Now that Washington害羞草研究所檚 NFL team has taken a long-overdue step toward changing its name, it害羞草研究所檚 time to start lining up some possible replacements.

Washington Generals, anyone?

After defiantly resisting all calls to change its offensive moniker, the Washington NFLers finally bowed to the only thing that really matters.

The bottom line.

With the nation embroiled in social turmoil and economic upheaval, Nike stopped selling merchandise with the Washington nickname. For good measure, stadium title sponsor FedEx called on the team to come up with a moniker that would be more in tune with the current times rather than, say, the 1800s.

So, while Washington害羞草研究所檚 NFL team conducts what it calls a 害羞草研究所渢horough review害羞草研究所� that almost will surely lead to a replacement by 2021 at the latest, let害羞草研究所檚 explore a few possibilities:

GENERALS 害羞草研究所� This would be a nod to the lovable losers who spent decades serving as the Harlem Globetrotters害羞草研究所� nightly pushovers, compiling a record of one win and somewhere north of 16,000 losses before they went out of business in 2015. Washington害羞草研究所檚 NFL team hasn害羞草研究所檛 been quite that bad in recent years, but it did go 3-13 a year ago and last won a playoff game in 2005. If Generals doesn害羞草研究所檛 work out, how about the Federals? They were Washington害羞草研究所檚 entry in the USFL during the 1980s, going 7-29 over two seasons in the ill-fated spring football league. A seamless transition, that would be.

GRIDLOCK 害羞草研究所� The District of Columbia has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation, so this would seem fitting to all those commuters who害羞草研究所檝e been spent roughly the time it takes to play an NFL game just trying to get to work. Also, it sums up our current political climate.

BLAZE 害羞草研究所� During the War of 1812, the British invaded Washington and set fire to numerous government buildings including the White House and the Capitol. Not necessarily a proud moment in the nation害羞草研究所檚 history, but probably a notch above Dan Snyder害羞草研究所檚 embarrassing tenure as team owner.

BUREAUCRATS 害羞草研究所� The team could pay tribute to all those nameless workers who keep the wheels of government droning along through turbulent times. They害羞草研究所檝e certainly shown more imagination than some of Washington害羞草研究所檚 offensive schemes over the past couple of decades.

FOGGY BOTTOM BOYS 害羞草研究所� Foggy Bottom is one of the city害羞草研究所檚 oldest neighbourhoods, which would give Washington害羞草研究所檚 NFL team a chance to play off the fictional band created for the Coen Brothers害羞草研究所� classic movie 害羞草研究所淥 Brother, Where Art Thou?害羞草研究所� The Soggy Bottom Boys were fronted by a lip-syncing George Clooney, who hopefully could be persuaded to cut a video for the team害羞草研究所檚 new right song, 害羞草研究所淚 Am a Man of Constant Sorrow.害羞草研究所� It害羞草研究所檚 a catchier tune (and certainly more appropriate for the long-suffering fan base) than the hokey 害羞草研究所淗ail to the 害羞草研究所�.害羞草研究所�

BLOSSOMS 害羞草研究所� While perhaps lacking the machismo of other potential monikers, the city害羞草研究所檚 famed cherry blossoms are in full bloom for roughly as long as the hopes of a Washington NFL fan each season. About two weeks.

SENATORS 害羞草研究所� Washington害羞草研究所檚 longtime baseball franchise was so horrible most years that its derisive motto became, 害羞草研究所淔irst in war, first in peace, last in the American League.害羞草研究所� Hmm, that sounds familiar. Other names that were once used by pro sports franchises in the district include the Diplomats (a long-forgotten soccer team from the 1970s) and the Ambassadors (a team that never got off the ground in the World Football League). But forget about the Bullets, the NBA Wizards害羞草研究所� former name. That one was dropped because of its association with gun violence. It ain害羞草研究所檛 coming back.

HOGS 害羞草研究所� This name hearkens back to the team害羞草研究所檚 most glorious era, when a group of down-and-dirty behemoths dominated the offensive line of scrimmage and bullied Washington to three Super Bowl titles under Joe Gibbs. This might be the best way to appease those fans who are sure to object to changing the offensive moniker.

MONUMENTS 害羞草研究所� C害羞草研究所檓on, how can you not like the Washington Monuments! A worthy tribute to the city害羞草研究所檚 stunning array of marble and granite remembrances, which honour everyone from the first president to Martin Luther King Jr. to the veterans of the Vietnam War. Some great logo possibilities, for sure.

RED TAILS 害羞草研究所� This is our pick. It maintains a link to the team害羞草研究所檚 current abomination of a name but also salutes the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the group of African American fighter pilots who broke down racial stereotypes during World War II.

Finally, Washington害羞草研究所檚 NFL team would have a name everyone could cheer with pride.

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press

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