Alternative Names for NFL Teams

     A few weeks ago, I was reading an ESPN article about a uniform redesign contest for the Los Angeles Rams. Many designs brought back the Rams old Yellow and Blue. However, there was one design by Walter Srocki that saw the Rams in Black, Blue, and Red. Additionally, Srocki renamed the Rams the Black Sheep. While I wouldn't want the Rams to change their name, it got me thinking about other cool names for teams that would keep with the theme of their current name. Some of you might remember a post called Bad Nicknames For All 32 Teams that I wrote. This will be different than that because these names will have a more serious theme. If you want to check out the bad nicknames post then just click the link above. However, before you click I want to warn you that some of the names are offensive. Those names do no represent my personal views in anyway, but it it hard to to have a post about BAD nicknames if they aren't offensive in some way. I just put names I've heard a team be called or possibly would be called.

Arizona Cardinals - Arizona Red Birds - For the first name, we'll stick with Srocki's theme and call the Cardinals the Red Birds. This actually would work. The name the "Cardinals" isn't very fierce, but the "Red Birds" brings a sense of war to Arizona.

Atlanta Falcons - Atlanta Raptors - A falcon is a bird of prey which also is known as a Raptor. The only issue is that Raptors are known to be dinosaurs. Also, the Falcons already have a pretty sweet name as it is.  

Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore Crows - Ravens are a type of crow. However, I still like the name the "Ravens" better.

Buffalo Bills - Buffalo Bison - The Bills are named after Buffalo Bill. However, Buffalo Bill was a western frontiersman and New York is far from the west. Bison would actually work better as they wouldn't have to change their logo and Buffalo and Bison are both the same animal.

Carolina Panthers - Charlotte Black Cats - I was thinking of just changing the Panthers location name, but thought that would be a cop out. Charlotte deserves to have their name associated with the team. The best name would probably be the Charlotte Panthers.

Chicago Bears - Chicago Cubs - This is just because of the baseball team. 

Cincinnati Bengals - Cincinnati Tigers - A Bengal = A Bengal Tiger.

Cleveland Browns - Cleveland Dogs - If you ever see a Cleveland game, then you'll have seen people wear brown dog masks. Even though the team is named after boxer Joe Louis, the dogs would be a cooler name.

Dallas Cowboys - Dallas Bandits - The Cowboys should never change there name, but it would be a cool alternate reality.

Denver Broncos - Denver Mustangs - Not all Broncos would be considered Mustangs, but Mustangs are a cooler and a more fierce name.

Detroit Lions - Detroit Felines - The lion is the king of the jungle, but it is still a feline after all. However, the Lions should never change their name. 

Green Bay Packers - Green Bay Cheeseheads - The Packers are already nicknamed the Cheeseheads and would be an easy transition.

Houston Texas - Houston Oilers - The Tennessee Titans originally came from Houston and were called the Oilers. Old school NFL fans might want to see the Oilers back in action.

Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Hoosiers - The Colts were originally named for Baltimore's old horse breeding history. However, the Colts are now in Indiana. They should honor that. 

Jacksonville Jaguars - Jacksonville Cats - Jaguars are a big cat.

Kansas City Chiefs - Kansas City Native Americans - Eventually PC will catch up to Kansas City. 

Los Angeles Rams - Los Angeles Mountain Goats - Not as good as Black Sheep, but still a goodie.

Miami Dolphins - Miami Sharks - Dolphins are such a not intimidating animal, but a shark is. Dolphins and sharks are similar enough.

Minnesota Vikings - Minnesota Freebooters - Freebooter is a synonym  for Viking. 

New England Patriots - New England Yankees - All Patriots are Yankees.

New Orleans Saints - New Orleans Martyrs - Saints are synonymous with martyrs 

New York Giants - New York Trumps - This one is more of a joke, but New York is a city of big-shots, and no one is a bigger shot than Trump who is from New York.

New York Jets - New York Mets - Once again it has to do with the baseball team in the area. 

Oakland Raiders - Raider Nation - The Raiders should get rid of their city affiliation. They are the only team that is truly a nation (besides maybe the Cowboys). 

