Some preseason performances are misleading, and some aren’t. Here are five memorable Redskins preseason heroes:
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5. Brian Mitchell » The Redskins drafted him because of his speed in the combine, though they weren’t sure how to use him. In his preseason debut against Atlanta, he returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. With that, he suddenly had a role he filled in spectacular fashion in Washington for 10 years.
4. Herb Mul-Key » In the Redskins’ preseason opener in 1973, the free agent with no college experience took the opening kickoff back 102 yards for a touchdown. Mul-Key was signed after running 40 yards in 4.3 seconds in an open tryout at Georgetown University.
3. Bob Brunet » A special teams standout during the George Allen era, Brunet was the designated prime back for preseason games and had several performances that suggested he was ready for prime time if workhorse Larry Brown ever went down with an injury.
2. Steve Spurrier » He arrived as Redskins coach with enormous hype and in his preseason debut in Osaka, Japan. Washington passed 45 times and for five touchdowns, rolling it up Florida Gators-style in a 38-7 victory over the 49ers.
1. Babe Laufenberg »
The quarterback never threw a pass in the regular season for Washington, but he rallied the Redskins past the Patriots in 1985 and the Steelers in 1986 before getting cut at the end of both preseasons. He lasted in the NFL for eight years, playing 16 regular-season games.
– Kevin Dunleavy
