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NFL Media's Elliott Harrison sat down with Mark Istook and, as he is prone to do, made a list. This time he ranked his Top Five Washington Redskins of all-time.
And, because it's necessary to say, this is not THE definitive Top 5 list. Harrison, however does his best to add some historical relevance with his selections. See if you agree.
5. Art Monk:
Monk was a first-round draft choice by the Redskins in 1980 and was a unanimous all-rookie selection. He set NFL records for most catches in a season (106) and most consecutive games with at least one reception (164), a streak that extended to 183 games. In 1992, with his 820th career catch, he became the NFL's then-all-time leader in receptions.
"Underrated for much of his career, [it] took him a long time to get into the Hall of Fame, but I still remember 1984 when I was just getting into football, this guy caught 106 passes," Harrison said. "I was looking at the back of his football card and I was always used to seeing guys catch like 55 balls. 106! My mind couldn't process it."
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- Sonny Jurgensen:**
Acquired in 1964 in a trade that sent QB Norm Snead to the Eagles, Jurgensen won three NFL passing titles and helped lead the Redskins to the 1972 Championship game. In his career he was elected to the Pro Bowl four times and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Jurgensen took over in the early 60s, but really he had his most success, team-wise, with the Washington Redskins," Harrison said. "Of course they made the Super Bowl in 1972."
3. John Riggins:
A Super Bowl MVP, A Pro Bowler, a member of the 1980s All-Decade team, one of the 80 Greatest Redskins, part of the Redskins Ring of Fame, a Hall of Famer, John Riggins was a huge part of the Redskins success during their decade of glory , and he somehow managed to get better with age.
"What is a little bit more curious about him is that time he took time off in his career before coming back to the Redskins," Istook said, referring to 1980, when Riggins sat out a year during a contract dispute.
"That time off really made him a statistical anomaly," Harrison agreed. "John Riggins ran for over 11,000 yards, but he ran for more yards after 30 than before 30, and that's a remarkable achievement."
2. Darrell Green:
Green, another first-round pick by the Redskins, began his career at cornerback with a lot of promise, taking a 61-yard punt return back for a touchdown, the first time he had touched the ball in the NFL.
Named the NFL's Man of the Year in 1996, Green helped take home the latter two Redskins' Super Bowl victories. Over his 20 seasons, he established himself as one of the greatest Redskins and cornerbacks in NFL history (eventually heading to the Hall of Fame), recording 54 career interceptions, six of which he returned for a touchdown.
"When you talk about a player that's synonymous with a team," Harrison said "…Darrell Green 20 seasons with the Washington Redskins."
1. Sammy Baugh
In 1937, the year the Redskins drafted him, Baugh completed 81 passes and led the league with 1,127 yards passing en route to a championship.
He used his legs for more than just scrambling out of the pocket. Baugh could also kick and play defense, recording 31 career interceptions and tallying a 45.1-yard career punting average. His 51.4 average in 1940 remains an NFL record.
A charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baugh led the Redskins to five title games and two championships and his No. 33 jersey is the only one the Redskins have retired
"Sammy Baugh, arguably the greatest football player of the first 50 years in the NFL," Harrison said. "Sammy Baugh could punt, he could throw, he pick the ball off. Sammy Baugh could do it all."
What's your Top 5?
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