Last month, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus made it clear that if his network’s announcers were to choose not to use the word “Redskins” during live broadcasts involving the NFL team that goes by that name, that’d be OK with him.
Now, it looks as though that could come to fruition during the first nationally-televised game the Redskins play in 2014. That’s because CBS’ lead color guy, Phil Simms, has suggested to the Associated Press that he might only refer to the team as “Washington” when it takes on the Giants on Thursday Night Football Sept. 25.
From the AP’s Barry Wilner:
Simms will work the Thursday night package the network acquired this season and will have Giants-Redskins in Week 4 on Sept. 25. He says “my very first thought is it will be ‘Washington’ the whole game.”
Simms isn’t taking sides in the debate over whether Washington’s nickname is offensive or racist. But he adds he is sensitive to the complaints about the name, and his instincts now are to not use “Redskins” in his announcing.
Even if Simms isn’t taking sides, it’ll feel that way to Redskins fans, many of whom passionately defend the 81-year-old nickname. This will come off as somewhat of a protest, and it definitely has a chance to become a sideshow, especially when you consider that Simms won two Super Bowls playing for the team that will be opposing the Redskins that evening.
Never a dull moment in this league.
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