Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Washington Football Team Dream Team

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of
the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom
suggests that players from different eras cannot be compared.
However, I have decided to defy that notion. 


Considering that the The Washington Football Team has a
star-crossed legacy, the task becomes even more challenging. The
franchise recently dropped the name "Redskins" but has not named
a replacement and is known as The Washington Football Team
until further notice but any subsequent reference in this story will
contain the name "Redskins."


Today, I have taken on the daunting task of compiling an All-Time
Redskins team. The Redskins were NFL champions twice (1937,
1942) and Super Bowl champions three times (1982, 1987, 1991).
Ray Flaherty coached the NFL championship teams. The George
Allen era (1971-1980) brought a lot of success but no
championship. The Joe Gibbs Part I era (1981-1992) brought
three Super Bowl titles. Other than that, there has been a lot of
disarray. Not even the return of Gibbs (2004-2007) and the hiring
of Mike Shanahan (2010-2013) could restore glory. Nonetheless,
there is enough positive history to create a dream team. 


There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player
needed to have played at least four seasons as a Redskin. Since
the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard needs to
be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. Being in the Hall
of Fame is the first consideration coupled with impact on the
franchise. The number of All-Pro seasons are a top consideration
with longevity also helping immensely. While I understand it is
hard to compare eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 


Generational reminders


All eras matter. Being on an NFL or Super Bowl winning Redskins
team does not get you a hall pass on this team. Winning or losing
eras, all high-level performers get considered. 


To further the challenge, we are constructing the roster in two-deep
format, which means some worthy players get left off the list. So,
before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself,
“Who do I take off the list at that position?”  


OFFENSE


QB -- First team: Sammy Baugh. Honorable mention: Joe
Theisman.


At the time of his retirement in 1953, Baugh established 13 NFL
records at three positions (quarterback, punter, defensive back).
Baugh was the first quarterback to make the forward pass a
weapon as opposed to an act of desperation. Baugh was a
member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1963. Baugh played
on two NFL champions. He was a four-time All Pro and led the NFL
in completion percentage four times. Theisman’s numbers do not
scream Hall of Fame but he was a consistent performer in his 12
years as a Redskin and gets the nod over Sonny Jurgenson.
Theisman has four franchise passing records and led the team
to consecutive Super Bowl appearances (1982-1983), winning
the former and losing the latter. He was the NFL MVP in 1983. 


RB -- First team: Larry Brown, John Riggins. Honorable mention:
Stephen Davis, Clinton Portis.


You would be hard-pressed to find someone who personified the
Redskins more than Riggins, who was nicknamed “The Diesel”
and “Riggo.” Riggins, who retired after the 1985 season, remains
the franchise’s all-time rushing leader. Though known for his
physical running style, he had deceptive speed. The Hall of
Famer’s performance in Super Bowl XVII is one of the best on
Super Sunday. Riggins carried 38 times for 166 yards and a
43-yard touchdown to lead the Redskins to a 27-17 win over
the Miami Dolphins. Brown remains No. 3 in franchise history in
rushing yardage. In eight seasons, he finished Top 5 in the NFL
in rushing yardage five times. He was a Pro Bowler four times and
an All Pro twice. He led the NFL in rushing in 1970 and was NFL
MVP in 1972. Portis spent his first two seasons with the Denver
Broncos before being traded to Washington, where he spent his
next seven seasons. Though Portis retired just 77 yards shy of the
10,000 mark, he had a distinguished career as a Redskin. He
surpassed the 1,000 yard four times and is the franchise’s second
all-time career rushing leader behind Riggins. Davis was a fullback
and split carries with Terry Allen in his first three years but was the
bellcow the next three years. He eclipsed 1,300 yards each
season from 1999-2001. Davis is fourth in franchise history in
career rushing yardage. 


FB -- First team: Charlie Harraway. Honorable mention: Don
Bosseler.


Harraway played five years (1969-1973) with Washington and was
paired in the backfield with Brown. The Redskins reached the
postseason in three of those years including Super Bowl VII.
Harraway amassed 3,801 yards from scrimmage and missed
just one game. 


WR -- First team: Charley Taylor, Art Monk. Honorable mention:
Gary Clark, Santana Moss.


