CBS sportscaster considers not using ‘Redskins’ on air

NEW YORK — CBS lead analyst Phil Simms is considering referring to the Redskins only as “Washington” when he broadcasts the team’s game against the Giants next month.

Simms will work the Thursday night package the network acquired this season and will have Giants-Redskins in Week 4 on Sept. 25. He says “my very first thought is it will be ‘Washington’ the whole game.”

Simms isn’t taking sides in the debate over whether Washington’s nickname is offensive or racist. But he adds he is sensitive to the complaints about the name, and his instincts now are to not use “Redskins” in his announcing.

His broadcast partner, Jim Nantz, says it is not his job “to take a stance.”

CBS is allowing its announcers to decide on their own whether to call the team the Redskins. So is Fox, which handles the NFC and will televise most of Washington’s games.

———

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP—NFL