Harry Reid used the NBA's decision to ban owner Donald Sterling for life as an excuse to call for the NFL to change the name of the Washington D.C. franchise Wednesday.

As the Washington Post reported, Reid applauded the NBA's swift action in banning the Los Angeles Clippers owner for life after racist remarks made by Sterling were leaked by TMZ.com.

Claiming the Redskins name has a "tradition of racism," Reid said NFL owner Daniel Snyder's decision to keep the name Reid finds so offensive is "untoward" and asked for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to follow the NBA's lead:

Reid applauded NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for his "work to swiftly move to stamp out bigotry in its ranks," and said the league has set a new standard for how professional sports leagues should respond to racism. He then suggested that the NFL should take notice.

"How long will the NFL continue to do nothing -- zero -- as one of its teams bears a name that inflicts so much pain on Native Americans?" Reid asked.

There has not been a uniform objection by Native American organizations to the Redskins name similar to the universal condemnation Sterling's remarks received from blacks and whites alike.