The Washington NFL franchise has decided to scrap the name "Redskins" and the team logo and mascot, freeing commentators and analysts and journalists to refer to the team without having to make a decision about whether they were perpetuating a demeaning stereotype in the process.

That came in an announcement July 13, 10 days after it announced it was reviewing the name. It has been under heavy pressure to drop the name in the midst of a national reckoning over racism and discrimination.

"Today, we are announcing we will be retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion of this review," the team said. No word on what the new name will be (Monuments, Warriors?). "Dan Snyder [the team's owner] and Coach [Ron] Rivera are working closely to develop a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years," the team said.

Some announcers have chosen not to use it on air in solidarity with those who say it is a racist term that has no business being used.

Broadcasters in the U.S. have pretty much left whether to use the team name up to their analysts and sports anchors, though the hometown newspaper, the Washington Post, decided not to use the name on its editorial page, which has urged a name change, while continuing to use it on the news pages.

Back in 2014, the FCC's Media Bureau rejected a petition to deny the renewal of Snyder's Washington radio station, WWXX-FM, over its use of the term "Redskins" on-air to refer to the team. Challenges to several TV station licenses were also lodged on the grounds the term was profane, but the FCC did not see it that way.

The name change is another byproduct of the national reckoning on racism prompted by the death of George Floyd.

The team's not-so-proud history includes being the last team in the league to integrate. The statue of its former owner George Preston Marshall, who resisted integration until the early 1960s, was removed from in front of the team's former home, RFK Stadium in Washington, in the wake of the Floyd protests.

The Washington NFL franchise has decided to scrap the name "Redskins" and the team logo and mascot, freeing commentators and analysts and journalists to refer to the team without having to make a decision about whether they were perpetuating a demeaning stereotype in the process.

That came in an announcement July 13, 10 days after it announced it was reviewing the name. It has been under heavy pressure to drop the name in the midst of a national reckoning over racism and discrimination.

"Today, we are announcing we will be retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion of this review," the team said. No word on what the new name will be (Monuments, Warriors?). "Dan Snyder [the team's owner] and Coach [Ron] Rivera are working closely to develop a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years," the team said.

Some announcers have chosen not to use it on air in solidarity with those who say it is a racist term that has no business being used.

Broadcasters in the U.S. have pretty much left whether to use the team name up to their analysts and sports anchors, though the hometown newspaper, the Washington Post, decided not to use the name on its editorial page, which has urged a name change, while continuing to use it on the news pages.

Back in 2014, the FCC's Media Bureau rejected a petition to deny the renewal of Snyder's Washington radio station, WWXX-FM, over its use of the term "Redskins" on-air to refer to the team. Challenges to several TV station licenses were also lodged on the grounds the term was profane, but the FCC did not see it that way.

The name change is another byproduct of the national reckoning on racism prompted by the death of George Floyd.

The team's not-so-proud history includes being the last team in the league to integrate. The statue of its former owner George Preston Marshall, who resisted integration until the early 1960s, was removed from in front of the team's former home, RFK Stadium in Washington, in the wake of the Floyd protests.

"Today is a day for all Native people to celebrate," said the National Congress of American Indians. "We thank the generations of tribal nations, leaders, and activists who worked for decades to make this day possible. We commend the Washington NFL team for eliminating a brand that disrespected, demeaned, and stereotyped all Native people, and we call on all other sports teams and corporate brands to retire all caricatures of Native people that they use as their mascots. We are not mascots -- we are Native people, citizens of more than 500 tribal nations who have stood strong for millennia and overcome countless challenges to reach this pivotal moment in time when we can help transform America into the just, equitable, and compassionate country our children deserve."

Football announcers may no longer be faced with the dilemma of what to call Washington's NFL team--some have chosen not to use it on air in solidarity with those who say it is a racist term that has no business being used.

The team announced Friday (July 3) that the team's name and mascot, which some Native Americans argue are offensive and demeaning, would undergo a "thorough review." 

Broadcasters in the U.S. have pretty much left whether to use the team name up to their analysts and sports anchors, though the hometown newspaper, the Washington Post, decided not to use the name on its editorial page, which has urged a name change, while continuing to use it on the news pages.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), one of the groups that has been pushing team owner Dan Snyder to change the name, called the team's announcement an "important breakthrough." 

Related: Supremes Say Disparaging Trademark Names Are Protected 

"This moment has been 87 years in the making, and we have reached this moment thanks to decades of tireless efforts by tribal leaders, advocates, citizens, and partners to educate America about the origins and meaning of the R-word,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. 

The moment is also another byproduct of the national reckoning on racism prompted by the death of George Floyd. 

NCAI said the look forward to talking with the team about how they will change the name and mascot, preferably promptly. 

EPSN reported that the expectation was the review would, indeed, result in a change. 

"This process allows the team to take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise but also input from our alumni, the organization's sponsors, the National Football League and the local community," said Snyder. 

Related: Groups Seeks NFLPA Public Stand on Team Name 

That history also includes being the last team in the league to integrate. The statue of its former owner George Preston Marshall, who resisted integration until the early 1960s, was removed from in front of the team's former home, RFK Stadium in Washington, earlier this month. 

