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  6. article_body => "<p>Monday will be the last day that Washington's football team is known as the Redskins, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/report-washington-plans-retire-redskins-name-monday\" target=\"_self\">according to multiple reports<\/a> that have come out on the matter. But one ESPN personality isn't about to pat Dan Snyder on the back for making that dramatic move.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>During a segment on ESPN's&nbsp;<em>Get Up&nbsp;<\/em>show, former defensive tackle and current TV analyst Marcus Spears explained why the decision, while correct in his mind, won't have him praising Snyder or anyone else with the Burgundy and Gold.<\/p>\n<p>\"This is simple,\" Spears said.&nbsp;\"It's financial pressure.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"This is not a new conversation, either,\" he continued.&nbsp;\"I want people to understand that. I understand what's going on in the country with unrest and social justice issues and all of the things that are transpiring outside publicly. And obviously it would be a bad look for the Washington Redskins to be tone deaf to actually what's happening in the United States of America. But, with that being said, it's two names that got this changed: FedEx and Nike.\"<\/p>\n<p>With people and companies all over the country rethinking the way they speak and act to help foster a more inclusive society, Washington getting away from its previous name is absolutely the right call.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Spears, though, clearly questions whether they'd be making that same call if their sponsors and partners weren't speaking up on their own.<\/p>\n<p>\"I'm not standing on a podium about to have a celebration for Dan Snyder for being conscious about social justice issues, because he is not changing the name because of that,\" Spears concluded. \"He's changing the name because of financial pressure from these companies that are talking about pulling out if they didn't make a change.\"<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/redskin-talk\/episodes\/0bda912a-da44-471b-bcb6-6620afd16634\" target=\"_self\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE REDSKINS TALK PODCAST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/f1339a3e-06a7-41d6-bc8b-77df06fb8eae\/episodes\/a45ee36a-5ecc-4445-8eeb-e132dab314a2\/embed?theme=light-blue\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<p><em><strong>Stay connected with the&nbsp;MyTeams app.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb65a2b6cedb?site_id=Dig_RSN_Wash&amp;creative_id=nbcswash1200&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcswash1200\" target=\"_blank\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download for comprehensive coverage of your teams.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE TEAM NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Odd Timing:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/one-thing-doesnt-make-sense-about-washingtons-dismissal-alex-santos-and-richard-mann-ii\">Dismissal of 2 execs<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Workout Buddy:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/dwayne-haskins-works-out-terrell-owens-once-again\">Haskins, T.O. team up again<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Return to RFK:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/councilmember-vincent-gray-washington-returning-rfk-i-think-train-has-left-station\">'Train has left the station'<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Washington Football

Washington Football

Monday will be the last day that Washington's football team is known as the Redskins, according to multiple reports that have come out on the matter. But one ESPN personality isn't about to pat Dan Snyder on the back for making that dramatic move. 

During a segment on ESPN's Get Up show, former defensive tackle and current TV analyst Marcus Spears explained why the decision, while correct in his mind, won't have him praising Snyder or anyone else with the Burgundy and Gold.

"This is simple," Spears said. "It's financial pressure."

"This is not a new conversation, either," he continued. "I want people to understand that. I understand what's going on in the country with unrest and social justice issues and all of the things that are transpiring outside publicly. And obviously it would be a bad look for the Washington Redskins to be tone deaf to actually what's happening in the United States of America. But, with that being said, it's two names that got this changed: FedEx and Nike."

With people and companies all over the country rethinking the way they speak and act to help foster a more inclusive society, Washington getting away from its previous name is absolutely the right call. 

Spears, though, clearly questions whether they'd be making that same call if their sponsors and partners weren't speaking up on their own.

"I'm not standing on a podium about to have a celebration for Dan Snyder for being conscious about social justice issues, because he is not changing the name because of that," Spears concluded. "He's changing the name because of financial pressure from these companies that are talking about pulling out if they didn't make a change."

 

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