Commanders' Ron Rivera on 'Redskins': 'Respect and Admiration'
With new ownership coming into town, questions are arising again with the Washington Commanders name.
After a two-year identity crisis where the franchise moved off the "Redskins," the team settled on a "permanent" rebrand of the Commanders. But talks are surfacing that Josh Harris, a lifelong fan of the team, could rewrite those changes and revert back to the way things were.
Given the chatter of the old name, coach Ron Rivera spoke about it in a recent press conference.
“Well, I think it's a big part. I mean, again, remember 1932 is when this all started," Rivera said. "So it’s one of those things where, you know, I think it gets ingrained and there's a lot of people that still hold onto it. And, again, just understand it is with all due respect that we do. That's the one thing, if anybody ever brings it up or talks about the previous name, it's with a tremendous amount of respect and admiration.”
This isn't the first time Rivera has spoken about the Redskins returning.
"Mr. Harris and that ownership group talked extensively about bringing back the glory,” Rivera said. “What coach (Joe) Gibbs did, the traditions, that alumni group of guys that are around. It’s hard to escape it. It really is. That’s just the truth of the matter."
So ... what does that have to do with "Redskins"? Rivera continued ...
"Just so everybody knows, we do that with the utmost respect for the native tribes and for the American Indian," he said. "Anytime that’s brought up, it is brought up with the utmost of respect.”
The Washington franchise was pressured to rebrand in 2020 after years of protesting from Native American groups who felt the name brought ridicule. There are also people who feel that the name provides strength and recognition towards Natives.
The controversy could withstand the test of time, but if the "Redskins" name and brand were to be re-introduced, there would have to be a lot of work done with Native Americans to ensure that their legacy is respected and admired by all.
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