Redskins hired lobbying firm in May to help with name controversy

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The Redskins hired lobbying firm McGuireWoods Consulting back in May. (USATSI)

The never-ending tilt-a-whirl that is the Redskins efforts to save their name continues on: Washington's football time hired a lobbying firm in May according to lobbying disclosures filed.

Dan Snyder's team hired the McGuireWoods Consulting firm amid a major storm of politicking about the Redskins name, the Washington Post reports.

50 senators, including Senate majority leader Harry Reid, penned a letter to the Redskins urging them to change the team's name.

“The NFL can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur," the letter said. "We urge you and the National Football League to send the same clear message as the N.B.A. did: that racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports."

The lobbying disclosure form ...nline here; the Redskins designated the code "SPO" (which stands for Sports/Athletics) for general lobbying purposes.

More specifically, they want McGuirreWoods Consulting to lead "discussions of team origins, history and traditions, Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and youth sports, activities of Original Americans' Foundation."

We've seen President Obama address the issue recently, stating the team should "think ab..." the name. Senator John McCain admitted he "would probably change...me as well if it were up to him.

At each turn the Redskins continue to defend the name and with specificity. Bruce Allen fired back at...0 senators and the Redskins responded to...a directly, through hired gun Lanny Davis.

Perhaps the Redskins biggest problem is the inability to keep the controversy from continually bubbling up to the forefront of sports-related discussions. The team hiring a lobbying firm certainly won't help.