# What will the Washington Football Team's new name be on 2 February 2022? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 4, 2022, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231 "2022-01-04T23:54:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/241 "2022-02-02T20:29:16Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > The Kraken clearly outrank the Marlins and Pirates/Buccaneers, but what about the Mariners? Do they possess some extra abilities, or are they just guys who are really good at reading maps and sailing? I think Mariners are the primary food group of the Kraken. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/242 "2022-02-02T20:31:11Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > They should really be the Buffalo Buffaloes. > > [Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo) I knew someone would bring that up! ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/243 "2022-02-02T20:32:39Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I think I’d like to see a fully integrated tier list of the 4 major sports leagues. The Kraken clearly outrank the Marlins and Pirates/Buccaneers, but what about the Mariners? Do they possess some extra abilities, or are they just guys who are really good at reading maps and sailing? And are the Suns higher than the Titans? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/244 "2022-02-02T20:38:58Z")
I’m sensing a “Hamilton” influence here, where WASHINGTON is constantly referred to as “Commander.” “Go home, Alexander. That’s an order from your Commander.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/245 "2022-02-02T20:43:00Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > And are the Suns higher than the Titans? I dunno, how powerful are you if you are thwarted by a parasol? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/246 "2022-02-02T20:45:44Z")
Is clothing (White Sox, Red Sox, Blue Jackets) an even lower tier than small birds? ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/247 "2022-02-02T20:56:32Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It’s just a shortened and diminutive form of the word like Thomas is Tommie. > [@Atamasama](#): > > Commie” is literally short for “Commander”. It’s an abbreviation. > > Just as “commie” is taking the first four letters of “communist” and making a diminutive out of it, you can do the same with “commander”. And in doing so, link the two for derogatory purposes. I’d never heard it used that way until Washington decided on the name. Was it a more popular term prior to the Cold War? I’ve watched all of Star Trek TNG, DS9, Voyager, half of Enterprise, and most of the Star Trek movies, and I don’t recall ever hearing any of the commanders referred to as commie. I don’t recall the POTUS being referred to as the “commie in chief”, even if we’re talking about the presidents prior to Marx. I’m sure it’s a thing, but I guess I just missed it 😕. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/248 "2022-02-02T20:56:48Z")
They only outrank things like concepts, such as colors. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/249 "2022-02-02T20:57:46Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I’d never heard it used that way until Washington decided on the name. Was it a more popular term prior to the Cold War? It’s very possible that we made it up in this thread. I have done no research to confirm or deny that. Feel free if you want to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/250 "2022-02-02T20:59:40Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I’m sure it’s a thing No one’s saying it’s a thing - we’re saying it _could_ be a thing once “Commanders” is used as a team name. Fans of opposing teams like to come up with derogatory diminutives. That’s one they could come up with. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/251 "2022-02-02T21:09:49Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s very possible that we made it up in this thread. I have done no research to confirm or deny that. Feel free if you want to do it. > [@Munch](#): > > No one’s saying it’s a thing - we’re saying it _could_ be a thing once “Commanders” is used as a team name. Fans of opposing teams like to come up with derogatory diminutives. That’s one they could come up with. I’ve seen it in the comments section of most of the Facebook posts about the new name. That’s why I assumed it was something I had missed rather than something invented by the posters of the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/252 "2022-02-02T21:17:04Z")
Nah, it’s a somewhat obvious joke that probably sprung up in many places independently of one another. I saw the same joke made on Royals Review this morning. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/253 "2022-02-02T21:20:26Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Is clothing (White Sox, Red Sox, Blue Jackets) an even lower tier than small birds? Though is clothing related to what was worn by a soldier (Blue Jackets) a higher sub tier than simply socks? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/254 "2022-02-02T21:24:48Z")
I don’t like the name. What I would like is finding a good way to make funny XCOM jokes about it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/255 "2022-02-02T21:39:35Z")
It does kind of remind me of… [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a8/4f/12/a84f121f75d465ba87e398d25ae7fae6.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a8/4f/12/a84f121f75d465ba87e398d25ae7fae6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/256 "2022-02-02T21:43:19Z")
they named the team after biden’s dog??? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/257 "2022-02-02T21:49:56Z")
That makes as much sense as anything else, really. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/258 "2022-02-02T22:06:18Z")
They could have been the Washington Willows! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/259 "2022-02-02T22:06:35Z")
What about music genres, like the Blues and the Jazz? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231/260 "2022-02-02T22:09:01Z")
High marks for improvisational skills. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-the-washington-football-teams-new-name-be-on-2-february-2022/957231.md?page=14)