Tag: Dexter Manley

Commanders season opener in 72 days: Washington’s best No. 72?

Dexter Manley is one of the greatest players in franchise history.

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Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 72 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 72?

There three players who had very successful careers with Washington wearing No. 72. They stand above all of the other No. 72s in Washington’s history. Even more, they all played on the Washington defensive line.

Joe Rutgens (1961-69) came to Washington at perhaps their lowest point in franchise history. He was drafted the 3rd player overall in the 1961 draft. The former Illinois defensive tackle was a nine-year starter for Washington at defensive tackle. For seven seasons, he was the mainstay on the defensive line as injuries cut short his 1966 and 1969 seasons (final season). Rutgens was a Pro Bowler in 1963 and 1965. In that 1965 season, Rutgens had 11.0 sacks and was the only defensive player (7 offensive players) to receive a vote for NFL MVP.

Diron Talbert (1971-80) was clearly the second-best No. 72 in Washington football history. Talbert came to Washington in 1971 with George Allen from the LA Rams. The former Texas Longhorn was a 1974 Pro Bowler. Talbert also registered double-digit sacks for Washington in three consecutive seasons (1974-76) when he achieved 10.0, 10.0 and 12.5 sacks, respectively. Talbert collected 65.5 sacks in his ten Washington seasons. At age 36, he retired after the 1980 season.

Dexter Manley (1981-89) was the 119th overall selection of the 1981 draft by Washington. Manley was a fierce pass rusher and explosive athlete immediately upon his arrival in Washington. He started for three NFC Championship teams and two Super Bowl champion teams. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy four straight seasons (1983-86), achieved double-digit sacks when he registered 11.0, 13.5, 15.0 and 18.5 sacks, respectively. Though a force as a pass rusher, Manley was only a Pro Bowler once (1986). In his nine seasons in Washington, Manley registered 97.0 sacks.

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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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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Ryan Kerrigan officially breaks all-time sack record with 92 in Washington

Ryan Kerrigan picked up his second sack on the day to become the Washington all-time sack leader, passing Dexter Manley.

With a sack of Carson Wentz early in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Ryan Kerrigan became the all-time sack-leader for the Washington Football Team, totaling 92 in his career.

Kerrigan passed Dexter Manley for the record on Sunday.

This wasn’t the first sack of the day for Kerrigan. He entered Sunday 1.5 sacks behind Manley, and he started out the game with an early notch on the belt to tie Manley at 91. Now, with Washington making a game of this late, Kerrigan has made history in Washington, with a lot more time to add to that record.

Congrats Ryan, we are so happy you’re a part of the team.

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Former Washington star DE Dexter Manley hospitalized, battling coronavirus

Two-time Super Bowl champ and star Washington defensive end Dexter Manley is battling COVID-19 in a hospital.

Dexter Manley, a two-time Super Bowl champ as a defensive end with the Washington Redskins, has been hospitalized and is battling issues related to COVID-19.

The former football star’s daughter, Dalis, told The Washington Post, Dexter Manley went to the hospital Friday and has been receiving oxygen. A person close to Manley’s family said the former all-pro defensive end is “stable and resting comfortably.” The person had spoken to Manley’s doctors, who said  Manley “is a big strong guy and is not in imminent danger.”

Dalis Manley described her father as feeling “very weak,” worn down and discouraged after two weeks with persistent fever and shortness of breath. She said he was at a Washington-area hospital and had not been placed on a ventilator as of Saturday afternoon.

“I just think he is scared.” said Dalis Manley, who lives outside Atlanta but has been talking to her father by phone.

He tested positive for the coronavirus May 2 and has steadily run a temperature between 101 and 104 degrees. In recent days, he has had a harder time breathing and struggled with his balance. During a phone call in the middle of last week, she noticed he had trouble speaking.

Toward the end of the week, Manley began coughing at night, his fever worsened, and he felt cold and was shivering. He decided early Friday to go to the hospital. She said doctors told the family that he has pneumonia.

Manley, 61, thinks he contracted the virus one day when he didn’t have his mask but had to stop at a gas station convenience store.

“Dexter is in the hospital, and we are praying for a speedy recovery,” ex-Redskins star Charles Mann, who co-hosts a podcast with Manley, said in a text message to the paper.

Nicknamed “The Secretary of Defense,” Manley had a dazzling 11-year NFL career, winning two Super Bowls with Washington. He also spent time with Phoenix Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Manley had 91 sacks in 125 games with Washington – his 91 sacks still stand as the most in the organization’s history.