Tag: Darryl Grant

Commanders season opener in 77 days: Washington’s best No. 77?

Some really talented players have worn No. 77 for Washington. Who wore it best?

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Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 77 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 77?

Randy Thomas came to Washington in 2003 following his first four seasons in the NFL being a New York Jet. The former second-round pick (57th overall in 1999) then spent the last seven years (2003-09) of his career a Washington Redskin. Thomas was a steady, dependable guard. In fact, he played in 143 games, starting every game. Thomas was an effective run blocker helping Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts to good rushing yardage. Unfortunately, severe injury shortened his 2007 and 2009 seasons to three and two starts, respectively, ending his career.

Tre’ Johnson, for eight years (1994-2000, 2002), was a significant leader at guard for Washington. Johnson’s best season was the 1999 season, in which Washington won the NFC East, and Johnson was selected to the Pro Bowl. In that season, Johnson was also voted Associated Press All-Pro second team. However, it was last year Johnson contributed heavily, as in 2000 and 2002, he was limited to 4 and 3 starts, respectively, ending his NFL career.

Darryl Grant was drafted in the 9th round in 1981 as an offensive lineman. But Washington converted Grant to a defensive tackle, and by the end of the 1982 season, he was a starter alongside Dave Butz. The duo became the best defensive tackle run-stopping duo in franchise history. Grant also was in on the most significant defensive play in franchise history. In the 1982 NFC Championship Game, Dexter Manley deflected a Gary Hogeboom pass which Grant caught and scored the clinching touchdown in a 31-17 win over Dallas. Grant also accumulated 27 sacks in his ten years (1981-90) with Washington.

Bill Brundige was drafted with the 43rd overall selection in 1970 and did not disappoint. The defensive tackle out of Colorado played in 107 games for Washington from 1970-1977. Brundige became quite the effective inside pass rusher for Washington registering 49.5 sacks in his eight NFL seasons. Brundige also blocked Garo Yepremian’s field goal attempt, which led to Washington’s only touchdown in Super Bowl VII, scored by cornerback Mike Bass. Brundige had sack totals of 6.5 (1974), 8.5 (1975), and a very impressive 13.0 in 1973.

 

 

Dexter Manley remembers greatest defensive play in Washington history

The greatest defensive play in Washington’s franchise history?

40 years ago, Dexter Manley was involved in perhaps the biggest play in Redskins history at RFK Memorial Stadium.

Even more, in that NFC Championship game 40 years ago, Manley was actually in on two huge plays that day, and yes, one was the most significant defensive play by the Redskins in RFK history.

Washington had started the season 4-0, but then Dallas came to RFK, sacked Joe Theismann seven times, as Dallas handily defeated Washington 24-10.

Now, it was January 22, 1983, the NFC Championship Game as the No. 1 seed Washington Redskins were hosting the No. 2 seed Dallas Cowboys at RFK.

The stadium was already filled 45 minutes prior to kickoff, and chants of “We Want Dallas” loudly rang throughout. It was a precursor to the game itself, as RFK never before or since seemed to have such crowd intensity as this day.

Washington led Dallas 14-3 in the last minute of the opening half. Dallas QB Danny White dropped back to pass. Richie Petibon’s defense ran a scheme/stunt rush, as Manley looped inside, was not picked up, and had clear sailing to White.

Manley met White straight on, and drove White to the cold, hard turf while White’s helmet slammed to the ground. Frank Herzog called it this way, “White got shaken up by Dexter Manely. Danny White looks like he is knocked out!”

He was. White would not return to the game, even saying in the locker room following the game, he did not remember much about the game.

Dallas would have to go with backup Garry Hogeboom the rest of the way. Actually, Hogeboom engineered two efficient touchdown drives ending with touchdown passes to Drew Pearson and Butch Johnson. Dallas now only trailed 21-17.

After a Mel Kaufmann interception led to a Mark Moseley field goal and a 24-17 Washington lead, Dallas was at their own 20 with just over seven minutes remaining.

Herzog called it this way, ““Play-action fake to Dorsett, hid the ball well. Set up a screen, batted in the air. Picked off by Darryl Grant! TOUCHDOWN, WASHINGTON REDSKINS! I Don’t believe it! Unbelievable! Oh, what a play! Dexter Manley tipped the pass! Darryl Grant got the interception, and NOW the stadium shakes!”

Manley had rushed, leaped into the air, and got his hands on the screen pass. Tackle Darryl Grant, literally seconds earlier, had realized it was a screen pass, quit his pass rush, beginning to make his way to his right toward Dorsett.

In an instant, Manley deflected the pass, and it came to Grant, he made the catch and ran ten yards into the end zone, and Washington was going to Super Bowl XVII.

Football Zebras selects its 2021 slate of officials worthy of enshrinement in Hall of Fame – Football Zebras

Manley a guest on the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast last week, expressed his memories of the day.

