#Alternative Redskins name suggestions tap into history, movies, politics

The Anaheim Ducks were once mighty, the Tampa Bay Rays were once devilish and the Tennessee Titans once brought oilers from Houston.

And now the Washington Redskins might soon be a name of the past.

If the Redskins decide to change their name — an internal review is underway after corporate sponsors called for change — here are some suggested alternatives:

Washington Warriors: Team owner Daniel Snyder held the official trademark on this name from 2000-04, when he planned to use it on an Arena Football League expansion team. His control lapsed and a trademark battle could ensue now. It’s a non-offensive way to still honor the team’s association with Native American culture. Alliteration is popular in naming.

Washington Redhawks: Miami University in Ohio changed the name of its sports teams from the Redskins to the RedHawks in 1996, in response to criticism of an offensive name. Follow the precedent.

Washington Red Tails: Popular on social media, as there is already is a logo design that won an unofficial fan contest a few years ago. The Red Tails were a group of Tuskegee Airmen, all-black fighter pilots during World War II, when military segregation was still common, who painted the backs of their planes. Their story is told in a 2012 movie starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

Washington Hogs: An ode to the past, when the franchise was one of the most successful in the NFL during the 1980s behind a physical offensive line nicknamed the “Hogs.” Joe Bugle, who coached the team’s offensive line from 1981-89 and 2004-09, died this week. Some fans already wear pig noses to games.

Washington Skins: Would this be a big enough change to accept? Probably not. The team already is frequently shortened this way. Unless a memory-erasing device is created, it still is a reminder of the name’s origin. What would the new logo be? No potato skins jokes, please.

Washington Senators/Presidents: Like the NHL’s Capitals and MLB’s Nationals, a nod to the city’s political roots. The Senators were a baseball franchise from 1901-60 — until moving to Minnesota — and a pro football team from 1921-1941. Then again, politicians are polarizing in their own right and this could strike another controversy when unpopular decisions are made in government.

Washington Monuments/Memorials: Captures the city’s identity without favoring a political party. There are monuments and memorials honoring former presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as well as Martin Luther King Jr. and military veterans, throughout the city.

Washington Sentinels: Another popular social media choice because of the fictional team in the football-based move, “The Replacements.”