- The Washington Times - Friday, December 17, 2010

Everyone who knows D.C. Mayor-elect Vincent Gray for any length of time knows he is a diehard fan of the Washington Redskins who wants to see the city’s football franchise, now playing at a stadium in suburban Maryland, return to the District.

So when he was asked by a writer for The Washington Times if he had heard about starting Redskins’ quarterback Donovan McNabb being benched, the D.C. native and former football player became animated.

“I just heard, for [backup quarterback] Rex Grossman. He was the baloney in the sandwich the last time,” Mr. Gray said. “That just strikes me as strange.”

Mr. Gray said he had received a message earlier from Mr. McNabb’s father, who does charitable work with youths.

“I don”t know if I should call him back,” Mr. Gray joked.

On the campaign to lure the team back to the city, the mayor-elect said it’s not a matter of whether the Redskins return, but the costs of a new public-private partnership.

“I think it has to do with whether we can afford it,” he said.

Mr. Gray’s comments followed a noontime press conference at which he announced the reappointment of several officials from the administration of outgoing Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Those reappointed included Julie Koo, staying on as executive director of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, and Eric Washington, who will continue to head the Office of Cable Television.

• Deborah Simmons can be reached at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.

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