Throughout the 2009 regular season, the Redskins are putting a spotlight on a Hall of Fame player each week. This week: Art Monk:
There is a short list of players who were on the Redskins' four Super Bowl teams during the 1980s--and Art Monk is on it. As Washington's first-round draft choice in 1980, Monk quickly made his presence felt and was named a unanimous all-rookie selection after setting a franchise rookie record of 58 receptions.
Monk played 14 of his 16 NFL seasons in the burgundy and gold and set numerous team records along the way. He is the franchise leader in career receptions (888), career receiving yards (12,026), receptions in a single game (13), and reception in a single season (106).
His impressive 6-3, 210-pound stature made him the prototypical big wideout and his downfield presence gave the Redskins a deep threat to go along with their imposing defense and bruising rushing attack.
Monk's most impressive statistical season came in 1984 when Monk caught eight or more passes in six games,had five games of 100 or more receiving yards and caught 10 passes for 200 yards in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. His efforts that season, 106 catches for 1,372 yards, earned him team MVP honors as well as his first Pro Bowl selection.
By exceeding the 1,000-yard mark in the two seasons that followed, Monk became the first Redskins' receiver to have three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons and the first Redskin to have over 70 catches three years in a row.
Beyond dominating Washington's receiving record books, Monk also made his mark league-wide, setting numerous records. At the time of his retirement, Monk held NFL records for most catches in a season (106), and most consecutive games with at least one reception (183).
In 1992, by making his 820th career reception, Monk became the NFL's then-all-time leader in receptions; he finished his career with 940 catches and currently remains in fifth place on the career receptions list.
Monk was a pivotal player for the Redskins during the 1980s and early '90s and during his 14-year tenure in Washington the team had just three losing seasons.
