The Carolina Panthers will face Washington this week, and the Panthers will use the team’s nickname despite protests and calls for the franchise to be renamed.
In a statement to the Observer, a Panthers spokesman said the team will not refrain from using the nickname.
“We understand and respect the varying opinions,” said Steven Drummond, the team’s director of communications. “As a league member we will continue to be consistent with our visiting team procedures.”
Of the nine teams that have played Washington this year, only the Philadelphia Eagles have avoided using the name by scrubbing it from their game notes and not saying it in the coach’s press conferences.