WFT Prez Confirms New Team Name Coming In 2022
Next year loomed as the point when the Washington Football Team would unveil its new identity. Team president Jason Wright has now confirmed this timeline.
A new team name and logo is on the team’s agenda for 2022, Wright said (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post). Wright said the team’s burgundy and gold color scheme will remain. So, the WFT identity — which emerged after the franchise ditched its “Redskins” moniker amid sponsor pressure last year — is set to have a two-season shelf life.
In addition to hiring a branding organization that has conducted surveys and focus groups on this topic, the franchise launched a website in February (Washingtonjourney.com) giving fans the opportunity to submit name suggestions. Around 40,000 submissions have arrived, according to Jhabvala.
The franchise will transition to its fifth identity — going from the Boston Braves (1932) to the Boston Redskins (1933-36) to the Washington Redskins (1937-2019) to its WFT moniker (2020-) — in less than a year, with Wright adding the new era will begin in early 2022.
Latest On Dan Snyder’s Status With WFT
The NFL opted not to suspend Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder, and the league’s lengthy investigation into sexual harassment allegations by 15 former WFT female employees did not produce a written report of investigator Beth Wilkinson’s findings. Although the league fined the franchise $10MM after the investigation revealed a problematic culture, particular toward women, its handling of this matter has generated some scrutiny.
Snyder’s status has also invited some debate. The longtime owner is currently sidelined from a day-to-day role with the franchise, ceding those responsibilities to his wife, new WFT co-CEO Tanya Snyder. A Washington Post report Thursday night indicated Dan Snyder will not be permitted to return to a day-to-day role running the team until he receives approval from Roger Goodell, but Snyder’s attorney disputes this.
“Any suggestion that Commissioner Goodell must approve Dan Snyder’s return to daily control is false,” Siev said, via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). “Dan was not suspended, so by definition he does not need to be reinstated to any position.”
Siev’s comments did not induce the Post to make any retractions on its original report (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). Snyder may still attend Washington games, but his role going forward is murky.
The NFL’s stance appears to be that Dan Snyder will be effectively sidelined for a while. The league’s release said Tanya Snyder will oversee the day-to-day aspects of the Washington Football team and represent the franchise at league meetings for “at least” the next several months. Based on his attorney’s comments, Dan Snyder may be readying to contest this arrangement.
Latest On WFT Owner Dan Snyder, NFL Investigation
Earlier today, we learned that the NFL slapped the Washington Football Team with a $10MM fine following the league’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations. Following the announcement, commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement:
[RELATED: NFL Fines Washington Football Team $10MM]
“I want to thank Beth Wilkinson and her team for conducting a thorough and independent review of the Washington club’s workplace culture and conduct and providing both the club and me with a series of thoughtful recommendations based on her findings,” Goodell said (via NFL.com). “Beth and her team performed their work in a highly professional and ethical manner. Most importantly, I want to thank the current and former employees who spoke to Beth and her team; they provided vital information that will help ensure that the workplace environment at the club continues to improve. It is incredibly difficult to relive painful memories. I am grateful to everyone who courageously came forward.”
We also learned that while the NFL didn’t suspended owner Dan Snyder, his wife, co-CEO Tanya Snyder, will now oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations. The decision to replace Dan Snyder with Tanya Snyder was “voluntary” and wasn’t mandated by the league, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. However, Mark Maske of the Washington Post clarifies (on Twitter) that Dan Snyder can only return to his day-to-day role following approval from Goodell. In the meantime, while Dan Snyder won’t be responsible for the team’s day-to-day operations, he’ll still play a role in getting the organization a new stadium (per Garafolo).
Meanwhile, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com tweets that the NFL won’t unveil any specific findings, as the league promised multiple interviewees that their “confidentiality would be protected.” Later, Florio shared that lawyers of the WFT employees blasted the league’s lack of transparency.
NFL Fines Washington Football Team $10MM
A lengthy investigation into the sexual harassment allegations of 15 former Washington Football Team employees led to a financial penalty Thursday. The NFL fined the WFT $10MM, according to a league announcement. The fine will be donated to charity.
Washington will not be docked draft picks or see executives suspended, but independent counsel Beth Wilkinson’s investigation will result in this fine and what the NFL calls “other remedial measures and penalties.” It will also impact owner Dan Snyder‘s role.
The NFL did not suspend Dan Snyder, but his wife — co-CEO Tanya Snyder — will now oversee the franchise’s day-to-day operations, according to the league’s announcement. Tanya Snyder will also represent the WFT at NFL owners meetings for the next several months. The WFT announced Tanya Snyder as co-CEO last month. Dan Snyder will remain involved with the team, though it is not known when he will resume day-to-day control.
The accusations, which included “unwelcome overtures or comments of a sexual nature” and “exhortations to wear revealing clothing and flirt with clients to close sales deals” stemmed from 2006-19. Three former members of Dan Snyder’s inner circle and previous members of the team’s personnel department were among those accused.
