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Al Michaels: Dan Snyder said he'll change Redskins name 'over his dead body'

Daniel Snyder has repeatedly refused to entertain a name change. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Daniel Snyder did not object to coach Mike Shanahan's decision to bench Robert Griffin. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

NBC "Sunday Night Football" play-by-play announcer Al Michaels says the debate over changing the Washington Redskins' team name is "nuts" — and that Redskins owner Dan Snyder likely won't ever give into demands for a switch.

“It seems to me as if he is going to hold on,” Michaels said during an appearance on "Jim Rome on Showtime" this week, according to The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg.

“I mean all of a sudden — I mean, for 70-some odd years this was a zero issue, and then it became an issue. I understand we live in this politically correct environment. It’s crazier than ever; you know, senators want to weigh in on this, like there’s nothing better to do in Congress. This becomes a big issue. I mean, I just think it’s nuts. And I do know, I’ve talked to Snyder about it — not recently but when we were in Washington last year — and he basically said 'over my dead body.’ ”

The team's name has become a heated issue in the nation's capital, reaching up to the Senate where 50 senators wrote a letter to Snyder urging him to change the nickname.

Snyder has repeatedly refused to entertain ideas of changing the name.

“We’ll never change the name,” Snyder said last year. “It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”

SI WIRE: Redskins hire lobbying firm ahead of possible fight over name change >