As the Chicago Bears take on the Washington Redskins this weekend, you have to wonder why they don’t just change their name so the conversation can get back to football. I’m fine with discussing sociopolitical issues instead of football. But for the Washington Redskins organization, you have to wonder how much of it is a distraction.
And when it does get back to football? What’s wrong with the Redskins? Do they suck because they’re distracted by the controversy? It’s a slur, it’s offensive. The nickname was created by a guy who exceedingly racist. Change it and move on.
Bob Costas knows it’s racist. Tony Dungy knows it’s racist. Just accept that it’s racist Daniel Snyder and move on.
TV: FOX 12 NOON SUNDAY
SPREAD: pick’em
Washington Redskins preview:
Tony Dungy: “I went on record on the show saying that they should change their name. I don’t think you sit up there and say ‘I’m not offended by something, so it shouldn’t offend anybody else’. You know, I would look at it and say, ‘Hey, we may be offending someone. There’s no need to in this day and age to offend anyone.’
“I know there’s a long tradition with that name, but I think they should change it and then we could get back to just talking about football.”
81 years the Washington Redskins have had an offensive name. Change it. Get it done! Now let’s talk football.
They were 4-0 in the pre-season and they won the NFC East division last year. What’s happened to them?
Robert Griffin didn’t get the amount of work in camp and in pre-season and that he probably needed. He’s still young and learning. And he’s likely not as healthy as you need your starting quarterback to be. He’s probably not himself yet. Still.
Cris Collinsworth on RG3:
“If you talk to Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan the number of fundamental things that they wanted to work on him with – I mean obviously phenomenal talent. Nobody’s ever going to question his talent; off the charts arm strength, off the charts speed. You know, he’s a smart guy, dynamic leader even at an early age, so many different things. But there were things they wanted to work with because he really didn’t have much experience with being a pocket passer.”
Chicago Bears Preview:
Because of the knee injury, Robert Griffin III hasn’t been able to improve his pocket passing presence to add to what he does with the read-option and the running game. So the Washington Redskins have stayed the same while defenses game-planning against them got better. They don’t have a lot of team speed on defense and they’ve had problems on special teams. So that’s why their record is 1-4.
The Bears should head into this one with a decided advantage in all three phases. Even with injuries and under-performing of the front seven. Here’s a chance to for Jon Bostic to channel his inner Shaggy and be Mr. Boombastic. A sub .500 times represents the perfect time for him to ease into the starting role.
As hideously ugly as the Chicago Bears win was over the lowly New York Giants, the Bears are getting it done versus sub 500 teams. You can trust Jay Cutler and company to get it done versus inferior competition. And you CANNOT trust them versus the good teams. Jay Cutler’s record versus teams with a losing record against teams with a winning record speaks for itself.
They have been consistent. The major issues the Bears now have in the front-seven will produce big problems, but not in this contest.
Do the Bears need Peanut Tillman back and healthy? Yes absolutely. But not so much in this one. The Washington Redskins don’t have scary receivers that can really hurt them.
Brutally Honest record 63-24
Brutally Honest Pick: Chicago Bears 27, Washington Redskins 21
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the world; with regular weekly segments on NBC, CBS and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) , Facebook and RSS feed