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Blogger hired to defend Redskins name resigns

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) A blogger hired by the Washington Redskins to defend the team's name has quit after two weeks.

Ben Tribbett announced his resignation on Twitter late Monday, saying he didn't want to be a distraction because of personal attacks directed toward him.

Tribbett is well-known in Virginia politics as an advocate for liberal issues. He is perhaps best known for leading the attacks on Sen. George Allen for using the word ''macaca'' to describe an American of Indian descent during Allen's ill-fated re-election campaign in 2006.

Tribbett tweeted that he supports the Redskins name but doesn't ''see eye to eye with some friends'' over the issue.

Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed not to change the name but is facing unprecedented opposition from those who consider it a racial slur.

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AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL