Washington Redskins

Another HUGE development in the movement to change the name of the NFL's Washington team ... with a major business partner pushing to drop the moniker.

FedEx -- which has spent MILLIONS for the naming rights to FedExField in Maryland over the years -- is joining major leaders and asking Redskins owner Dan Snyder to swap out the team name.

"We have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name," the company said in a statement.

For years, Washington said Native Americans didn't have a problem with the name so they refused to make a change.

But, just this week, the National Congress of American Indians (which represents more than 500 tribal nations) called out the team ... saying the name is deeply offensive and needs to be changed immediately.

"It’s time for the players to rip down that name like it was a statue of a Confederate general in their locker room," NCAI president Fawn Sharp said.

NFL legend Tony Dungy has also said he won't say the team name during TV broadcasts moving forward -- plus, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser is also demanding a rebrand.

So far, no official word from the powers that be in D.C. -- but money talks and the FedEx statement is a big deal.

Tony Dungy says he's done calling the Washington Redskins by their nickname ... explaining, "If the team doesn’t want to change, the least I can do is try not to use it."

Besides being an NFL Hall of Fame coach, Dungy is also part of NBC's "Football Night In America" ... the pre-game show for the biggest game of the week.

In other words, Dungy has a HUGE platform -- and he intends to use it to push for Washington to change its name.

"It’s not hard to change the name," Dungy told ESPN's William C. Rhoden. "When I’m on the air, I try to just refer to them as Washington. I think it’s appropriate."

Dungy's comments come in the wake of the National Congress of American Indians -- a powerful org. that represents more than 500 tribal nations -- deeming the team name offensive and calling for NFL Players to boycott.

NCAI president Fawn Sharp said just last week -- "It’s time for the players to rip down that name like it was a statue of a Confederate general in their locker room."

Pretty strong stuff -- especially since Washington had long argued that Native Americans were cool with the team name.

Can't hide behind that argument anymore.

Despite the pushback, Washington head coach Ron Rivera still isn't on board with a name change -- at least not yet -- arguing on a radio show earlier this week it's "always been a part of football."

Dungy disagrees, saying, "You can say, ‘This has been a historic name and we’ve used it for this team for X number of years, but in this day and age, it’s offensive to some people, so we’re going to change it.'"

One of the largest American Indian groups in the country is declaring war on the Washington Redskins -- saying the team name is insanely offensive and NFL players should boycott.

Fawn Sharp -- president of the National Congress of American Indians (which represents more than 500 tribal nations) just went scorched earth on the franchise in an op/ed titled, "Who Will Become the Colin Kaepernick of Washington’s NFL Team?"

"The racial slur can no longer be removed by the complicit, indifferent, tone-deaf ownership of the franchise, because the stain they have fixed onto their own name and enterprises is now permanent," Sharp says.

"It is an insult that can no longer be retracted, a sin that can no longer be erased."

She continues, "Since it’s too late to give the team name up, it’s time for it to be taken."

"It’s time for the players to rip down that name like it was a statue of a Confederate general in their locker room."

WOW.

Sharp takes it further spelling out a plan of action for Washington players.

"I am calling for members of the NFL franchise in Washington, DC, to rise to the occasion and become heroes. All I ask is that you state the unequivocal moral truth: just as you would never play for the Washington [insert any other racial slur], you will no longer play for any team branded with a racial slur against Native Americans."

In 2024 ... 39-year-old Adrian Peterson will STILL be running over defenders?!?!

The future Hall of Famer says he believes that's entirely possible ... telling TMZ Sports he's gunning to play FOUR more years in the NFL!!

"Man, why not four more years?" AD says. "Why not?!"

Of course, Peterson has never made it a secret he wants to play a whole lot longer than most running backs ever do ... but four more years is a big goal even for him.

Remember, back after the 2018 season, Peterson told us he only wanted to go "maybe two or three more years."

But, when we spoke with the Redskins star tailback over the weekend, he made it clear he wants to carry the rock until he physically can't anymore.

"I don't want to ever be in a position where I look back and say, 'Man, I should have played two more years,'" Peterson says. "'I should of played another year.' I want to enjoy it."

