Jason Hatcher on referees’ calls against Redskins: ‘It’s the name’
Redskins defensive end Jason Hatcher suggested Sunday that referees are biased against Washington because of the controversy surrounding team’s nickname.
“At the end of the day, it’s the name,” Hatcher told reporters after Washington’s blowout loss to the Panthers. “Don’t worry about the name. We’re players and we work our butt off, too.”
Hatcher was responding to a question about Chris Culliver’s controversial overturned pick six in the second quarter. Culliver broke up a pass with a high hit on Greg Olsen, caught the ball and ran into the end zone. The play was nullified by an unnecessary roughness penalty.
Washington had its trademark on the nickname canceled by the United States Patent and Trademark Office last year on the grounds that the nickname and logo are “disparaging to Native Americans.” Carolina poked fun at the USPTO’s decision in the lead-up to Sunday’s game.
U.S. senator Harry Reid and Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser have called the name offensive. The state of California recently banned public schools from using the nickname.
- Dan Gartland
