ESPN needed a replacement for "Monday Night Football" play-by-play duties after Mike Tirico left, and Sean McDonough got the call. His first regular-season game will be Monday, when the Steelers face the Redskins in Landover, Md.
But how often will McDonough say the latter team name during the broadcast? CBS Sports' Phil Simms has tried to avoid using the nickname in the past, but as he admits, "it’s not the easiest habit to break."
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Speaking to Mighty 1090 AM radio in San Diego, McDonough said, "As much as I can avoid saying it, I will," referring to the team's nickname.
"I read a poll in the Washington Post a few months ago that said 90 percent of people who identify themselves as Native American are not offended by the nickname. And that's a higher number than I would have thought, but it also means 10 percent are, and I know some of the 10 percent who are," McDonough said. "So, it is their nickname, and I think the long answer to your question would be, 'Am I going to actively avoid saying it?' Probably not. 'Will I say it as infrequently as possible?' Perhaps as few as one to two references is highly likely."
Essentially, the team's nickname isn't ideal, but it is the name, and it's difficult to avoid using it during the course of a three-hour game.