It was great to hear Manley say, “Thank God, I am still here”, announcing he has been clean (drugs) for nearly 17 years now.

40 years later, Manley could have bragged of his accomplishments. Still, he was actually quick first to point out Richie Petibon, Larry Peccatiello and Torgy Torgeson put the players in good position. (They were defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and defensive line coach, respectively).

“We kicked their butts that day,” said Manley.

The view of the play from the end zone reveals had Manley not deflected the pass, Grant slightly hesitated and was out of position. Dallas had the screen set up well and Dorsett would have most likely run for a big gain on the play.

But Manley did get close enough to Hogeboom; he did leap and did deflect the pass. It remains the most significant play for the franchise in RFK history.

Congratulations 40 years later to Dexter Manley and Darryl Grant.

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Frank Herzog: ‘A professional, a winner’

Part four of our interview with Frank Herzog: “The broadcaster of DC champions.”

Washington trailed Miami 17-13 in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XVII, facing a 4th & 1 at the Miami 42.

This is the fourth of five installments in our Commanders Wire feature on Washington broadcast legend Frank Herzog.

Part one.     Part two.     Part Three

January 30, 1983, Frank Herzog was in his fourth season (1979-2004) as the Redskins play-by-play announcer and gave this now legendary call.

“There’s the snap. Hand to Riggins. Good hole, he’s got the first down at the 40. He’s gone! The 35! The 30! The 20! HE’S GONE! HE’S GONE! TOUCHDOWN, WASHINGTON REDSKINS!!”

Just one week earlier, in the NFC Championship game at RFK, Washington led Dallas 24-17 in the final quarter. Dallas had the ball at their own 20.

“Play-action fake to Dorsett, hid the ball well. Set up a screen, batted in the air. Picked off by Darryl Grant! TOUCHDOWN, WASHINGTON REDSKINS! I Don’t believe it! Unbelievable! Oh, what a play! Dexter Manley tipped the pass! Darryl Grant got the interception, and NOW the stadium shakes!”

Chatting with Herzog last week, he relived the extraordinary moment. “What I have always remembered about that play was the crowd; how the noise increased and the stadium literally shook. So, that is what I said, “And NOW the stadium shakes.”

“Sam (Huff) grabbed my arm with a look of fear in his eyes, and we were wondering, ‘Is this thing (stadium/press box) going to collapse’?

In the 1987 NFC Championship game at RFK, the Redskins led the Vikings 17-10 but were holding on for dear life, as the Vikings had driven all the way to the Washington 6-yard line, where it was 4th & 4, 1:03 remaining.

“One down to the Super Bowl! From the six-yard line, it’s fourth down and four. Wilson takes the snap, looking left, throws it into the end zone – batted away! Incomplete! Redskins are going to the Super Bowl!”

The 1991 season saw Washington in Super Bowl XXVI against Buffalo. Washington led 24-10 with the ball at the Buffalo 30 in the third quarter.

“Back he (Rypien) goes, good protection again. He’s going deep, he’s got Clark in the end zone, Touchdown Washington Redskins!”

Broadcasting winning seasons is one thing. Being respected as a professional is another, and Herzog’s work certainly is praised.

Sonny Jurgensen, a broadcast partner of Herzog’s (1981-2004) has expressed over the years that because of Frank’s background as a reporter, “Frank made the work fun because of his preparation”.

Sam Huff, an aggressive, assertive linebacker in the NFL, was with Herzog for 25 years in the booth. He spoke of Frank as the professional of the trio. “He was the voice. You never over-talk the man with the microphone, and he was the man.”

John Feinstein recently expressed to me, “Frank was such a class act and so good at what he did. He was a homer without being a homer. What I mean by that is you knew he was pulling for Bullets/Redskins, but he never said, ‘we,’; never whined about officiating calls, and never made excuses…A pro’s pro and a really good guy.”

“Frank is the broadcaster of DC champions. He was glib and smart, the perfect setup man for Sonny and Sam. At Redskins Park, you would see him always with a smile. And humble. He never bragged about all of his championship rings. He’s a winner,” said Tom Friend.

Remembering Washington football at RFK Stadium in the 1980s

The greatest decade in franchise history. We share some of the most incredible memories from RFK Stadium in the 1980s.

Joe Gibbs (1981-1992) and his teams were 124-60 (.673) which is slightly less successful than George Allen’s tenure in Washington. However, in the 1980s, Gibbs produced four NFC Championship games, three NFC Championships, three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl victories. Joe Gibbs was an astonishing 11-3 in the playoffs in the ’80s.

Gibbs in 1981, lost his first five games and not one was a single-score game. Gibbs later said he feared he may not win an NFL game before he was fired.

