Now that Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 NFL team has taken a long-overdue step toward changing its name, itsa国际传媒檚 time to start lining up some possible replacements.

Washington Generals, anyone?

After defiantly resisting all calls to change its offensive moniker, the Washington NFLers finally bowed to the only thing that really matters.

The bottom line.

With the nation embroiled in social turmoil and economic upheaval, Nike stopped selling merchandise with the Washington nickname. For good measure, stadium title sponsor FedEx called on the team to come up with a moniker that would be more in tune with the current times rather than, say, the 1800s.

So, while Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 NFL team conducts what it calls a sa国际传媒渢horough reviewsa国际传媒� that almost will surely lead to a replacement by 2021 at the latest, letsa国际传媒檚 explore a few possibilities:

GENERALS sa国际传媒� This would be a nod to the lovable losers who spent decades serving as the Harlem Globetrotterssa国际传媒� nightly pushovers, compiling a record of one win and somewhere north of 16,000 losses before they went out of business in 2015. Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 NFL team hasnsa国际传媒檛 been quite that bad in recent years, but it did go 3-13 a year ago and last won a playoff game in 2005. If Generals doesnsa国际传媒檛 work out, how about the Federals? They were Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 entry in the USFL during the 1980s, going 7-29 over two seasons in the ill-fated spring football league. A seamless transition, that would be.

GRIDLOCK sa国际传媒� The District of Columbia has some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation, so this would seem fitting to all those commuters whosa国际传媒檝e been spent roughly the time it takes to play an NFL game just trying to get to work. Also, it sums up our current political climate.

BLAZE sa国际传媒� During the War of 1812, the British invaded Washington and set fire to numerous government buildings including the White House and the Capitol. Not necessarily a proud moment in the nationsa国际传媒檚 history, but probably a notch above Dan Snydersa国际传媒檚 embarrassing tenure as team owner.

BUREAUCRATS sa国际传媒� The team could pay tribute to all those nameless workers who keep the wheels of government droning along through turbulent times. Theysa国际传媒檝e certainly shown more imagination than some of Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 offensive schemes over the past couple of decades.

FOGGY BOTTOM BOYS sa国际传媒� Foggy Bottom is one of the citysa国际传媒檚 oldest neighbourhoods, which would give Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 NFL team a chance to play off the fictional band created for the Coen Brotherssa国际传媒� classic movie sa国际传媒淥 Brother, Where Art Thou?sa国际传媒� The Soggy Bottom Boys were fronted by a lip-syncing George Clooney, who hopefully could be persuaded to cut a video for the teamsa国际传媒檚 new right song, sa国际传媒淚 Am a Man of Constant Sorrow.sa国际传媒� Itsa国际传媒檚 a catchier tune (and certainly more appropriate for the long-suffering fan base) than the hokey sa国际传媒淗ail to the sa国际传媒�.sa国际传媒�

BLOSSOMS sa国际传媒� While perhaps lacking the machismo of other potential monikers, the citysa国际传媒檚 famed cherry blossoms are in full bloom for roughly as long as the hopes of a Washington NFL fan each season. About two weeks.

SENATORS sa国际传媒� Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 longtime baseball franchise was so horrible most years that its derisive motto became, sa国际传媒淔irst in war, first in peace, last in the American League.sa国际传媒� Hmm, that sounds familiar. Other names that were once used by pro sports franchises in the district include the Diplomats (a long-forgotten soccer team from the 1970s) and the Ambassadors (a team that never got off the ground in the World Football League). But forget about the Bullets, the NBA Wizardssa国际传媒� former name. That one was dropped because of its association with gun violence. It ainsa国际传媒檛 coming back.

HOGS sa国际传媒� This name hearkens back to the teamsa国际传媒檚 most glorious era, when a group of down-and-dirty behemoths dominated the offensive line of scrimmage and bullied Washington to three Super Bowl titles under Joe Gibbs. This might be the best way to appease those fans who are sure to object to changing the offensive moniker.

MONUMENTS sa国际传媒� Csa国际传媒檓on, how can you not like the Washington Monuments! A worthy tribute to the citysa国际传媒檚 stunning array of marble and granite remembrances, which honour everyone from the first president to Martin Luther King Jr. to the veterans of the Vietnam War. Some great logo possibilities, for sure.

RED TAILS sa国际传媒� This is our pick. It maintains a link to the teamsa国际传媒檚 current abomination of a name but also salutes the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the group of African American fighter pilots who broke down racial stereotypes during World War II.

Finally, Washingtonsa国际传媒檚 NFL team would have a name everyone could cheer with pride.

Paul Newberry, The Associated Press

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