Washington’s workplace featured an unprofessional environment, for women in particular, for many years, according to the NFL-overseen investigation, which noted that bullying and intimidation occurred. Wilkinson also concluded senior WFT execs were indeed among the perpetrators and that ownership rarely acted to intervene.
“I have learned a lot in the past few months about how my club operated and the kind of workplace we had,” Dan Snyder said in a statement. “It is now clear the culture was not what it should be, but I did not realize the extent of the problems or my role in allowing that culture to develop and continue.”
This Date In Transactions History: Washington Signs Terry Crews
On this date in 1995, Washington signed linebacker Terry Crews. Yes, that Terry Crews. 
Crews, a 6’3″, 245-pound linebacker, was a standout at Western Michigan. The Los Angeles Rams took note and selected Crews with the No. 281 pick and he appeared in six games as a rookie in 1991. He later found his way to the Chargers, appearing in ten games for them in ’93. His next NFL opportunity came with the Redskins, who inked him in the summer of 1995.
Like his previous stints with the Rams and Chargers, Crews’ run in D.C. was rather unremarkable. He recorded only one solo tackle and one assisted tackle in that ’95 season, though he did stick on the roster for the full season and dressed for all 16 games.
This would not be Crews’ last NFL contract. Later, he signed on with the rival Eagles, but quickly realized that football wasn’t for him.
“For two weeks, I stayed at the Holiday Inn across the street from Veterans Stadium. I just remember it was Christmas Day. It was the saddest thing ever, that Holiday Inn. I was eating old sausage and two little pancakes. It was so sad,” Crews said (via Philly.com). “I was missing my family. We lost the game to the 49ers – it was a playoff game. I just thought, I don’t want to do this anymore. The excitement wasn’t there.”
Crews didn’t find excitement or millions in the NFL, but he found a different path to fulfillment and riches. The 2002 comedy “Friday After Next” launched Crews into a lucrative acting career that included roles in several hit movies, including football comedy “The Longest Yard.” We won’t list his full IMDb here, but you get the point – Crews hit it big, just not on the gridiron.
Crews’ time in Washington wasn’t notable move from a football perspective, nor was his short-lived trip through Philadelphia. But Crews’ struggles throughout his NFL career made him appreciate the success that he discovered later in life.
“I was the name at the end of the roster,” said Crews, reflecting on his former life as a professional football player. “It wasn’t until after I became famous that people noticed I played in the NFL. I kind of snuck in!“
Washington Football Team Denied Trademark
The Washington Football Team was always meant to be a temporary name after Washington ditched their old nickname. Then it became somewhat popular with fans, leading to some consideration of making it permanent. That appears less likely now, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office just “issued an initial refusal” of the team’s attempt to trademark the name, Sam Fortier of the Washington Post reports. The decision cited the “generic geographic nature of the request.”
That doesn’t mean they can’t use the name Washington Football Team for the 2021 season, it just means they can’t enforce the trademark right now for things like merchandising. However, experts that Fortier spoke to seem to think the franchise has a good chance of getting this decision overturned on appeal. Either way, it might further incentivize owner Dan Snyder to go with something entirely new. One expert suggested to Fortier the team could add new elements to make the brand more distinctive, like a mascot. A ‘Football Team’ mascot would certainly be something to behold.
Here’s more from around the NFC on a quiet Sunday evening:
- Sticking in the NFC East for a moment. It’s “unlikely” that receiver Michael Gallup is on the Cowboys’ roster beyond this season, Jon Machota of The Athletic writes. Machota argues there’s “just not enough salary cap space,” to fit contracts for Gallup, Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb. A third-round pick in 2018, Gallup is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will be looking to get paid next offseason. Machota does think there’s “a scenario” where Cooper deals with injuries or regresses and the team opts to move on from him and keep Gallup, but that they won’t likely be back together. The Colorado State product is coming off a solid season where he turned 59 catches into 843 yards and five touchdowns, mostly without Dak Prescott. In his last year with Prescott, in 2019, he had 1,107 yards and six scores in only 14 games.
- After trading Julio Jones, the Falcons will be leaning heavily on Calvin Ridley this season. As such, there was understandably some concern when it was announced a couple weeks ago that Ridley had undergone foot surgery. Fortunately, we’ve got another positive update to pass along. The foot injury was actually something Ridley dealt with during the 2020 season, and not a new injury suffered this offseason, the wideout told the media recently, via Scott Bair of the team’s official site. “It was just minor,” Ridley said. “I can walk and all that right now. I’m taking it one day at a time.” He also added that he’s “pretty sure” he’ll be ready for training camp, although Bair writes “that remains a bit of an unknown at this stage.” Either way, it doesn’t sound like anything to panic about.
- In case you missed it, Bears linebacker Roquan Smith is saying he isn’t worried about a potential contract extension.
Jonathan Allen, WFT Begin Extension Talks
The oldest of Washington’s four first-round defensive linemen, Jonathan Allen is going into his fifth-year option season. Washington, however, will explore keeping the defensive tackle around for much longer.
