Mike Carey refused to ref Washington Redskins games for ‘disrespectful’ name
By Cory Buck
Longtime NFL referee Mike Carey worked for eight years with a secret that could have cost someone their job. He’s still keeping that one, but he did reveal something he’s been hiding all that time. Someone in the league office honored his request in 2006 to never referee games in which the Washington Redskins were involved.
More from NFL
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Packers training camp news: Jordan Love struggles, Bakhtiari schedule, position switch
- 3 Cowboys who won’t be on the roster after training camp
- Packers: Aaron Rodgers reached out to Jordan Love this offseason
- Damar Hamlin is a ‘full go’ at Bills training camp
“When they were making assignments, I said I’d like to be excluded from those assignments,” Carey said per the Washington Post. “The league respectfully honored my request not to officiate Washington. It happened sometime after I refereed their playoff game in 2006, I think.”
Carey wouldn’t reveal who exactly honored his request.
I have quite a few friends who are Native Americans. And even if I didn’t have Native American friends, the name of the team is disrespectful.” -Mike Carey
It should come as no surprise that Mike Carey is that classy. He’s always been a total pro on the field and who can make their arms look half as mechanical as Carey can? His reasons for the request were simple and succinct.
“It just became clear to me that to be in the middle of the field, where something disrespectful is happening, was probably not the best thing for me.”
Mike Carey maintains that he has never uttered the word ‘Redskin’ when working on the job. “I’ve called them Washington all my life. And I will continue to call them Washington.”