CBS announcers may skip "Redskins" name

CBS Announcers Can Choose To Stop Saying ‘Redskins’ During NFL Broadcasts This Season

By Travis WaldronEven as the debate over whether the Washington Redskins should change their name continues to escalate, the team has had at least one mostly safe space in which the word Native Americans say is a “dictionary defined slur” is still merely the name of a football team: the broadcast booth. With one notable exception, the league’s broadcast partners—CBS, NBC, ESPN, and FOX—have remained out of the fray about the name.

Could that change this season? Asked about the issue in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said that the network hadn’t talked to announcing teams about using the name during broadcasts, but he indicated that during the upcoming season individual announcers and production teams could make their own decisions about whether to say it, and that the network is cognizant of the ongoing controversy.

“We haven’t talked to (our analysts) yet,” McManus told THR. “Generally speaking, we do not tell our announcers what to say or not say. Up to this point, it has not been a big issue for us. Last year, it was simmering; now it’s reaching a hotter level. But we probably will not end up dictating to our announcers whether they say Redskins or don’t say Redskins.CBS Sports chairman confirms 'Redskins' stance in front of Roger Goodell

By David Leon MooreCBS Sports chairman Sean McManus again told the media that CBS announcers and production teams will likely be allowed to not use the name of the Washington NFL club this season if they so choose.

Interestingly, however, this time he said it while sitting on a panel discussion along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.