Joe Theismann was a proud Redskin but wouldn't object to name change

Joe Theismann sees the writing on wall with clarity, even if he struggles to grasp the full-blown controversy that envelops the Washington Redskins nickname.

"I wore that uniform with the Washington Redskins with great pride in representing the Native American nations of this country," Theismann, the team's former quarterback, told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday.

"I was given a chief's headdress when we won the Super Bowl. To me, I was honored to accept that headdress, and I was honored to wear that uniform at the time I did.

"But like everything else, society is changing almost daily."

Indeed.

Wednesday's major change occurred when the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board canceled six federal trademark registrations owned by the franchise. The TTAB ruled the term "Redskins" was disparaging to "a substantial composite" of American Indians.

Club owner Dan Snyder has vowed to never change the name, deeming it a badge of honor his franchise proudly bears even as criticism of his stance mounts.

"This is not going to go away," Theismann said. "It's become very evident that it's entered the political arena. It's entered the governmental agencies arena. It certainly has been a part of public opinion.

"And it's just a question of the position that Dan wants to take going forward."

Theismann looks back fondly on his playing days. He spent his entire 12-year career (1974-85) in Washington, won the NFL MVP Award in the 1983 season and led the Redskins to consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the 1982 and '83 seasons. The team won Super Bowl XVII following the 1982 campaign, garnering the first of its three Lombardi Trophies.

Asked if he has heard discussions among former teammates or other ex-Redskins about the direction Snyder should take, Theismann replied, "Not really." But he wouldn't protest if Snyder capitulates and rebrands the franchise.

"It wouldn't bother me. You have to understand social change," Theismann said. "The name has been around for gosh knows how many years. When I played, it never, ever crossed my mind that I would be anything but a Washington Redskin."

The anecdotal evidence Theismann, who works in broadcasting, has found regarding the nickname runs counter to the popular backlash.

"I did the New Mexico Bowl earlier this year. I spoke at a luncheon at Albuquerque, New Mexico, where there are a number of Native American tribes," he said. "I had 15 different Native Americans come up to me and say, 'I hope they don't change the name.'

"So from my personal experience, and this is all I can speak from, I was proud to wear the uniform and proud to represent the Native American nations. I have yet to have any Native American come up to me and tell me they would like to see the name changed."

The trademark ruling also puzzled Theismann.

"If it's a disparaging remark — if that's the way you view it — then if other people use it, what have you really accomplished?" he asked. "It's confusing to me."

The club also chimed in Wednesday.

"We've seen this story before," the team's trademark attorney, Bob Raskopf, said in a statement. "Today's ruling will have no effect at all on the team's ownership of and right to use the Redskins name and logo."

Asked if he'd offer Snyder any advice, Theismann declined, but he did say: "Social acceptability is something that is very prevalent today. ... If the voice of public opinion goes against you, you have to stop and take a look at what you're doing. When you get politicians involved, it carries a lot of publicity and weight."

However, he thinks the perspectives that matter most and should be weighed most heavily come from those directly affected by the team's name.

"I'm not Native American," Theismann said. "The people that need to be talked to — and I know that some of the tribes have voiced their opinion regarding the name — if you're not Native American, I don't know how you assess someone else's position in life."

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