Tag: Diesel

Commanders season opener in 44 days: Washington’s best No. 44

RIGGO!!!!

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 44 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 44?

A few of us old-timers will remember Washington RB Moses Denson who ran two seasons for the Redskins (1974-75). An even smaller number of us will recall Jeff Severson, who enjoyed a seven-year career in the NFL but only one with Washington. Severson was a defensive back who played special teams hard for Marv Levy and George Allen in 1972.

But the greatest No. 44 in Washington history is no doubt Robert John Riggins (1976-1979, 81-85). George Allen brought Riggins to Washington to play fullback. He was a good blocking fullback, but Riggo is best known for his running.

The Diesel rushed for 24 touchdowns in 1983, setting an NFL record. The following season, he again led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (14). The former Kansas Jayhawk rushed for over 1,000 yards in four seasons for Washington (1978, 1979 1983, 1984).

In the 1982 playoffs, Riggo rushed 136 times for 610 yards (4.5 per attempt) and four touchdowns. In Super Bowl XVII against Miami, Riggins rushed 38 times for 166 yards, scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 43-yard run and was named Super Bowl MVP.

Riggins, in his nine Washington seasons, rushed for 7,472 yards. Coupled with his 3,880 yards in five NY Jets seasons, he finished his career rushing for 11,352 yards, including 104 rushing touchdowns. Riggins was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 and was named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002.

Chiefs’ Clyde Edwards-Helaire touches down in KC for first time, eyes future in trucking

The Chiefs’ first-round draft pick arrived in Kansas City and is already thinking about his future.

The rookies have begun to arrive in Kansas City ahead of Chiefs’ training camp.

The rookie report date is scheduled for Monday, July 20. Without a grievance filed by the NFLPA, teams will proceed as scheduled with training camp. Players will undergo COVID-19 testing, physicals and equipment fitting before hitting the practice fields for the first time.

It’s been an unorthodox offseason, to say the least, but the rookies will finally get a glimpse of NFL life and their new homes. The Chiefs’ first-round draft pick, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, touched down in Kansas City on Sunday evening. It marks the first time he’s been to Kansas City since being selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

While he hasn’t been in town long, Edwards-Helaire already made an observation that has him thinking about his future in Kansas City.

It wasn’t the famed Kansas City Barbecue or the Midwestern hospitality that caught Edwards-Helaire’s attention when he first arrived. Instead, it was the cheap price of diesel fuel. The fuel prices have him thinking about the kind of trucking that he’ll do off of the football field. Hopefully, he’ll be doing some trucking on the football field too.

If you didn’t know by now, Edwards-Helaire is a car guy and spends his free time restoring old cars. Apparently, he might be spending some of the money from his soon-to-be-signed rookie contract on a whole fleet of trucks in the near future.

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