As for why, Adrian says he wants a Super Bowl ring badly ... but Peterson is only about 4,000 yards away from breaking Emmitt Smith's all-time rushing mark.

Seems with four more years of carries ... Emmitt might need to start sweating now??

THE RED SKINS ARE CHANGING THEIR NAME!!!

No, sadly, not Washington's NFL team -- but rather the lesser-known candy ... which Nestle now says is getting a makeover due to the racist implications of the moniker.

In a statement released Tuesday ... the candy company said it'll do away with the "Red Skins" name because it's straight up "out of step with Nestle’s values."

"This decision acknowledges the need to ensure that nothing we do marginalises our friends, neighbours and colleagues," Nestle officials said.

In addition to "Red Skins", the company also says it's canning the "Chicos" name for its jelly candy ... citing the racial undertones there too.

Props to the org. for realizing the ignorance and vowing to swiftly right the wrong ... but it all begs the question -- what is going on in the NFL?!

The Redskins -- who last week cut ties with their racist ex-owner George Preston Marshall by helping facilitate the removal of a stadium monument and FedExField lower bowl naming -- STILL refuse to acknowledge the need to reconsider their team name.

Despite many Native Americans finding it offensive -- and D.C.'s mayor calling for change -- owner Dan Snyder has repeatedly been reluctant to move on from the mascot.

So, could a candy company giving in finally be the catalyst that gets the NFL's gears turning on the issue???

The people who operate RFK Stadium are finally removing a monument dedicated to a racist former owner of the Washington Redskins,

Events D.C., which runs the stadium where the Skins used to play, ordered the removal of the George Preston Marshall statue on Friday ... and if you know anything about the guy, it's easy to see why.

Marshall -- the Redskins' founding father and Pro Football Hall of Famer -- famously refused to sign black players for DECADES.

In fact, he was quoted as saying once, "We will sign black players when the Harlem Globetrotters start playing white players."

His anti-African-American stance lasted all the way until the early 1960s ... when government officials threatened to force him out of RFK Stadium if he didn't sign black players.

FYI, Marshall died in 1969. He was 72.

People have been calling for the 'Skins to remove the monument at the park for years ... and finally, in the wake of national protests, the people who operate the stadium relented this week.

It's just the latest statue to be scrapped as America tries to sever its ties with its racist past ... in Minnesota, the Twins announced they're removing a statue of former owner Calvin Griffith.

Similar to Marshall, Griffith had been openly racist against black people ... and in a statement Friday, the Twins said, "His disparaging words displayed a blatant intolerance and disregard for the Black community that are the antithesis of what the Minnesota Twins stand for and value."

Redskins' nickname, you're up next.

Ever seen a dude squat 585 pounds and get clowned over it?!?!

Welcome to the NFL ... where Washington Redskins star Jonathan Allen just threw around an inhuman amount of poundage -- only to get ripped by a former teammate hilariously.

Here's the deal ... Allen -- a former first-round pick -- loaded up his bar with nearly 600 pounds during a workout Tuesday and squatted it five times.

The feat was pretty unreal ... but the fact that he didn't break parallel clearly caught ex-Redskins DL Ziggy Hood's eyes -- 'cause the dude comically went off on Allen for the lift!!!

"Jon what are we doing here." Hood asked. "We quarter squat with a spotter holding on like a prom date photo."

Man, tough crowd.

To his credit, Allen took the jokes in stride ... and fired back, "Do you play football with your ass below your knees.... nope."

Hood wasn't done, though, adding, "I bet my 33 yr old ass got a better get off."

We love the banter ... and if we gotta input our two cents -- the squat was probably a little too high if we're scoring at home.

Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera says he will support his players kneeling during the national anthem this season ... this, after star running back Adrian Peterson announced his plan to protest.

"It's their choice, it's their decision and I support it because its in our constitution and that's what our military personnel fought for. For our rights," Rivera told the media on Wednesday.

Coach adds he educated himself on the issue prior to signing Eric Reid (who knelt with Colin Kaepernick while on the 49ers) to the Carolina Panthers in 2018 ... saying he even read the Constitution, Bill of Rights, the Amendments, and the oath of office to get a better understanding.

