Washington bans fans’ face paint, headdresses
The Washington Football Team on Wednesday quietly announced that fans would not be allowed to wear Native Americaninspired headdresses or face paint at FedEx Field.
The change in policy was announced with other updated stadium policies and protocols for games this season, including recommending face masks for unvaccinated fans, and concession stands going cashless.
“We are excited to welcome everyone back wearing their Burgundy & Gold,” the team said in a statement. “However, Native Americaninspired ceremonial headdresses or face paint may no longer be worn into the stadium.”
The fan attire policy comes just over a year after the team dropped its logo and removed “Redskins” from its name after years of advocates’ calling for the change. The team discarded the name after widespread protests for social justice that followed George Floyd’s killing, and after pressure from sponsors including FedEx, Nike and Pepsi.
The new dress code also comes as teams including the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Indians have made similar changes. Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team announced in July that it would change its name to the Guardians, and three days later, the Chiefs said the team would retire its mascot, a horse named Warpaint, while retaining the team name.
Raiders sign McCoy: The Las Vegas Raiders signed defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, a sixtime Pro Bowler and a firstteam AllPro in 2013 who sat out last season with a torn quadriceps.
McCoy was drafted third overall by Tampa Bay in 2010. He spent his first nine seasons with the Buccaneers before playing for Carolina in 2019 and signing with Dallas last season.
Brady to support Manning:
Peyton Manning’s longtime friend and rival Tom Brady said he will attend Manning’s enshrinement ceremony into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sunday, flying to Canton, Ohio, on the Buccaneers’ day off from training camp. The quarterback will be accompanied by his head coach, Bruce Arians, who was Manning’s first quarterbacks coach with the Colts.
Brady also was a college teammate at Michigan of another inductee, cornerback Charles Woodson.
Briefly: Former Stanford and 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo, now with the New York Giants, suffered a seasonending torn Achilles during practice . ... The Jets signed former 49ers quarterback Josh Johnson to back up rookie Zach Wilson. New York head coach Robert Saleh was the 49ers defensive coordinator last season during Johnson’s third stint with San Francisco . ... The Bears signed linebacker Alec Ogletree to a oneyear deal. He has 71½ sacks and 12 interceptions in eight seasons for the Rams, Giants and Jets . ... Giants center Joe Looney retired just four days after signing with the team. Looney spent his first three NFL seasons with the 49ers, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2012.