Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has done everything in his power to convince the nation that his team's nickname is suitable for the modern era, but two members of congress aren't buying in.
NFL news roundup: Redskins face pressure over name, Cowboys expected to release Miles Austin
The Redskins are facing pressure and the Cowboys are close to parting ways with a former star. Here’s the news you need to know from Monday.
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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) will send a joint letter to the NFL asking that the league take a formal stance advocating the team be renamed. They refer to “Redskins” as “a racial slur,” citing leaders inside Native American communities and around the country as sources of outrage.
Snyder has yet to budge on the name, doubling-down by saying it’s a source of pride in addition to the team sharing numerous results from public polls supporting “Redskins.”
The Dallas Cowboys could be looking to part ways with 29-year-old wide receiver Miles Austin, who failed to live up to his billing.
Austin is slated to count as $9.6 million against the cap, a huge number for a player who contributed just 244 receiving yards in 2013. He broke out in 2009 and was subsequently signed to a huge $54.1 million contract extension that never fully realized. Austin had a 1,000 yard season in 2010, but his production fell from there, now making him expendable.
Chris Harris of the Denver Broncos appears to be on track for a full recovery in 2014. The Denver Post reports the cornerback had surgery successfully, and it could lead to him seeing an increase in playing time next season.
Harris tore his ACL against the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional playoff round, keeping him out of the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl. It's unlikely his presence would have changed Denver's outcome in 2013, but a team in dire need of defensive help will welcome him back.
The Dallas Cowboys believed in linebacker Sean Lee when they gave him a contract extension in 2013, but it's unclear whether they will come to regret the decision.
Lee has appeared in just 17 games over the last two years, and while he has been extremely effective there have been concerns for his durability. The star middle linebacker acknowledges that he wasn’t on the field when the team needed him and that needs to improve for Dallas to be better in 2014.
A disappointing season and coaching search left some fans of the Washington Redskins disillusioned, but some might be won back with the team’s latest front office hiring.
Former star quarterback Doug Williams will join the organization as a personnel executive, where he will assist the organization with talent evaluation and scouting. He spent the last three years with Grambling University as head coach.
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