WASHINGTON -- Washington Redskins president Bruce Allen said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday that the pro football teams nickname is "respectful" toward Native Americans. On Thursday, half the U.S. Senate urged National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell to change the Washington clubs name, saying it is a racist slur and it is time to replace it. The franchise responded by releasing Allens letter. "Our use of Redskins as the name of our football team for more than 80 years has always been respectful of and shown reverence toward the proud legacy and traditions of Native Americans," he wrote. The letter references research that "the term Redskins originated as a Native American expression of solidarity." It notes that the teams logo was designed by Native American leaders and cites surveys that Native Americans and Americans as a whole support the name. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change the name, citing tradition, but there has been growing pressure including statements in recent months from President Barack Obama, lawmakers of both parties and civil rights groups. Last month, Reid took to the Senate floor to say Snyder should "do what is morally right" and change the name. In a letter Thursday, 49 senators mentioned the National Basketball Associations quick action recently to ban Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life after he was heard on an audio recording making offensive comments about blacks. They said Goodell should formally push to rename the Redskins. "We urge you and the National Football League to send the same clear message as the NBA did: that racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports," read the letter, which did not use the word "Redskins." Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida wrote his own letter saying he doesnt believe that retaining the Redskin name "is appropriate in this day and age." In a written response Thursday, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said "the intent of the teams name has always been to present a strong, positive and respectful image." Reid and Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state led the letter-writing effort. All senators on the letter are Democrats. Cantwell spokesman Jared Leopold said Republicans were not asked to participate. The senators noted that tribal organizations representing more than two million Native Americans across the U.S. have said they want the Redskins name dropped. Despite federal laws protecting their identity, "Every Sunday during football season, the Washington, D.C., football team mocks their culture," they wrote. "The NFL can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur." Custom Cowboys Jerseys . "Youre not really spending time to sit back and analyze what your competitions doing and things like that," Anthopoulos said. "Youre so focused on what were trying to get done." Ultimately, while the landscape around them changed with trades both major and minor, the Blue Jays did nothing before Thursdays non-waiver deadline. Dallas Cowboys Jerseys China . Tyrell appeared in seven games with the Lightning this year, he had no points in those appearances. The 24-year-old has seven goals and 17 assists in 132 career NHL games, all coming with the Lightning. He was selected in the second round, 47th overall, of the 2007 draft. http://www.cowboyscheap.com/.com) - A pair of programs shooting for their 10th win of the season get together at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, as the NC State Wolfpack tangle with 22nd-ranked West Virginia during the challenge round of the Gotham Classic. Cheap Dallas Cowboys Gear . The Earthquakes (6-9-7) were coming off a 5-0 loss at home last Saturday to FC Dallas. Even with the draw, the Sounders (13-7-3) climbed back into a tie for both the Western Conference and overall top spot in MLS. Seattle, West co-leader Real Salt Lake and East leader Sporting Kansas City all have 42 points. Authentic Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Vladimir Tarasenko scored in the third round of the shootout, and the St. Louis Blues stretched their winning streak to five with a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night.Tarasenko, who had a goal and an assist in regulation, fired a shot past Cam Talbot to end the game and give the Blues their eighth win in their last nine visits to Madison Square Garden (8-0-1).The Rangers lost at home in a shootout for the second straight game, following a 1-0 defeat against Winnipeg on Saturday. They are 4-1-2 in their past seven games.Alexander Steen also scored in the shootout, and Patrik Berglund and Jay Bouwmeester added goals in regulation for the Blues, who lost a 2-1 lead in the third period before tying it at 3. Brian Elliott made 36 saves.Martin St. Louis scored the tying and go-ahead goals in the third for the Rangers, who also led 1-0 in the first period on Chris Kreiders third of the season. Talbot stopped 31 shots.The Rangers earned a point despite a depleted defence corps and a rare start by Talbot, who gave Henrik Lundqvist his second game off this season. On defence, the Rangers were missing captain Ryan McDonagh (separated shoulder), John Moore (suspension) and Kevin Klein (foot). New York was forced to use Michael Kostka and recent call-ups Conor Allen and Dylan McIlrath.The Blues took their first lead at 3:50 of the third when defenceman Barret Jackmans shot hit Rangers forward Chris Mueller and then bounded in off Berglund for his first of the season.Soon after, New York was somehow denied after Elliott got out of position. The Blues had four other players in the crease, including David Backes and Jaden Schwartz on the goal line blocking pucks.The Blues escaped that flurry, but just over a minute later, the Rangers tied it 2-2 on St. Louis second of the season. Carl Hagelin sent a behind-the-back pass from behind the net to St. Louis, who sneaked behind Elliott and scored inside the right poost at 6:28.ddddddddddddNew York went ahead at 13:17 when Rick Nash feathered a perfect pass across the Blues zone that eluded defenceman Alex Pietrangelo and landed on St. Louis stick for his second goal of the night.However, the Rangers lead lasted only 1:16 before Bouwmeesters rising snap shot beat Talbot.Lee Stempniak scored New Yorks lone goal in the shootout.The Blues outshot the Rangers 17-8 in the second and got even at 1 on Tarasenkos seventh goal of the season and sixth in four games.With St. Louis on its first power play, Tarasenko — the NHLs No. 1 star of last week — gathered the puck near centre ice and streaked into the New York end, eluding defenders seemingly with each stride. He got in on Talbot, quickly moved left to right, shifting from forehand to backhand, and reaching wide to tuck the puck inside the post at 7:18.Elliott earned his first assist of the season on that goal.After a sluggish start, the Rangers turned up the pressure on the Blues and locked things down defensively in the first.On their first power play, the Rangers used 19-year-old rookie Anthony Duclair at the right point, and the move paid off. New York dug the puck free along the right-wing boards in the St. Louis end back to Duclair at the blue line. He moved the puck to his left to Matt Hunwick, whose shot was deflected into the net by Kreider from the slot at 5:29.St. Louis had the early 3-2 edge in shots, but the Rangers finished with a 15-4 shots lead. They did it even with McIlrath serving a fighting major in the final five minutes of the period.NOTES: Blues C Paul Stastny (shoulder) missed his seventh straight game but took park in contact drills Monday morning for the first time since he was injured against Arizona on Oct. 18. RW T.J. Oshie (concussion) sat out his third straight. ... Rangers LW Mats Zuccarello was out because of an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Ryan Malone, who cleared waivers earlier Monday. 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