I recall little Joe Washington having big games in RFK wins over the Patriots and Lions. In that Lions game, the lead changed hands six times when Mark Moseley won it with a field goal 33-31. Some may recall Mike Nelms with a 75-yard punt return touchdown in that Patriots win as well.

Washington turned it around in that ’81 season winning their final five games in RFK, finishing the season 8-8. RFK was buzzing as fans excitedly anticipated 1982.

From 1982 I’ll always recall Joe Theismann going deep to Charley Brown in the 13-9 win over the Eagles. I was present at RFK when Joe Theismann executed a great block, allowing Joe Washington to score. RFK went crazy on that play! Moseley kicked the game-winner in the snow in the 15-14 win over the Giants.

The ’82 playoffs at RFK were magical. Art Monk was injured, but Alvin Garrett was awesome, hauling in three Joe Theismann touchdown passes in the 31-7 victory over the Lions.

The next week, John Riggins rushed for 185 yards and bowed to the RFK crowd; Washington defeated the Vikings 21-7, and late, fans started chanting, “We want Dallas.”

The NFC Championship game against Dallas was so intense as RFK fans during warmups chanted, “we want Dallas.” Defensive end Dexter Manley knocked quarterback Danny White out of the game (literally), then rushed Gary Hogeboom, and tipped his screen pass, which Darryl Grant intercepted for a touchdown. To this day, I still believe that play and moment was the greatest experienced at RFK, as Washington defeated Dallas 31-17 to go to Super Bowl XVII.

The ’83 season saw Washington down 35-20, comeback to beat the Raiders 37-35 when Theismann found Washington in the end zone. The season finale at RFK was ugly when fans booed the Redskins, trailing the Giants 19-7. But the team recovered to win 31-22.

The Rams came to town for the playoffs and were crushed 51-7, and the 49ers were down 21-0. Washington held on to win 24-21 earning a trip to Super Bowl XVIII.

In 1984 at RFK, Washington crushed Dallas 34-14; Art Monk broke the single-season reception record (106) in one of the most exciting season finales, I recall, a 29-27 win over the Cardinals.

Joe Theismann on a 1985 Monday Night Football game brought RFK to a stilled silence when he suffered a career-ending compound fracture of the lower leg. Jay Schroeder’s first pass was a bomb to Art Monk as Washington came from behind to defeat the Giants 23-21.

The most exciting 1986 win at RFK came when Washington trailed the Vikings 38-26, rallied to tie at 38-38, and then Gary Clark caught a short pass and ran down the left sideline for a thrilling 44-38 win. The most anticipated RFK game was the Giants game with both teams at 11-2, but the Giants won 24-14 and went on to win Super Bowl XXI.

In the 1987 NFC Championship game, Doug Williams had his worst day as a Washington quarterback. But Williams did find Gary Clark in the end zone for a 17-10 lead. The Redskins defensive stand inside the ten to end the game was epic as Joe Gibbs, knees on a towel, actually turned pale, later saying he thought he was going to pass out.

In 1988, Washington trailed Pittsburgh 29-20 late, but then Williams rallied the team with two scores for a 30-29 win as Williams passed for 430 yards. Later in the season, the Saints led at RFK 24-17, but Williams again led and Washington won 27-24.

What I have always remembered about RFK games in 1989 is the heart-breaking losses in the season’s first two games. Raul Allegre kicked a 52-yard field goal as the Giants won 27-24. The next week Washington led the Eagles 20-0. Gerald Riggs rushed for 221 yards, yet the Eagles rallied for a 42-37 win.

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Washington names 10 players to franchise’s ’90 greatest’ list

Ryan Kerrigan, Trent Williams, Chris Cooley and Santana Moss were among Washington’s additions to the “90 greatest” list.

To commemorate 90 years as an NFL franchise, the Washington Commanders named 10 former greats to their “90 greatest” list on Thursday.

Washington announced nine former players and one former coach to the list at the team’s annual Welcome Home Luncheon at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill.

The list was trimmed to 10 after the organization began a fan vote in July. Here is the complete list:

  • DE Ryan Kerrigan (2011-2020)
  • LT Trent Williams (2010-2019)
  • WR Santana Moss (2005-2014)
  • TE Chris Cooley (2004-2012)
  • DT Darryl Grant (1981-1990)
  • LB London Fletcher (2007-2013)
  • CB DeAngelo Hall (2008-2017)
  • CB Champ Bailey (1999-2003)
  • DC Larry Peccatiello (1981-1993)
  • RB Stephen Davis (1996-2002)

Interestingly enough, all but Grant and Peccatiello were with Washington after owner Daniel Snyder bought the team in 1999. However, it’s difficult to dispute any of the players on the list.

Bailey is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while Williams is still active with the San Francisco 49ers — and one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles.

Former quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III were among those on the ballot that didn’t make the final 10.

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