Darrell Green stopped by Redskins Park on Tuesday afternoon not knowing exactly where he stood in terms of this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Green knew he was a semi-finalist for the Hall. Beyond that, he apparently knew very little about the process.
"I'm excited about the possibility," Green said. "It would be an awesome honor. But by the same token you don't really play this game as long as I did just to get into the Hall of Fame."
At about 5:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Green found out in the midst of an interview with the NFL Network that he was among 17 Hall of Fame 2008 finalists.
There are 21 Redskins enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, the most recent being legendary head coach George Allen in 2002.
That number has a decent chance to jump up to 22 (or more) in a little over two weeks, though. Redskins greats Art Monk and Russ Grimm are once again finalists for induction.
Green is the fresh face, from the Redskins' point of view, of course.
Widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the game, Green played with just one team between 1983 and 2002. He came to be known as "Mr. Redskin."
As a young player out of Texas A&I, Green was known for his great speed and he went on to maintain a high level of play well into his 40s.
Green said that playing 20 years--and playing at a high level all of those seasons--was among the accomplishments of which he was most proud.
The last player selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft, Green is the four-time winner of the NFL's Fastest Man competition.
In his 20 NFL seasons, Darrell recorded 54 interceptions, which he returned for 631 yards and six touchdowns.
He had the NFL record for the most consecutive seasons with an interception (19), was named to seven Pro Bowls and was named as a cornerback on the 1990's NFL All-Decade Team.
As all Redskins fans recall, one of his more notable performances was in a divisional playoff game against the Bears in Soldier Field in the 1987 postseason.
Green returned a punt 52 yards for the game-winning touchdown, clutching his side as the result of torn rib cartilage he suffered while leaping over a Bears special teamer.
Redskins fans also recall that Green came up with an interception in Super Bowl XXVI and a then-record 34-yard punt return in Super Bowl XVIII.
In 1988, Green, so noted for his community service initiatives, founded the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation, a faith-based charitable organization that serves the needs of children, their families and the communities in which they live.
Green was asked about Monk's chances for induction. Monk's exclusion from the Hall of Fame has been a controversial subject in recent years.
Green believes Monk is "destined" to make the Hall.
"It may even come this year," he added.
Green also commented on Joe Gibbs' recent retirement: "Actually, I was surprised that Coach Gibbs game back in 2004. That he has left the organization again is both a happy thing and a sad one. I'm excited for him. He left this organization in great shape."
Green predicted a Super Bowl meeting between the New York Giants and New England Patriots on Feb. 3 in Glendale, Ariz.
He told NFL Network: "New England is one of the great teams in NFL history. But I'm not going to say that they're better than some of our great Redskins teams."