Allen confirmed Wednesday he and the team have begun extension negotiations, per the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala (on Twitter). The 2017 first-round pick said in May he wanted to stay in the nation’s capital long-term; he reiterated that hope Wednesday and would prefer to have a new deal by the start of training camp.
Since selecting Allen, Washington added Daron Payne (2018), Montez Sweat (’19) and Chase Young (’20) in Round 1. The team has invested tremendous draft capital on its defensive front, but Sweat and Young can be kept on their rookie deals well into the 2020s. With Ryan Kerrigan gone, Washington has an opening for a veteran-contract D-lineman.
Allen, 26, has bounced back well from an injury-marred rookie year. After a Lisfranc injury limited the Alabama product to just five games in 2017, he has missed just one contest over the past three seasons. Pro Football Focus rated Allen as a top-20 interior D-lineman last season. Between the 2018-19 campaigns, Allen totaled 14 sacks and 25 quarterback knockdowns. He will command a lucrative extension.
DeForest Buckner and Chris Jones did well to bridge the gap between Aaron Donald and the D-tackle field, salary-wise, last year. The Colts and Chiefs standout inside rushers, respectively, signed for $21MM and $20MM per year. This range would figure to be an Allen target, though it might be a bit too lofty for Washington’s tastes. The Grady Jarrett and Kenny Clark re-ups (for $17.5MM and $17MM on average, respectively) may be more relevant to the Washington-Allen negotiations.
WFT RB Antonio Gibson Still Dealing With Toe Injury
Antonio Gibson is still dealing with a toe injury that knocked him out of two games last season. The WFT running back told reporters that he’s still a bit hobbled, but he’s been able to participate in recent practices.
“It was something small that was causing me not to be able to run 100 percent,” Gibson said, (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post on Twitter). “But I’m fine now. I’ve been cutting in practice … and getting better each day. … Definitely something to monitor. I’ve been fine like I said. I’ve been cutting and running full speed, making cuts I need to make. … But I definitely got to watch and make sure I stay up on my treatment, so nothing goes south. But definitely watching throughout the time until I’m 100 percent.”
The fact that the coaching staff isn’t sitting Gibson is obviously a good sign, and assuming the 22-year-old running back fully recovers, he should be able to build on a standout rookie season. The third-round pick ended up finishing his season with 1,042 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. He missed Week 14 and Week 15 as he dealt with the toe injury.
If Gibson is forced to miss any time, Washington has a long list of veteran RBs who they could fall back on. The team is rostering the likes of J.D. McKissic, Peyton Barber, and Lamar Miller.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived/injured: WR Krishawn Hogan
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Devin Gray
Detroit Lions
- Suspended three games (substance-abuse policy): DT Jashon Cornell
- Waived: FB Nick Bawden
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: OL Erik Magnuson
- Waived: TE Carson Williams
Washington Football Team
- Waived/injured: TE Dylan Cantrell
This Date In NFL Transactions History: Dan Snyder Approved As Owner Of Washington Franchise
As with any ownership change, there was optimism in Washington on this date in 1999. Fast forward 22 years, and this was an era that fans would probably prefer to forget. On May 25, 1999, Daniel Snyder was approved as the new owner of the Washington NFL franchise.
The organization was up for sale following the death of former owner Jack Kent Cooke, and Snyder ponied up a then-record $800MM for the team and Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (which is now FedEx Field). Snyder’s first season at the helm was a success; his team won 10 games, the first time they hit double-digit victories since their Super Bowl-winning season in 1991. Since that time, the on-field product has been disappointing (to say the least).
Since Snyder took over as owner, the team has gone 149-202-1 with only six playoff appearance. The team has also shuffled through 10 head coaches, including four different coaches between 1999 and 2002. Snyder hasn’t necessarily endeared himself to fans during this time; he sued season ticket holders during a recession, he temporarily banned fans from bringing signs into his stadium, and he threatened a lawsuit against a local newspaper that detailed his various controversies.
Speaking of…Snyder has also found himself in a number of off-field controversies. The owner was at the forefront of the whole name-change fiasco, refusing to change the Redskins moniker until pressured by major sponsors in 2020. That same year, Snyder was a main player in a Washington Post series that detailed rampant sexual harassment and discrimination within the organization. All the while, Snyder has found himself engaged in a number of additional ventures. This includes sports radio, an Arena Football League team, Six Flags, and Johnny Rockets. Generally, these side hustled didn’t work out all that well.
Unfortunately for fans of WFT, it doesn’t sound like Snyder is going anywhere any time soon. After selling part of his ownership to pay off team debt, Snyder managed to repurchase the remaining 40.5-percent of the team this past March. The purchase was unanimously approved by league owners.
On this date in 1999, Washington fans were likely dreaming of a return to glory. Instead, these fans have endured plenty of controversies (along with rising ticket prices and parking) in exchange for a pair of playoff wins over two-plus decades.