Finally, a team realized greatness comes from across an organization.
The Washington Redskins will update their 70 Greatest Redskins from a decade ago by adding another 10 for their 80th season, and the possibilities include assistant coaches and front office personnel for the first time. Considering there were only two winning seasons during the decade, looking elsewhere to fill the list was vital because most of the top players already were chosen.
Former general managers Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly, trainer Bubba Tyer and assistant coaches Richie Petitbon and Joe Bugel deserve inclusion when fans vote on Redskins80th.com through July 29. Roy Jefferson and Clint Didier are two carryovers who should have been added to the 70th team. That leaves Clinton Portis, Chris Samuels and LaVar Arrington among recent players for selection.
Active players aren’t eligible or Chris Cooley and London Fletcher would be locks. Owners also weren’t available or Jack Kent Cooke and George Preston Marshall would be automatic picks, too.
Longevity — five years minimum in Washington — was a key in my ballot, so that was the main reason for not choosing Sean Taylor. The safety only played four years before he was murdered. He might have been on his way to a Hall of Famer career.
For GM, Beathard is the clear No. 1 choice. He was the architect of two Super Bowls and worked perfectly with Joe Gibbs, an assistant coach Beathard picked and then didn’t allow Cooke to fire after an 0-5 start. Beathard drafted Hall of Famers Darrell Green, Art Monk and Russ Grimm. The 1981 draft of Mark May, Dexter Manley, Charlie Brown, Darryl Grant, Didier and Grimm was the team’s best ever.
Casserly spent 23 seasons with the Redskins, going from unpaid intern to GM of the 1991 championship team. Casserly’s 1999 draft-day trade that netted Champ Bailey and allowed the Redskins to take Samuels and Arrington after his departure was his greatest move, though creating the list of strike players that went 3-0 to set up the 1987 title was crucial, too.
Petitbon, Bugel and Tyer were instrumental in the Gibbs era. Petitbon ran the defense. Bugel created “The Hogs.” Tyer ensured players could play without compromising their health. If an 11th person could be added, it would be strength and conditioning coach Dan Riley, whose name is on three Super Bowl trophies, too.
Jefferson and Didier were part of so many great teams. Jefferson caught 208 passes from 1971 to 1976. Didier had 129 catches as a bruising tight end from 1982 to 1987, winning two Super Bowls. He scored the final touchdown of the record 35-point second quarter of Super Bowl XXII.
Portis, Samuels and Arrington gave fans something to cheer about during so many bad seasons. Portis was a character, but his 1,516 yards in 2005 remain a team record, and there was no finer blocker on blitzes. Samuels, the third overall choice in 2000 after Arrington was taken second, reached six Pro Bowls in 10 seasons. Arrington made three Pro Bowls in six seasons in Washington.
Don’t worry, Robert Griffin III will be eligible for the 100th anniversary team.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
