Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Photo: Wikipedia.

Jerry Jones, the owner of American football’s Dallas Cowboys thinks critics who claim Daniel Snyder lacks sensitivity for being unwilling to change the name of his football team from the Washington Redskins is unfair, and Snyder’s Jewish heritage plays a big part in Jones’ defense of him.

“It would be a real mistake — a real mistake — to think Dan, who is Jewish, has a lack of sensitivity regarding anybody’s feelings,” Jerry Jones told a room full of season-ticket holders before his team’s game versus the Redskins on Sunday, according to USA Today.

The term “Redskin” is a reference to Native Americans and is considered derogatory. The issue gained renewed vigor last week after U.S. President Barack Obama weighed in on the controversy, saying that it is time for the Washington team to change its name.

In May, 10 members of Congress sent a letter to the team’s owner and several others urging a name change. Another group of advocates for Native American issues has challenged the name in a case filed with the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

In response to the opposition Snyder remained defiant, telling USA Today in May, “We will never change the name of the team.”

“As a lifelong Redskins fan, and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it’s all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season,” Snyder said.

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell was on hand at the Jerry Jones meet-and-greet and said that the league would take into consideration the feelings of both fans and groups that opposed the name.

“We want to make sure what we’re doing is not insulting in any way to anybody,” Goodell said. “Again, I think the Redskins have always done this in a way that respects the honor and tradition and the history of Native Americans. And that’s something for them to be proud of.”