Redskins coach Ron Rivera said the issue of the team name was of "personal importance" to him and said he wanted to "continue the mission" of honoring Native Americans." 

Back in 2014, the FCC's Media Bureau rejected a petition to deny the renewal of Snyder's Washington radio station, WWXX-FM, over its use of the term "Redskins" on-air to refer to the team. Challenges to several TV station licenses were also lodged on the grounds the term was profane, but the FCC did not see it that way. 

That came during the tenure of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who himself supported the name change.

Numerous members of Congress have also called for the name change, including threatening to eliminate the NFL's tax-exempt status because the league hasn't taken action to get the team owner to change its name.

Snyder has said the name honors a proud heritage and points to some Native Americans who do not oppose it.

But a columnist for British newspaper The Independent, who argued several years ago that the BBC should not use the name when reporting about a game between the team and the Cincinnati Bengals played at Wembley Stadium in London, cited Oneida leader Ray Halbritter, who in turn pointed to a newspaper clipping from 1863 referring to "red-skins" as the bloody scalps for which a $200 bounty was being paid.

Football announcers may no longer be faced with the dilemma of what to call Washington's NFL team--some have chosen not to use it on air in solidarity with those who say it is a racist term that has no business being used. 

The team announced Friday (July 3) that the team's name and mascot, which some Native Americans argue are offensive and demeaning, would undergo a "thorough review." 

Broadcasters in the U.S. have pretty much left whether to use the team name up to their analysts and sports anchors, though the hometown newspaper, the Washington Post, decided not to use the name on its editorial page, which has urged a name change, while continuing to use it on the news pages.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), one of the groups that has been pushing team owner Dan Snyder to change the name, called the team's announcement an "important breakthrough." 

Related: Supremes Say Disparaging Trademark Names Are Protected 

"This moment has been 87 years in the making, and we have reached this moment thanks to decades of tireless efforts by tribal leaders, advocates, citizens, and partners to educate America about the origins and meaning of the R-word,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. 

The moment is also another byproduct of the national reckoning on racism prompted by the death of George Floyd. 

NCAI said the look forward to talking with the team about how they will change the name and mascot, preferably promptly. 

EPSN reported that the expectation was the review would, indeed, result in a change. 

"This process allows the team to take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise but also input from our alumni, the organization's sponsors, the National Football League and the local community," said Snyder. 

Related: Groups Seeks NFLPA Public Stand on Team Name 

That history also includes being the last team in the league to integrate. The statue of its former owner George Preston Marshall, who resisted integration until the early 1960s, was removed from in front of the team's former home, RFK Stadium in Washington, earlier this month. 

Redskins coach Ron Rivera said the issue of the team name was of "personal importance" to him and said he wanted to "continue the mission" of honoring Native Americans." 

Back in 2014, the FCC's Media Bureau rejected a petition to deny the renewal of Snyder's Washington radio station, WWXX-FM, over its use of the term "Redskins" on-air to refer to the team. Challenges to several TV station licenses were also lodged on the grounds the term was profane, but the FCC did not see it that way. 

That came during the tenure of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who himself supported the name change.

Numerous members of Congress have also called for the name change, including threatening to eliminate the NFL's tax-exempt status because the league hasn't taken action to get the team owner to change its name.

Snyder has said the name honors a proud heritage and points to some Native Americans who do not oppose it.

But a columnist for British newspaper The Independent, who argued several years ago that the BBC should not use the name when reporting about a game between the team and the Cincinnati Bengals played at Wembley Stadium in London, cited Oneida leader Ray Halbritter, who in turn pointed to a newspaper clipping from 1863 referring to "red-skins" as the bloody scalps for which a $200 bounty was being paid.

WASHINGTON — A U.S. District Court judge has ordered the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office to cancel six federal registrations for trademarks related to the Washington Redskins.

U.S. Judge Gerald Bruce Lee also upheld the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office's decision in June 2014 that the National Football League team’s nickname might be disparaging to Native Americans. But that doesn’t mean the name would be stricken from the team, the airwaves or from merchandise.

Granting motions for summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lee made it clear, as the USPTO had before him, that team owner Daniel Snyder is not precluded from using the name and trademarks.

But, said the court, "the Redskins Marks consisted of matter that 'may disparage' a substantial composite of Native Americans during the relevant time period, 1967-1990, and must be cancelled" and that those marks "consisted of matter that bring Native Americans into 'contempt or disrepute.'

The decision does not mean that the football team has to change its name or stop using the trademarks at issue. But it does mean that it loses the legal presumption of ownership, the ability to use the registration symbol and the ability to get the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol service to block importation of counterfeit goods into the country.

Cancelling the registration does not mean it can't be used, only that it loses government protection. The trademark owner may also still retain "use" rights under common law.

"I am surprised by the judge's decision to prevent us from presenting our evidence in an open trial," team president Bruce Allen said. "We look forward to winning on appeal after a fair and impartial review of the case.