Rivera says he had an eye-opening conversation with Reid that explained what the protest stood for ... and now he's totally cool with the movement.

It's an important stance -- just last week, Peterson said he's "without a doubt" going to kneel this upcoming season after the death of George Floyd.

Could this be the start of a lethal Redskins connection in 2020?!?

Here's video of Antonio Brown working on deep balls with Washington QB Dwayne Haskins ... and we gotta say, the two certainly have chemistry that could carry over to FedExField!!!

The free-agent receiver hooked up with the 'Skins quarterback Wednesday for a workout in Florida ... and the two got in some impressive throw-and-catch work.

Check out the clips Brown posted from the training sesh ... there were some 50-yard dimes that had people going crazy over the completions!!

Of course, there were other pros in attendance -- Geno Smith and Stefon Diggs (plus Chad Ochocinco!) namely -- so we're not too sure how much to read into this being an indicator of future NFL plans.

Then again, Brown has been working his ass off to get back into the league ever since the Patriots cut him last September ... and the Redskins could certainly use the help.

AB claims to have walked the straight and narrow since a myriad of legal issues cropped up over the last year ... issuing apologies to the NFL, his family and even local law enforcement.

The NFL, though, is still investigating all of the allegations against Brown ... and a lengthy suspension could be on the horizon.

But, after that, could D.C. be the receiver's landing spot???

Shocking new details in the arrest of Cody Latimer ... cops say a witness claimed the NFL player threatened to "kill everybody" after a dispute over a poker game -- this according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

Cops arrived at a Douglas County, CO residence around midnight Friday, the docs show, after they received a call about possible shots fired.

Once they showed up ... officers say in the docs they interviewed Latimer's friend, Roderick English, who explained to them the Washington Redskins receiver snapped after an argument over a card game.

Cops say English told them he was playing host to a poker night at his place with his GF, Latimer and a few other buddies ... when Latimer got into a dispute with another person.

English claims he broke up the altercation and booted everybody out ... but told cops Cody showed up a half-hour later, pissed off.

Cops say English told them Latimer pulled out a firearm and said he had saved two rounds of ammunition for English and his GF. Cops also say English told them Latimer threatened to "kill everybody."

English told officers Latimer calmed down ... said he wouldn't kill anyone and "removing the magazine and clearing the chamber" of his gun.

But, according to the docs, Latimer grew angry again ... and that's when English says Latimer fired two shots near him.

Cops say English told them he then wrestled with Latimer ... but claims the 27-year-old hit him on the head with the gun, causing a contusion and a cut on his head.

Ultimately, the altercation was broken up ... and officers arrested Cody, booking him on several felony charges, including assault and illegal discharge of a firearm.

For his part, Cody's attorney said in a statement to ESPN's Adam Schefter regarding the incident, "There’s an entire back story to this situation that constitutes one of the most highly provocative situations you can imagine. Please withhold judgment until all the facts of what took place that night are known."

Latimer, who was a second-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2014, has a court hearing set for Monday in the case.

Washington Redskins star Cody Latimer was hauled off to jail this weekend after cops say he was involved in assaulting someone and illegally using a firearm.

The wide receiver was arrested early Saturday morning just after midnight in Englewood, Colorado, where cops were summoned to an apartment complex Cody was at. It's unclear what led up to the arrest or why police were called -- but Cody was taken into custody.

He was booked on several charges ... assault in the second degree, illegal discharge of a firearm, prohibited use of a weapon, reckless endangerment and menacing. He was processed at the Douglas County Detention Facility -- and has reportedly already bailed out on a $25,000 bond.

The Redskins have responded to Latimer's arrest, saying ... "We are aware of the situation and have informed the NFL League Office. We will continue to gather more information and have no further comment at this time."

Cody's had a run-in with the law before in Colorado -- he was arrested in 2016 during a domestic disturbance call he made on his GF ... back when he was a Bronco. Later, it was revealed Cody was only taken in on an outstanding warrant for a failure to appear in court from a traffic ticket.

Alex Smith's wife is celebrating the QB's 36th birthday by showing just how hard he's working to get back on the field ... and praising him for refusing to give up after his life-threatening leg injury.

