NAGA sues Washington Commanders after 'Redskins' name change: Most of us 'have not been heard'
Billy Dieckman of the Native American Guardians Association and attorney Chad Laveglia discuss a lawsuit filed against the Washington Commanders for allegedly suppressing Native American references by removing the 'Redskins' name.
Mark Rypien was the quarterback who led the then-Washington Redskins to the franchise’s last Super Bowl victory and appearance.
As the team has gone through rebranding since ditching the nickname, Rypien made clear during an appearance on 106.7 The Fan in Washington he is no fan of the Washington Commanders brand.
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Then-Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien, #11, throws the ball against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on Jan. 26, 1992. (Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports)
"No, it never will," the former star quarterback said when asked whether the brand was growing on him, via Athlon Sports. "I never played for the Commanders. I absolutely support the Commanders and what they’re doing now. But I never played for them.
"It’s just this day and age now that we have to deal with. I just hope they don’t lose the fact that we were ‘Redskins.’ That’s all I played for. That’s what I knew, and that’s all we remember."
Rypien played six years for Washington and was a Pro Bowler twice. He had 15,928 passing yards and 101 touchdown passes. He helped the team defeat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI, 37-24. He was named Super Bowl MVP.
"We are going to support these guys because that’s the era we are in. I am not a Commanders’ legend. I am a Redskin. I love my guys," he added.
Then-Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien, #11, talks to members of the media during media day prior to Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on Jan. 21, 1992. (RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports)
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"I want to support these guys, this team, and get this Commanders football team back to playing the type of football the Redskins played back in our era."
Former team owner Daniel Snyder changed the team’s name from the Redskins to the Washington Football Team before the start of the 2020 season amid a summer of racial tension across the United States.
He then rebranded the team as the Commanders.
Current team owner Josh Harris made clear that going back to the old name was not going to happen.
Then-Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien, #11, in action against the Detroit Lions in the 1991 NFC Championship at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 12, 1992. (MPS-USA TODAY Sports)
"For obvious reasons, the old name can’t come back," Harris told reporters in August, via The Athletic. "But right now, we’re focused on things to unify the team around our football team and unify the city around our football team. The first objective is we gotta start winning football games, and we need everyone supporting the team and not things that will drive people apart.
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"Secondly, obviously, we’re trying to find a new home. Again, unifying (the) city around that is important and so, the name is one of those things that have a lot of opinions … but I certainly haven’t forgotten about it. Like I said, I grew up here. So, I understand it."
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