Sports
Rick Snider » Now that Baugh has passed on, who’s the greatest living Redskin?
By: Rick Snider
Examiner Sports Columnist
December 21, 2008
With Sammy Baugh's passing, who is the greatest living Washington Redskin?
Actually, it's not a debate. And, I'm not going to bog down in the stats books because sports is about doing great things, not fantasy players averaging five yards per carry.
Having watched the Redskins for 40 years, my early favorite has never been surpassed.
Sonny Jurgensen.
One of the great perks of covering the Redskins is meeting my childhood heroes. The Over The Hill Gang members make me remember why people are fans. I love seeing the stars of the 1970s — Sonny and Billy Kilmer, Larry Brown, Brigg Owens, Ron McDole, Chris Hanburger and Charley Taylor. They didn't win like the teams of the 1980s, but were the epitome of the game's spirit.
I spent a lot of time with Sonny at training camps over the last 15 years. I still see him here and there. He can teach more about football in 10 minutes than you'll gain watching on TV in 10 years, and I fortunately spent hours and hours with him.
Sonny always says Baugh was the greatest Redskin so I won't debate that point. Baugh was a Hall of Famer who played three positions and has the team's punting record a half century later. But with his death, Sonny is now the active leader among fans.
When rookie quarterback Colt Brennan flashed game-breaking potential in the preseason, he reminded me of Sonny. The passer just seemed to win games. He was probably the greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl in the modern era, but only because the team was awful around him until George Allen arrived and then the coach didn't like Jurgensen's loose demeanor.
I watched Sonny throw the ball around in 2002 before an Osaka, Japan exhibition more than 20 years after retiring and he was better than the Redskins quarterback in the game. It was like watching Jack Nicklaus win on the Senior Tour.
After Sonny, my poll of long-time Redskins watchers was mixed. They all said Darrell Green, Art Monk, Bobby Mitchell and Taylor in the top five. John Riggins, Bill Dudley and Hanburger were often mentioned.
My runner-up is Mitchell. The first black player in a Redskins uniform (Ernie Davis was technically the first but traded for Mitchell before the season), Mitchell endured racial prejudice that is unimaginable today. Meanwhile, he was awesome on the field.
Charley Taylor is third, followed by Riggins and Monk. Yes, my top five is all Hall of Famers. Taylor and Monk both retired as NFL career leaders in receptions. Riggins' touchdown run for the first Super Bowl championship under Joe Gibbs is still framed on many walls around Washington.
While I won't get much support, I'm throwing Mark Moseley on my top 10 list. He was an NFL Most Valuable Player. I loved watching him kick.
Baugh's passing is a shame. But, at least we still have many of the team's greats to remember while the current group once again fades.
Cherish them while you can.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail rsnider@dcexaminer.com.
Actually, it's not a debate. And, I'm not going to bog down in the stats books because sports is about doing great things, not fantasy players averaging five yards per carry.
Having watched the Redskins for 40 years, my early favorite has never been surpassed.
Sonny Jurgensen.
One of the great perks of covering the Redskins is meeting my childhood heroes. The Over The Hill Gang members make me remember why people are fans. I love seeing the stars of the 1970s — Sonny and Billy Kilmer, Larry Brown, Brigg Owens, Ron McDole, Chris Hanburger and Charley Taylor. They didn't win like the teams of the 1980s, but were the epitome of the game's spirit.
I spent a lot of time with Sonny at training camps over the last 15 years. I still see him here and there. He can teach more about football in 10 minutes than you'll gain watching on TV in 10 years, and I fortunately spent hours and hours with him.
Sonny always says Baugh was the greatest Redskin so I won't debate that point. Baugh was a Hall of Famer who played three positions and has the team's punting record a half century later. But with his death, Sonny is now the active leader among fans.
When rookie quarterback Colt Brennan flashed game-breaking potential in the preseason, he reminded me of Sonny. The passer just seemed to win games. He was probably the greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl in the modern era, but only because the team was awful around him until George Allen arrived and then the coach didn't like Jurgensen's loose demeanor.
I watched Sonny throw the ball around in 2002 before an Osaka, Japan exhibition more than 20 years after retiring and he was better than the Redskins quarterback in the game. It was like watching Jack Nicklaus win on the Senior Tour.
After Sonny, my poll of long-time Redskins watchers was mixed. They all said Darrell Green, Art Monk, Bobby Mitchell and Taylor in the top five. John Riggins, Bill Dudley and Hanburger were often mentioned.
My runner-up is Mitchell. The first black player in a Redskins uniform (Ernie Davis was technically the first but traded for Mitchell before the season), Mitchell endured racial prejudice that is unimaginable today. Meanwhile, he was awesome on the field.
Charley Taylor is third, followed by Riggins and Monk. Yes, my top five is all Hall of Famers. Taylor and Monk both retired as NFL career leaders in receptions. Riggins' touchdown run for the first Super Bowl championship under Joe Gibbs is still framed on many walls around Washington.
While I won't get much support, I'm throwing Mark Moseley on my top 10 list. He was an NFL Most Valuable Player. I loved watching him kick.
Baugh's passing is a shame. But, at least we still have many of the team's greats to remember while the current group once again fades.
Cherish them while you can.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail rsnider@dcexaminer.com.
