NFL to Meet with Indian Tribe over 'Redskins' Nickname

The NFL is prepared to meet with an Indian tribe pushing for the Washington Redskins to drop the team's nickname. Just not this week.

As league owners gathered Monday in the nation's capital for their fall meetings, the Oneida Indian Nation held a symposium across town to promote their "Change the Mascot" campaign. Oneida representative Ray Halbritter said the NFL was invited to attend.

Instead, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said, a meeting has been scheduled for next month - and could happen sooner.

"We respect that people have differing views," McCarthy said. "It is important that we listen to all perspectives."

He said the Redskins name is not on the agenda for the owners' meetings. Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed to keep the name, and an Associated Press-GfK poll conducted in April found that nearly 4 in 5 Americans don't think the team should change its name.

It's a topic generating discussion lately, though. President Obama said in an interview with the AP last week that he would "think about changing" the team's name if he were the owner.

Halbritter called that statement "nothing less than historic" and said the team's nickname is "a divisive epithet ... and an outdated sign of division and hate."

Addressing the NFL, Halbritter said: "It is hypocritical to say you're America's pastime but not represent the ideals of America."

Lanny Davis, a lawyer who said he's been advising Snyder on the name issue for "at least several months," said in a telephone interview after the symposium: "The Washington Redskins support people's feelings, but the overwhelming data is that Native Americans are not offended and only a small minority are."

- Associated Press

Bye week aids injury recovery

The bye week helped several Washington players recover from lingering injuries, though their status for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys won't be known until later in the week.

Start at tight end, where both Jordan Reed (thigh bruise) and Logan Paulsen (left knee) are testing the team's depth at the position. Reed was injured in the Detroit game Sept. 22 and missed the Sept. 29 game against Oakland. He sat out the early drills during Monday's practice inside the team bubble at Redskins Park, but eventually ran routes and caught passes.

The key for Reed is being able to bend his leg and open up his stride on passing routes. But asked if he would play Sunday against Dallas, Reed said only "Yup. No doubt."

It remains to be seen if that holds.

Paulsen was more circumspect. He remained in the area during the bye week for treatment, but wouldn't say how limited he was during practice.

"Well, I did everything that I could do," Paulsen said with the hint of a smile. "So, whatever that was."

Paulsen did deem himself cautiously optimistic he would play against the Cowboys. The knee held up at least for one day.

Meanwhile, kicker Kai Forbath said he's on pace to return for the first time since Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He has missed the past three games with a groin injury. But Washington cut John Potter, Forbath's temporary replacement, last week.

- Brian McNally

MIDSHIPMEN

Navy, other academies expect to play

The service academy football teams are preparing to play this weekend's scheduled games while still facing some uncertainty because of the partial government shutdown.

Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk said Monday that he and Naval Academy officials were providing more information to the Defense Department that shows the academy will not use government funds to play at Duke on Saturday.

"I know that the Department of Defense is again reviewing addition information as it pertains to expenses and travel and no government spending," he said Monday. "Hopefully we're gaining even more confidence in the fact that we're financially independent."

He added, "No one has told us we can't play."

Air Force plays a home game against Mountain West Conference rival San Diego State on Thursday night. Army is at home against Eastern Michigan. Spokesmen for both academies said the teams are preparing to play.

Last week USAA, a Texas-based insurance and banking company that provides services to military members and their families, paid $230,000 to cover Air Force's travel from Colorado Springs to Annapolis so the Falcons could play Navy.

- Associated Press