Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Everyone's Clowning the Washington Football Team's Lazy New Name
Washington Football Team Merchandise will be available in the coming days.
Ten days after Washington's NFL team announced it would be changing its mascot, the franchise announced its new name...sort of. On Thursday, ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that the team will call itself the "Washington Football Team" for the 2020 season.
Twitter users, including one LeBron James, collectively laughed at the change.
"Is that real?? No way," he tweeted. "Oh man they had a thorough intense long board meeting about that one huh."
\u201cJust waking back up from my pregame nap to see about The Washington Football team??? \ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23. Is that real?? No way! Oh man they had a thorough intense long board meeting about that one huh. \ud83e\udd74\ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u201d— LeBron James (@LeBron James) 1595526225
The change won't be permanent, and in the meantime, the team won't change its color scheme or jerseys much at all. The logo on the helmet will be replaced by each player's number in gold numbering. The uniforms will debut in Week 1 and 2, against the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.
\u201cCan\u2019t wait to see the Washington Football Team led by their Star Football Player\u201d— Tyler Mills\ud83e\udd18\ud83c\udffb (@Tyler Mills\ud83e\udd18\ud83c\udffb) 1595527853
\u201cIf the Washington Football Team was a shoe\u201d— \ud835\ude45\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude5d\u2122 (@\ud835\ude45\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude5d\u2122) 1595522560
\u201cThey had all that time and came up with, \u201cWashington Football Team\u201d.. \n\ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u201d— Emmanuel Acho (@Emmanuel Acho) 1595521414
\u201cWho you play for? The Washington football team.. naw that ain\u2019t it \ud83d\ude02 \n\nFor some reason that alone makes me feel it won\u2019t be a football season.. I\u2019m sad seriously\u201d— Dez Bryant (@Dez Bryant) 1595521993
\u201cthe washington football team\u2019s new uniforms:\u201d— atom (@atom) 1595521552
In the wake of the name change, a letter signed by 87 investors and shareholders who own $620 billion in shares was sent to the team's sponsors. FedEx, PepsiCo and Nike were asked to stop doing business with the franchise unless the name was changed. Additionally, according to multiple reports, FedEx CEO Fred Smith, as well as Dwight Schar and Bob Rothman, want to sell their stakes in the team. Currently, Snyder, his sister, and mother own 60% of the franchise.
On July 2, FedEx issued a statement saying they wanted the team's name changed, and other sponsors released statements doing the same. FedEx currently sponsors the team's stadium in Landover, Maryland. In 1998, the company signed a 27-year naming rights deal for $205 million.