Tag: Hall of Fame 2008 Class

Commanders introduce the Darrell Green suite at Northwest Stadium

Darrell Green has a huge weekend ahead and deserves every second of it.

Darrell Green has had some pretty big weekends, but this may be one of the most emotional.

Green has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won three NFC Championship games, played in three Super Bowls, winning two Super Bowls (XXII, XXVI) all with the Washington Redskins.

This week, the Commanders invited Green to come see the new Darrell Green suite at Northwest Stadium. The suite features memorabilia from Green’s 20-year career with the Redskins, as well as a wall documenting his NFL career achievements.

Green was a seven-time Pro Bowler, voted to the 1990s Decade Team, voted the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Inducted into the HOF Class of 2008, and won the NFL Fastest Man competition four times. His 295 games are the most played by an NFL defensive player, and he holds the record for an interception in 19 consecutive NFL seasons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rgAR1Z3CQ

But having been out of the sports headlines for decades, this upcoming weekend could be very emotional for Green. Green was caught by surprise this summer when the Commanders had him read on camera the announcement that they would retire his No.28.

Sunday in Landover, at Northwest Stadium, the Commanders will give Green the honor of joining Sammy Baugh (33), Sonny Jurgensen (9), Bobby Mitchell (49), and Sean Taylor (21) as those in Redskins history to have their jerseys officially retired. No one has worn No.28 since Green played his last Redskins game in 2002, so this day has been expected for two decades.

“For 20 years, Darrell Green gave everything he had to this organization and fan base. Even after retiring from the burgundy and gold, he remained committed to giving back to this community, which to this day holds him in the highest regard,” said Josh Harris, of the Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. “No one on our team will ever again wear No. 28. Thank you, Darrell, for embodying what it means to be a Washington football player, both on and off the field.”

Green, now 64, will also be presented with a key to the city by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser on Saturday, October 19, at 10 AM in Franklin Park. So, this weekend’s events could be moving and touching for Green.

Why not?

It will bring back so many good memories for so many of us old enough that we, too, might become a little sentimental, remembering Green running down Tony Dorsett and Eric Dickerson, returning a punt for a touchdown in Chicago to help the Bears beat the Bears in the 1987 playoffs on their way to winning Super Bowl XXII.

Yes, we too might become a bit sentimental, thank you for the memories, Darrell Green.

Commanders season opener in 81 days: Washington’s best No. 81?

As if there was any doubt for No. 81.

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Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 81 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 81?

Any serious Washington football fan already knows the best No. 81 in franchise history is Hall of Fame wide receiver James Arthur Monk.

On a MNF game at RFK, October 12, 1992, against the Denver Broncos, Mark Rypien took a short quarterback drop, looked to his right, and connected with Monk on a quick-out pattern for a first down.

The RFK sell-out crowd instantly erupted. Fellow Redskins teammates immediately ran to Monk to congratulate him on becoming the all-time NFL leader in pass receptions. Here is the video of the historic moment.

In six NFL seasons, Monk collected over 70 receptions. In the 1985 season, Monk had 91 receptions. Even better, in the 1984 season, Monk broke Charlie Hennigan’s 1964 record of 101 receptions in an NFL season.

In the season finale, a thrilling home game at RFK against the then NFC East rival St Louis Cardinals, Monk set a then NFL all-time record with 106 receptions in the season.

Monk wasn’t finished being an NFL leader. The very next season (1985), he was the NFL leader in receptions yards per game at 81.7.

The former Syracuse Orangeman was physically tough, having played running back before converting to receiver his senior season. As a sophomore, Monk averaged 5.1 yards a carry in his 110 rushing attempts and then 4.2 yards per carry in his 136 rushing attempts as a junior.

In his senior season, Monk caught 40 passes for 716 yards averaging 17.9 yards a reception. It was enough to convince Redskins General Manager Bobby Beathard to make Monk Washington’s 1st round choice (18th overall) in the 1980 draft.

In his 14 years in Washington, Monk collected 888 receptions, gaining 12,026 (13.5 ypr) scoring on 65 reception touchdowns. Monk then played one season for the Jets (46 receptions) and Eagles (6 receptions) before retiring.

Monk was voted to the 1980s All-Decade Team. He was a three-time Super Bowl Champion with Washington and was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 2008 Class, along with long-time teammate Darrell Green.

Who could forget the reception Monk received in Canton when he was introduced? In addition, his speech further revealed the mature, sober-minded man that Art Monk had become.