Taylor retired in 1978 as the NFL career leader with 649 receptions.
Taylor, who is in the Hall of Fame, played 14 seasons, eight were
Pro Bowl and one All Pro. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in
1964. Monk was a picture of consistency in 14 years as a Redskin.
In nine of his 16 NFL seasons, Monk recorded at least 50
receptions. He exceeded the 1,000 yard mark five times. Monk,
who is in the Hall of Fame, played in three Pro Bowls, had one All
Pro season and played on three Super Bowl champions. Though
Clark is not in the Hall of Fame, he was remarkably consistent.
He became the first wide receiver in NFL history to catch at least
50 passes in his first ten seasons. Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt
have since duplicated the feat. Clark played on two Super Bowl
champions, was a Pro Bowler four times and All Pro once. Though
Moss was only a Pro Bowler one time in ten years as a Redskin,
he owns the franchise record for single season receiving yards
(1,483). He had three seasons exceeding 1,000 yards. Moss is
fourth in franchise history in career receiving yards. 


TE -- First team: Jerry Smith. Honorable mention: Chris Cooley.


Smith played 13 seasons, all with the Redskins from 1965-1977,
and still holds the franchise record for touchdown catches by a
tight end (60). Smith made the Pro Bowl twice and All Pro once.
Cooley, like a few Redskin tight ends in franchise history, was a
mixture of fullback and tight end. Cooley was a two-time Pro
Bowler and is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions by a
tight end (429). 


OT -- First team: Joe Jacoby, Trent Williams. Honorable mention:
Chris Samuels, George Starke.


The Redskins have an embarrassment of riches at this position.
Jacoby not being in the Hall of Fame is a travesty. He was the
founding member of the renowned Redskins offensive line known
as “The Hogs.” In 13 seasons, Jacoby played on three Super
Bowl champions, went to four straight Pro Bowls and was a three-
time All Pro. Williams and Samuels were high-end first-round draft
picks and lived up to their advanced billing. Williams was the fourth
overall pick in the 2010 draft. Samuels was the third overall pick in
the 200 draft. Williams was a Pro Bowler seven times in 11
seasons. Samuels started 141 games and was a six-time Pro Bowl
in ten seasons. Starke played from 1973-1984, overlapping the
George Allen and Joe Gibbs eras but was known as the “Head
Hog.” He never achieved any Pro Bowl or All Pro recognition but
longevity and reliability earn him points. He started 147 of 156
games. 


OG -- First team: Russ Grimm, Mark May. Honorable mention:
Raleigh McKenzie, Vince Promuto.


Grimm and May, like Jacoby, were mainstays of the renowned
“Hogs” that were the staple of the Joe Gibbs era. Grimm’s induction
into the Hall of Fame in 2010 was long overdue. Grimm played three
Super Bowl champions and as a Pro Bowler for four straight
seasons (1983-1986). May played on two Super Bowl champions
and though he was only a Pro Bowl selection one time (1988), he
was reliable and durable, starting 115 of 123 possible games as a
Redskin. McKenzie was nicknamed “Rallo” as he began as a
reserve and evolved into a vital member of “The Hogs.” McKenzie
played on two Super Bowl champions. He was named to the All-
NFL team in 1991. Promoto gets the nod over Mark Schlereth
based on longevity as a Redskin. Promoto was a fixture on the
Redskins line in the 1960s. He started 112 of the 130 games he
played and earned two Pro Bowl nods in 11 seasons. 


C -- First team: Lenn Hauss. Honorable mention: Jeff Bostic.


Hauss was drafted in the ninth round and became the Redskins
starting center four games into his rookie year. He never
relinquished the job until retiring. Hauss played 14 seasons and
was a five-time All Pro. Bostic was yet another staple of the “Hogs.”
Bostic had just one Pro Bowl and All Pro season (1983) in 14
seasons but should have had more. Bostic gets a spot on this
team for consistency and longevity at a physical position. 


DEFENSE


DE -- First team: Charles Mann, Dexter Manley. Honorable
mention: Ron McDole, Andre Carter.


