Native American Eagles player refuses to use term ‘Redskins’

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Allen Barbre comes from Native American ancestry. Because of that, he refuses to say the full name of the team he is set to face this weekend.

Barbre, whose great-grandfather Eli Barbry was a Chief of the Tunica-Biloxi Native American tribe of Louisiana, knows first-hand why so many people want the Washington Redskins to change their name.

“It’s probably offensive to some people, and I can see why,” Barbre told Mark Eckel of NJ Advance Media. “It’s certainly a derogatory term from back in the day, but I never put a lot into it. As a matter of fact, though, I just don’t say it. I don’t use the word.”

Barbre says he has never discussed the use of the term Redskins with his family, and he holds no ill will toward the franchise because of it. He has, however, come up with his own nickname for Philly’s division rival.

“I call them the Pigskins,” Barbre said.

Barbre’s grandfather still lives on the Tunica-Biloxi reservation in Louisiana. He said he enjoys visiting and learning more about where his ancestors came from, but admits he is not so opposed to the term Redskins that he would refuse to play for Washington.

“I never thought about that,” Barbre said with a laugh. “I mean I never really thought of it as being a racist term as a team.”

Unfortunately for people like Barbre and his family, Redskins owner Dan Snyder is more focused on pathetic PR stunts like this than he is on not offending people.