francisco 49ers' breakout running back is seeking a trade.
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