04:10 PM
04/18/24
04/18/24
August 20, 2014
Mike Carey, longtime NFL referee, avoided Washington’s games because of the name: “I’ve called them Washington all my life,” he said, when finally asked. “And I will continue to call them Washington.”
Mike Carey, longtime NFL referee, avoided Washington’s games because of the name: “I’ve called them Washington all my life,” he said, when finally asked. “And I will continue to call them Washington.”
This brings to mind what I heard yesterday afternoon on the DC ESPN radio affiliate AM 980. Kevin Sheehan was discussing and taking calls regarding Phil Simms' recent comments regarding referring to the team as Washington in the season opener. In defending the team name, his viewpoint was that Simms was being self-promoting in opposing the name but not declining to work the game or refusing payment for it. That didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but a number of callers chimed in to agree. I happen to think that Simms accomplishes more by making this statement and subsequently working the game, using only the name "Washington" than by working a different game.
Bringing it back around to Mike Carey, I certainly respect his personal stand, even if it was only for himself, and I think I understand why he felt that it needed to remain a secret. I kind of wish, though, that this had leaked out while he was still working, as he would have been able to say that he wasn't trying to go public with his view but that it was important to him. More importantly, it would have put the league in the position of having to either back him up or take some sort of action against one of their best referees, which actually could have spurred a change.