In this Redskins news and rumors update, the Washington Redskins are taking a major hit from a pocketbook standpoint in the wake of the nationwide controversy surrounding the team's nickname.
Per Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports, "according to CNN, sales of Redskins items plunged 35 percent in the most recent quarter despite a 3 percent rise overall in sales of NFL merchandise, from statistics gathered by SportsSourceOne, a service that tracks licensed merchandise sales across the country."
While experts are speculation that the racially-charged discussion enveloping the team is the x-factor in this dramatic dip in sales, the team believes that its on-field product is what has stunted its growth:
"Unfortunately, team performance on the field is a major factor in the apparel business, and a 3-13 season doesn't do much to help sales," Redskins senior vice president of communications Tony Wyllie said. "However, we are working hard to improve that record and we look forward to the season opener this weekend."
SportsSourceOne senior analyst Matt Powell has a different spin on the situation; "People are having a second thoughts about wearing a T-shirt with the logo or name that it has now been called racist."
With the team finally able to focus on games that matter starting this weekend, at least the players will be able to divorce themselves from the controversy for a few hours or so at a time.
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