Mann and Manley were a deadly combination. Mann was on three
Super Bowl winners (two as a Redskin, one more as a San
Francisco 49er). In 11 seasons as a Redskin, Mann was a Pro
Bowler four times and All Pro twice. Mann remains No. 3 in
franchise history with 83 sacks. Manley accumulated baggage
but was nicknamed the “Secretary of Defense” for a reason. Though
he had just one Pro Bowl and All Pro season (both 1986), he
remains the franchise leader in quarterback sacks (97.5). Manley
played on two Super Bowl champions. McDole did not miss a
single game (regular season or postseason) in his eight seasons.
McDole was a key defensive player during the George Allen era.
He was stout against the run and seldom out of position. Carter
came to Washington as a free agent from San Francisco in 2006.
Carter had five solid years as a Redskin, starting 80 consecutive
games and compiling 34 sacks. 


DT -- First team: Dave Butz, Diron Talbert. Honorable mention:
Darryl Grant, Bill Brundige.


Butz was one of the largest players of his era at 6-8, 300 pounds.
Butz played 14 seasons for the Redskins and was Defensive
Player of the Year in 1983. Butz played for the Redskins 1982
Super Bowl champions and played 203 games as a Redskin.
Talbert was a Pro Bowler just once in ten seasons but missed
only four games in a ten-year span. Grant was often
overshadowed by Mann, Manley and to a lesser extent Butz.
Grant, however, was no less valuable. In 10 seasons, he played
for two Super Bowl champions, tallied 27 sacks and recovered
11 fumbles. Though quarterback sacks were not an official stat
in Brundige’s era (1970-1977), he was a stalwart pass rusher.
He started 74 games and recovered five fumbles. 


OLB -- First team: Chris Hanburger, Ryan Kerrigan. Honorable
mention: Wilber Marshall, Brad Dusek.


Longevity and excellence give Hanburger and his Hall of Fame
career a big nod. Hanburger started 177 of 187 possible games.
He was a nine time Pro Bowler, five-time All Pro and a Hall of
Famer. He was one of the best outside linebackers of his era.
Kerrigan is currently a 3-4 linebacker but given that the Redskins
have been historically a 4-3, he could be a defensive end in that
alignment. Kerrigan recently completed his ninth season and has
been a Pro Bowler four times. Kerrigan has 90 career sacks, one
behind Manley for the franchise high. Though Marshall is known
for his time as a Chicago Bear, he also made a significant mark
as a Redskin. Marshall signed as a free agent in 1988. Marshall
never missed a game in five seasons as a Redskin and was a
key contributor on the 1991 Super Bowl championship team. As
a Redskin, he made the Pro Bowl in 1992, recorded 24.5 sacks,
12 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries. Dusek was nothing
spectacular but was a solid starter for eight seasons. He returned
three fumble recoveries for a touchdown and is fourth in franchise
history with 16 fumble recoveries. 


ILB -- First team: Neil Olkewicz, London Fletcher. Honorable
mention: Harold McLlinton, Sam Huff.


Olkewicz was an unsung but critical part of the Redskins success
in the 1980s. Though he did not earn any Pro Bowl or All Pro
recognition and was never the most talented, his effort and
preparation were unmatched. Fletcher could be on three all-time
teams (Rams and Bills) as well as Redskins. Fletcher played
seven seasons as a Redskin, starting all possible 112 games
and was a Pro Bowler for four straight seasons. What makes
Fletcher’s career even more amazing, he was an undrafted free
agent. McLinton was impervious to pain and known as “The Tank”
because of the bandages and padded armor he was notorious for
wearing. McLinton was a vital contributor on the 1972 NFC
Championship team. Huff was known mostly for his time with the
division rival New York Giants but also made an impact as a
Redskin in his five seasons. Huff was a Pro Bowler in 1964 and
helped the Redskins defense become the No. 2 ranked unit in the
NFL. 


CB -- First team: Darrell Green, Pat Fischer. Honorable mention:
Mike Bass, Champ Bailey.


Regardless of position there may not have been a better Redskin
than Green. The one-time fastest man in the NFL played 20 years
with seven Pro Bowl seasons and four All Pro on the way to a Hall
of Fame career. He remains the franchise leader with 54
interceptions. He played on two Super Bowl champions and is one
of the best players in NFL history. Fischer played 10 of his 17
seasons with the Redskins (his first seven were as a Cleveland
Brown). The 5-9 Fischer had many memorable battles with
Philadelphia Eagles’ receiver Harold Carmichael, who was 6-8.
Fischer was All Pro in 1969. Fischer recorded 27 of his 56
career interceptions as a Redskin. Though Bass only earned one
All Pro recognition (second team in 1974), he was reliable in that
he started all 98 regular season games. Bass is fourth in franchise
history with 30 career interceptions. Bass scored the Redskins’
lone touchdown in their Super Bowl VII loss to Miami. Though
Bailey is mostly known for his time with the Denver Broncos, where
he spent 10 seasons, his five years in Washington were impactful.
Bailey made four Pro Bowls and intercepted 18 passes in five years. 