“We are convinced that we will win because the facts and the law are on the side of our franchise that has proudly used the name Redskins for more than 80 years," he added.

"This means that, although the team may continue to use the name and associated trademarks, it will be much harder for it to stop others from also using it, and thereby cutting into the team's revenue,” said public interest law professor John Banzhaf, who has pushed for the name change, including challenging the broadcast licenses of stations that use the name of the Washington football team on air, a challenge the FCC rejected.

On Wednesday (July 8), Banzhaf said that he still thinks the FCC has the authority to force broadcasters to stop using the name on-air.

The resurgence of America's Team -- until it ran into its rival with the controversial nickname -- helped ESPN register its highest-rated and most-watched Monday Night Football telecast since 2009 and 2010, respectively.

The worldwide leader's presentation of the Dallas Cowboys-Washington Redskins game averaged an 11.4 household rating, 13.3 million households and 18.8 million watchers, according to Nielsen data. Those were the franchise's top deliveries since the New Orleans Saints-New England Patriots matchup on Nov. 30, 2009 posted a 12.9 rating and the Saints-Atlanta Falcons game on Dec. 27, 2010 notched 19.1 million watchers. According to ESPN officials, Dallas-Washington on a live+same-day basis now stands as the seventh- and ninth-most watched telecasts in cable history from household and viewer perspectives (see charts below).

With the performance, MNF  was TV's top telecast of the night across cable and broadcast in viewers, households and all key male and adult demos, helping ESPN win the night among all networks in those same categories.

The Oct. 27 telecast peaked with a 13.6 rating and 22.5 million watchers during the 11:30 p.m. quarter, when the Colt McCoy-led Redskins put the finishing touches on their 20-17 blitz of an injured Tony Romo and the 'Boys.

In Washington, D.C., the game generated a 17.8 rating on ESPN and a 12.6 on WDCA-IND, for a combined 30.4 rating in the market. In Dallas, the game tackled a 14.0 rating on ESPN and a 22.6 on WFAA-ABC, for a combined 36.6 rating in the market.

Boosted by the big numbers from the thriller at AT&T Stadium, ESPN's MNF average through eight weeks and nine games rose 4% to an 8.6 rating from an 8.3 at the same stage of the 2013 campaign, and 10.05 million households, 5% more than the 9.59 million households last season. MNF's average audience improved 7% to 13.98 million watchers from 13.07 million.

For its part, Spanish-language service ESPN Deportes averaged a 0.7 Hispanic household rating with 100,000 impressions, and 128,000 Latino viewers, increases of 213% and 191% respectively, over the corresponding game last season.  'Skins-'Boys ranks as most-watched MNF game of the season and second most-watched NFL game ever on ESPN Deportes among Hispanic households, and fourth among viewers.

Season-to-date, MNF on ESPN Deportes has averaged a 0.4 Hispanic rating, up 100% percent, with 63,000 Hispanic household impressions and 92,000 Latino 2+ viewers, respective gains of 85% and 96%.

Digitally, Washington-Dallas was the most-watched MNF game ever on WatchESPN, with an average minute audience of nearly 145,000  -- 180% above week 8 last year. There were 421,000 unique viewers, marking 196% amelioration, and 30.6 million total live minutes viewed, a 203% surge.

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Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Households):

Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Viewers):

Source: ESPN and Nielsen data.

The board of directors of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Hispanic civil rights advocacy group, has voted unanimously to urge Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change the name of the team.

The vote came at the Washington-based group's fall meeting over the weekend.

“Our brothers and sisters in the Native American community have been clear and consistent in their call to change both terms and images that they consider demeaning. As an organization committed to fairness and equality for all, NCLR fully supports these efforts,” said NCLR president and CEO Janet Murguía following the vote.

NCLR has previously teamed with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to push for a change of the name, which some Native Americans find offensive.

“The Latino community well understands that words matter and that they can denigrate, disparage and dehumanize," said Murguía. "We should treat all people with the respect and dignity they deserve."

Snyder has defended the name and has said he has no plans to change it.

In keeping with its "snatched from the headline" plot twists, irreverent cable staple South Park is taking on the Washington Redskins and owner Dan Snyder in its Sept 24. episode, "Go Fund Yourself."

The team is under pressure in Washington to change its name, which some American Indian groups argue is an offensive, dictionary-defined racial slur.  

In the episode, the South Park crew uses kickstarter to fund a new company they decide to call The Washington Redskins. When an animated Dan Snyder claims its use is disparaging, the boys point out the team's federal trademark protection has been cancelled.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in June ruled that “Redskins” is disparaging to Native Americans, and has cancelled the federal protections for associated trademarks. The team is appealing the decision, which came in response to a challenge by Native American groups in Blackhorse v. Pro Football, Inc.

The decision does not mean that the football team has to change its name or stop using the trademarks at issue. But it does mean that it loses the legal presumption of ownership, the ability to use the registration symbol, or to be able to get the Customs and Border Patrol service to block importation of counterfeit goods into the country.

A promo for the Comedy Central show ran during Sunday's game between Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles in the D.C. market.