Once again, the Washington Commanders are marketing off their past rather than present. That's what happens when nothing good occurs over a generation.
Sonny Jurgensen's No. 9 will become the fourth Redskin to be honored. It was just Sammy Baugh's 33 for decades as the franchise's greatest player. But when the team opted to retire Sean Taylor’s No. 21, it opened the need to remember others. Bobby Mitchell's death prompted No. 49's retirement. Now it's Jurgensen.
The resounding response to the team retiring Jurgensen's number was simply "about time." The second response was who's next with nobody in the last 30 years meriting consideration.
So who's next? The team can't retire a dozen numbers because increasing roster sizes makes it harder to block out numbers.
But, there are three easy ones – Darrell Green's 28, Art Monk's 81 and John Riggins' 44. All three are Pro Football Hall of Fame members. They're ranked among the team's top 10 players. Each won at least one Super Bowl.
Induct one annually rather than together and diminish the honor. Then, don’t worry about others until the new stadium. For every Russ Grimm and Joe Theismann that could be retired brings a dozen more like Chris Hanburger, Larry Brown, Dexter Manley, Charles Mann and Dave Butz. Even Ryan Kerrigan should be considered among contemporary players.
Rush too many through and a number shortage and retirement saturation cause problems. But, Green, Monk and Riggo are worthy of number retirements.
Jurgensen gets the first nod because he changed football. Like Baugh, Jurgensen expanded the traditional passing game. He passed for 3,000 yards in just 14 games along with 30 touchdowns – still the club’s single-season mark. Washington once saw three players in the NFL’s top four receiving yardage leaders.
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And if you ever saw Jurgensen throw a behind-the-back, 40-yard frozen rope even into his 60s you understand the magic. That Jurgensen later became a beloved broadcaster during the Super Bowl era extended his fandom for another generation. He’s undoubtedly the most beloved Redskins player ever.
Green played 20 seasons in Washington. We’ll never see that again. The NFL’s fastest man was a lockdown corner who also created a youth foundation that cements his legacy in many ways.
Monk was the NFL’s career leading receiver with 940 receptions when retiring. He has three Super Bowl rings. Anyone who saw Monk recognized his greatness. Monk also formed a youth organization with several teammates.
Riggins produced the greatest play in team history – the touchdown run over Miami’s Don McNeal that cemented the team’s first Super Bowl victory. A large print of that play was seen in many Washington man caves and garages for decades. Riggins was also the team career rushing leader over nine seasons after five with the New York Jets. Riggo was probably the most colorful Redskin ever with never-ending off-field tales from telling a Supreme Court justice to loosen up to eating 22 hot dogs at a Carlisle diner.
Legends are whose numbers are retired. There are many great players, but too few legends. That’s why the list should be small.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.