News & Politics

Redskins Cornerback DeAngelo Hall Says Team “Probably Should” Change Its Name

Hall is the first active player to suggest publicly that the team should change its name.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall appears to have become the first active member of Washington’s NFL team to openly support changing the team’s name. Hall, appearing on Fox Sports this morning, says “they probably should,” when asked by host Mike Hill if the team should get a new moniker.

“They won’t for a while at least,” Hall adds at the end of the interview.

Hall’s segment on the show, Keepin’ It Real With Mike Hill, was full of candid takes from the ten-year NFL veteran. Hall also questioned the decision to fire head coach Mike Shanahan after a 3-13 season. Hill asks Hall if he thought Shanahan’s firing was fair.

“In a result-based business, yes. You gotta win games,” Hall says, but quickly doubles back on that response, adding “Was it fair? Probably not.”

Hall, who finished his fifth season in Washington with four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, also expresses doubts that he’ll be suiting up in burgundy and gold in 2014, but mostly because he’s looking for a new contract, and doesn’t want to take another pay cut as he did before last season.

Would Hall stay in Washington for $1 million? “Absolutely not,” he says. And being honest about a name his current team vigorously defends might throw another wrench into contract negotiations.

Watch video of Hall’s inteview below:

Staff Writer

Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.