It's been a roller coaster 18 months for the Smiths after the Redskins QB broke his leg during a game in November 2018 ... an injury that required 17 follow-up surgeries due to a flesh-eating bacteria.

Despite being told it would be nearly impossible to return to football, Smith has been working out like crazy to prove everyone wrong ... and Elizabeth gave an inside look at his progress on Thursday,

"Happy Happy Birthday to this handsome, hard working man❤️" Elizabeth said on IG ... while thanking fans for their support following the debut of ESPN's "Project 11" documentary.

"The last week we’ve been overwhelmed with love, support and sweet messages. We cannot thank you enough."

Elizabeth shared several shots of Smith crushing workouts on his repaired leg (with a bit of help from his 2 sons) ... from cone drills to throwing -- and the dude looks GOOD.

"#project11 was a look into what the last 18 months have been (mostly Alex refusing to give up)." Elizabeth continued.

"I am in awe of his perseverance everyday. He just keeps getting stronger and refuses to give up... Forever grateful"

As for Alex, he knows his NFL future is uncertain ... but he's made it clear he's not giving up without a fight.

WARNING -- if you can't handle painfully gross injury pictures, please sit this one out.

Still here?? Okay. Let's get into it.

A new image of Washington Redskins QB Alex Smith's injury from 4 days after his devastating broken leg surgery in 2018 has surfaced ... and it's beyond displeasing.

Of course, Smith has previously stated he's lucky to be alive -- let alone have his right leg -- following the unfortunate in-game incident against the Texans ... as his road to recovery was hindered by infections that required 17 follow-up surgeries.

A picture of Smith's infected leg just days after surgery was aired on ESPN Monday -- as part of a promo for the E:60 documentary, "Project 11," premiering on Friday -- and it shows how bad the infection was.

35-year-old Smith has previously said that he's focused on getting better and maintains the goal of getting back on to the football field ... but understands there are no guarantees.

The former #1 overall pick has since made a brief return to throwing ... and even made an appearance at Redskins organized team activities in 2019 ... but it would be a miracle to see him suit up in a game again.

Chase Young isn't just planning on seizing the moment now that he's in the NFL -- he wants to TERRORIZE IT!!

The newest Washington Redskins star -- the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft -- filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to lock down the phrase, "Terrorize the Moment."

According to records, the 21-year-old defensive end filed his application back in February hoping to use the phrase on everything from hats to hoodies, jackets, pants and more.

In other words, Chase is trying to launch his own brand -- and with the heat this guy has behind him right now, can you blame him?!

It's a smart move by Young to lock down potential catchphrases early -- just look at when Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson got beat to the punch on "Big Truss."

Jackson says the person who owns that trademark threatened a lawsuit -- so he switched it up and went after "Truzz" instead.

As for "Terrorize the Moment" -- Young is known for wreaking havoc on opponents ... and if you need proof, WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO!

Bruce Smith is down to don Redskins garb once again ... this time, he tells TMZ Sports he'll throw on the D.C. gear to become Chase Young's personal mentor!!

Of course, the Ohio St. superstar ain't officially a member of the Redskins yet -- but it's nearly unanimous among NFL pundits that Washington will select him with the No. 2 overall pick Thursday.

And, once that happens, Bruce says he's open to calling team owner Dan Snyder to offer up his services as Young's personal pass-rush coach.

"I've given that some thought," Smith says, "in giving Dan Snyder a call and telling Dan that I can probably help this young man out to becoming that impact player that they would like for him to become a lot sooner rather than three or four years down the line."

If Dan were smart ... he'd make the hire ASAP -- Bruce is the greatest pass-rusher EVER, recording an NFL record 200 career sacks, and he's a proven commodity as a coach, having already mentored some of the league's current best.

"I think the knowledge that I have been able to gain over the course of my career and even after my career is over has been very helpful to some of the players that are in the league now," Smith says.

"I spent some time with Von Miller, I spent some time with a number of other players. But, it's the details -- the details -- that will set you apart from being average to good to great."

As for Smith's opinion of Chase's game right now ... Bruce LOVES the guy, saying, "Well, arguably, he is the best player in the draft."

By the way, Smith also sent a personal shout-out to all the people battling on the frontlines against the coronavirus ... and his message is touching.