Richard Sherman just created a huge takeaway for the Oneida Indian Nation.
Time magazine published a question-and-answer interview with Sherman after the Seattle Seahawks made him the highest paid cornerback in the NFL on Wednesday. In the interview, Sherman was quick to rip both NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.
Time began with Sherman's thoughts about the Donald Sterling situation and then asked a seemingly relevant but innocuous question about whether he thought Goodell would have acted and reacted as swiftly and decisively as NBA commissioner Adam Silver did over the Los Angeles Clippers owner's racist remarks had an NFL owner made those comments.
"No I don't," Sherman said. "Because we have an NFL team called the Redskins. I don't think the NFL really is as concerned as they show. The NFL is more of a bottom line league. If it doesn't affect their bottom line, they're not as concerned."
Indeed, Goodell addressed the controversy over the name change in early February and threw his support behind the franchise retaining the "Redskins" nickname.
"But let me remind you: This is the name of a football team, a football team that has had that name for 80 years," Goodell said. That has presented the name in a way that is honorable to Native Americans. We recognize that many don't agree with the name. And we respect that.
"But if you look at the numbers, including the Native American communities, the Native American community poll, nine out of 10 prefer the name - eight of 10 Americans in the general population would not like us to change the name. So we are listening and being respectful to people who disagree."
The Oneida Indian Nation has been the most vocal in dissent and most active in trying to get the name changed.
On Wednesday, Sherman said he hoped the Sterling lesson would rekindle discussions about the Redskins nickname but didn't sound too optimistic.
"I would hope it would help. It'd help reinitiate the conversation. And at least there would be another discussion. You know, I think the discussion has stopped. And the public has just accepted it. And I think there should be more conversations. But it is what it is."
Time: "You're confident that the NFL would not have reacted like the NBA did because they already have a team name like the Redskins. So to you, that says a lot, right?"
Sherman: "It does. It says a whole lot."
Snyder tried to create a foundation sympathetic to Native American causes called the "Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation," but that action has met with some resistance.
Do you agree with Richard Sherman that the NFL's inaction on the "Redskins" nickname is due to the lack of any impact on the league's bottom line? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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