Philadelphia Eagles - Philadelphia Liberty Birds - Eagles represent liberty in the nations old capital. 

Pittsburgh Steelers - Pittsburgh Pirates - The Pirates is the name they were originally known as.

San Diego Chargers - San Diego Lightning - Chargers create electricity. 

San Francisco 49ers - San Francisco Gold Miners - The 49ers are named for the the gold rush in California. The Gold Miners would be a good change and it rhymes with the old name.  

Seattle Seahawks - Seattle Kwakwaka'wakw Nation - The Seahawks were named as a tribute to the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay Bucs - Just shorten the name and it would be much easier to say.

Tennessee Titans - Nashville Notes - The Titans need a complete overhaul of their name to represent where they play.

Washington Redskins - Washington Pigskins - Obviously I didn't make up this name, but when the Redskins inevitably cave to pressure and change their name, it should be changed to the most popular alternative name used now. 

Sources

https://www.audubon.org/news/what-seahawk-anyway

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100523125103AAswmxX

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110118091014AASgAO1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_of_prey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bills

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Baltimore_Colts

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14746942/uni-watch-contest-results-how-redesign-rams-return-los-angeles

https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&q=panthers+animal&oq=panthers&gs_l=serp.1.1.0i71l8.0.0.0.15986.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1..64.serp..0.0.0._W3_KnAXOLY

https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&q=is+a+bengal+a+tiger&oq=is+a+bengal+a&gs_l=serp.3.0.0j0i22i30l9.106930.264847.0.267113.18.18.0.0.0.0.233.2142.4j10j2.16.0....0...1.1.64.serp..2.16.2140.B0ie6EUK7OY

https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&q=what+is+a+hoosier&oq=what+is+a+ho&gs_l=serp.3.1.0j0i20j0l8.13167.17566.0.19734.20.16.4.0.0.0.167.1782.0j14.14.0....0...1.1.64.serp..2.18.1806.2JPBjnQSnlc

https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&q=where+do+the+carolina+panthers+play&oq=where+do+the+c&gs_l=serp.3.0.0i20j0l9.116681.123784.0.125102.28.21.7.0.0.0.175.2511.1j20.21.0....0...1.1.64.serp..0.28.2552.1_vKjim3fuk

https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&q=why+are+the+browns+called+the+browns&oq=why+are+the+br&gs_l=serp.3.2.0i20j0j0i20j0l7.218337.220970.0.223634.14.14.0.0.0.0.138.1446.1j11.12.0....0...1.1.64.serp..2.12.1444.DpW6uMxZku4

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=what%20are%20lions&oq=what%20are%20lions&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3274j0j4

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=what%20is%20a%20raven&oq=what%20is%20a%20Raven&aqs=chrome.0.0l6.6840j1j4

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=where%20does%20the%20tennessee%20titans%20play&oq=where%20does%20the%20ten&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.8704j1j4

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-mustang-and-a-bronco

http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/viking

http://www.worldatlas.com/na/us/in/where-is-indianapolis.html

Why Ram Releases Made Sense

     A few weeks ago, the now-Los Angeles Rams released Chris Long, James Laurinaitis, and Jared Cook. Now many fans were sad to see some of their favorite players cut. Many more were surprised, but each player's cut made sense. Chris Long had been injured quiet a few times, and cut a good amount of salary off the books. The Rams are stacked on the defensive line and didn't need long. Cook never lived up to his potential in St. Louis and his cost was not worth it. Laurinaitis was the most emotional cut. While James is a great leader, he has been slowing down and with Alec Olgetree becoming a franchise player, James was expendable.



Sources
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/19/rams-release-chris-long-james-laurinaitis-and-jared-cook/

A Farewell to Peyton Manning

    The last Moshe Football post talked about why Peyton Manning would be a bad fit for the Rams. The post also had an underlining message that Peyton should retire with his fairy-tale ending. Today, Manning officially retired from the NFL. We should all be honored to have seen an instant first ballot HOFer like Manning play.