S -- First team: Sean Taylor, Ken Houston. Honorable mention:
Brig Owens, Mark Murphy.


In a sense, Taylor’s career is in the “what might have been” category
since he died after four NFL seasons. Though his life and career
were short-lived, there is no denying how impactful Taylor was in his
four seasons. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time All Pro.
Taylor was one of the hardest hitting safeties of his era. Houston
played his first six years with the Houston Oilers and the remaining
eight as a Redskin. Houston is a Hall of Famer and was selected to
12 consecutive Pro Bowls. Houston recorded 49 interceptions, 21
fumble recoveries and scored 12 touchdowns. Owens played 12
years with the Redskins and though he never earned Pro Bowl or
All Pro recognition, he was a consistently solid starter over a
lengthy period of time. Owens remains second in franchise history
with 36 interceptions. Murphy played eight seasons with the Redskins
with 1982-1983 being his finest hour. In Super Bowl XVII, his second-
half interception of David Woodley helped the Redskins beat Miami.
In 1983, he was an All Pro. 


SPECIAL TEAMS


K -- First team:  Mark Moseley. Honorable mention: Chip
Lohmiller.


Moseley was the last of the straight-away kickers and played 13
seasons with the Redskins. He remains the franchise’s all-time
leading scorer with 1,206 points. Moseley was a two-time Pro
Bowler with his best season coming in 1982, when he was NFL
MVP. He became the second kicker to earn the award since Lou
Groza. Coming after Moseley was a tough act to follow but
Lohmiller had a solid seven-year career with the Redskins, including
being a member of the 1991 Super Bowl champions. That season,
he was All Pro. Lohmiller is second in franchise history in points
scored. 


P -- First team: Baugh. Honorable mention: Tress Way.


Besides his passing prowess, Baugh could swing field position
battles as well, averaging 45.1 yards on 338 punts. Way was
waived by the Chicago Bears but has gone on to have an
outstanding career with the Redskins. Way recently completed
his sixth season and he owns a career 46.6 yard average, best
in franchise history. 


RETURN -- First team: Brian Mitchell. Honorable mention: Mike
Nelms.


Mitchell is second in NFL history in all-purpose yardage (23,330;
16,905 as a Redskin) but returning kicks was where Mitchell
earned his keep. Mitchell was an All-Pro in 1995 and returned 13
kicks (nine kickoffs, four punts) for touchdowns and provided
favorable field position on numerous other occasions. Mitchell
played for the 1991 Super Bowl champions. Though Mitchell gets
the first-team nod for franchise longevity, Nelms was excellent in
his own right in making the Pro Bowl three times. Nelms finished
his five seasons with 175 kickoff returns for 4,128 yards, 212 punt
returns for 1,948 yards and two touchdowns.


HEAD COACH --- First team: Joe Gibbs. Honorable mention:
George Allen. 


The Gibbs Part I era, which spanned from 1981-1992, was
largely considered The Golden Age of Redskins football. Gibbs
led the Redskins to three Super Bowl titles in 10 seasons with
three different quarterbacks, none of which are Hall of Famers.
Gibbs compiled a career record of 198-115, 17-7 in the
postseason. His offense was a mixture of smash-mouth football
with a mixture of Don Coryell’s vertical passing game. From 1946-
1970, the Redskins had a quarter century playoff drought before
Allen brought the franchise back to prominence. Allen went
67-30-1 from 1971-1977, leading the Redskins to five playoff
appearances including a trip to Super Bowl VII, losing 14-7 to
the undefeated Miami Dolphins. 

TEAM -- 1991. This version of the Redskins was perhaps the
most underrated Super Bowl champion. The Redskins’ two
defeats were by a combined total of five points. They scored the
most points (485) and allowed the fewest (224). The Redskins
also led the league in turnover margin with plus-18. They
demolished the Atlanta Falcons (24-7) and Detroit Lions (41-10)
in the NFC playoffs and beat Buffalo (37-24) in the Super Bowl
in a game that was not even that close. 

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