What’s in a name?

An NFL team’s most valuable sponsorship deals, apparently.

Washington is dropping the iconic team name ‘Redskins,’ according to a report by The Denver Post.  After decades of downplaying criticism over the name, which is widely considered a derogatory slur for Native Americans, owner Daniel Snyder succumbed and assured NFL fans that the team will be announcing its new name soon.

Pressure From Sponsors

Notably, it wasn’t pressure from fans or Native American tribes that finally forced Snyder to consider ‘moving forward’ from the name that the team has held since 1933.

According to a CNN report, it was mostly the pressure from some of the team’s biggest corporate sponsors, like FedEx, Nike, and Amazon that convinced management to initiate the forthcoming change.

These companies are also under a lot of pressure from their investors, who are trying to position themselves in the rapidly-changing world of political correctness and greater awareness against racial insensitivities.

Not even Snyder, who has convinced the public that the ‘Redskins’ nickname was not derogatory -- but celebratory of Native American heritage -- could not weather the storm gripping the country in recent weeks.

"In light of recent events around our country and feedback from our community, the Washington Redskins are announcing the team will undergo a thorough review of [its] name," the team wrote in a statement. "This review formalizes the initial discussions the team has been having with the league in recent weeks."

It’s amazing, bewildering, and a wee bit terrifying to observe the kind of power corporate pressure can flex on a man who once told USA Today Sports that he would never change his team’s name.

Possible Replacements

The team is poised to unveil its new name on Monday, but fans everywhere are abuzz with suggestions about what they think the replacement name should be.

According to Sky News, a popular replacement option is ‘Warriors,’ a name Snyder once trademarked when he was planning to acquire a different franchise. 

‘Redtails’ is another agreeable choice, as a solid nod to Tuskegee Airmen fighter pilots who existed at a time when military segregation has yet to be outlawed.

Still, the most favorable option so far would have to be ‘Red Wolves,’ a name that has gotten the thumbs up from no less than star defensive lineman Jonathan Allen.

“So many great things could come out of that [name],” said Allen. “Call the stadium ‘The Den,’ get the ‘Wolfpack’ on D. I ain’t gonna lie, that would be hype, bro.”