After 10 years of service, Chris Samuels officially made the announcement to look after his health as opposed to lacing on cleats every Sunday during the fall.

This decision is not a surprise to most and comes after a battle with spinal stenosis that came to a head in Washington’s Week 5 loss to the Carolina Panthers last October.

Of course, because Chris has been my favorite player since his rookie season in 2000, I would love for him to continue for several more years and see him play at a high level. But in this case, I am lucky enough to say I was able to see my favorite player’s final play in person, since I was in attendance at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on October 11th.

Thank you for your 10 years of dedicated professionalism and service that you have provided this franchise. In an era of ups and downs for Redskins fans, you brought a fresh air of consistency and dominant play to the line.

Luckily, Chris will continue to stay in the area and work with the players this offseason as a coaching intern. Hopefully the lessons learned from “Head Hog” Joe Bugel will translate into a similarly successful coaching career for him. If his playing career is any indication, the lessons will translate into coaching very fluidly.

Will Samuels’ six Pro Bowl appearances and exceptional play be enough to put him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? That remains to be seen but if it does happen, I will be there.

Thank you, Chris.

Fans are understandably nervous about the possibility of a lockout in 2011, but in the mean-time, it’s looking like 2010 will go uncapped. The rumors of what the Redskins would do in an uncapped year began the moment someone realized this was an actual possibility.

“Look out for Dan Snyder,” they laughed, “an uncapped year and an owner that sees money as no object? It’ll be like Y2K all over again!” I’m paraphrasing of course, but with every release of a high-priced free agent, the Redskins’ name gets mentioned as a possible landing point complete with golden parachute.

Time to face facts fellas; the Dan Snyder of ’99, ’00, and ’01 is long since gone. He’s not the “wide-eyed know it all” he once was. A decade of losing and marginal seasons will do that to ya. I put forth that Snyder has let his coaches make the player recommendations dating all the way back to the Spurrier era. Certainly were a lot of former Gators on the team back then.

We have not seen a coach since Turner that has seemed unhappy with the personnel moves, and in most cases, we’ve seen it reported that Snyder, while party to the discussions, has let his coaching staff have their say. Jason Taylor was a move that involved Zorn, Blache, Cerrato and Snyder. They each agreed it was the move that needed to be made; even the Washington Post reported it that way (and they have never gone out of their way to make Snyder look like anything but an idiot).

Just prior to Michael Vick’s release from prison, the Washington Post reported that Snyder asked if the team should go after him, and it was reported that Cerrato and Zorn both agreed that Vick was not a good fit for the team. Vick was eventually picked up by Philadelphia.

Many credited Cerrato as nothing more than a puppet for Dan Snyder; a straw-man to take all the blame. Even with Cerrato’s “resignation” many felt it was nothing more than a scapegoating orchestrated by Snyder to take the heat off of himself. That could be true, but then it doesn’t seem to fit very well with Snyder’s next two moves. Snyder could have promoted someone from in house to Cerrato’s position, and kept up the “straw-man” game as many speculated, but he didn’t. He picked up two of the most respected professionals in the league in Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan, and gave them control over all football decisions.

Snyder has done everything he can to show the fans that he has taken a back-seat approach. He can’t leave the picture all-together, it is his money after all, and no owner is completely out of the picture. The one thing Snyder has always done well is get the coaches what they want. If a coach says “we need this guy” Snyder will get him. Even Joe Gibbs, now two years removed from the team can’t say enough good things about Snyder. Gibbs was credited by Shanahan for convincing him to take the job.

So, the big question is, what are the Redskins going to do in the draft? It’s not every year you get a first round pick as high as fourth overall. Sure you can trade down and get more picks, but when you need to be that high, how many picks are you going to need to give up to get it?

Many of the same people, who think Campbell isn’t worth his role as the starting QB, think that drafting a QB is a waste of time. I say take a QB. You’ve got at least one more year with Campbell, get one and get him ready to go by next year. Then you can decide whether you want to stay with Campbell, or start your rookie. Dump Collins, and bring up Colt Brennan as the number two. Let’s face facts; this is not a Super Bowl year. Even if Campbell goes down, we aren’t riding the arm of Collins into the playoffs.

If you’re not going to go QB, than go HB. Portis has clearly lost a step, and it might be time for us to cultivate a new running back. As far as running backs go, Shanahan has always had a good eye for them.

For those of you howling about the offensive line at this point, we don’t need ten picks to get quality O-linemen. You can pick up perfectly good offensive linemen in the second and third, and even fourth rounds. They can also be found in free-agency. I may be wrong, but I’ve never seen a single offensive linemen credited with being the Super Bowl MVP. It’s usually a QB or a running back, and they were usually taken in the first round.

You just don’t see a team saying “we really won this game because of the outstanding play of our left guard.” I’m not saying that we don’t draft linemen, but they don’t all have to be this year, and they certainly don’t have to be as high as #4. I know the argument is to trade down and get two first-rounders, but again, what happens next year when you want a QB or a Running Back? How many picks are we going to need to trade to get as high as fourth?  Solid, MVP-type Running backs and Quarterbacks are much less likely to be found in free-agency. Drew Brees being the exception; not the rule.

Granted, a solid offensive line could do wonders for this team, but if we learned anything from last year, play-calling was as much to blame for the losses as the talent on the field. The team’s offensive production picked up markedly when the play-calling duties were handed over to Sherm Lewis. A team that couldn’t beat the 0-fer Lions carried the Super Bowl Champion Saints into overtime.

I’m not saying we are one or two players away. How many offensive changes have we seen now over the past ten years? The first year is always the hardest while the players all learn new lingo and plays. We are getting a new offense AND a new defense. This year is going to be tough for us fans as well as the team.  Personally, I think we’ll be lucky to get to 8-8.

I like the move to get Allen and Shanahan, and I’m excited for the future in the long term. I will hate seeing us go through yet another losing season, but I can at least temper it with the knowledge that we have people who know what they are doing, who have a combined three Super Bowl rings in the free-agency era, running things for this team.

Go ‘Skins!

At offensive tackle, those two players are Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and Anthony Davis of Rutgers. Okung might be the best pass blocker in the nation, using tremendous balance and footwork in conjunction with long arms and his 6′8″ frame. He also plays nasty as a run blocker, and is sound technically in that area as well. Davis came out early as a junior for this draft, and has the potential to be an extremely physical tackle at the next level. He’s 6′5″, 330 lbs, and moves well for his size. While his size and strength will be an asset, he will need to show more consistency and better technique to be an elite player in the NFL.

The quarterbacks who could draw the Redskins’ interest in the first round are Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame. Bradford is a Heisman winner, who has superior accuracy and touch.  It is believed that he very well could have been the number one pick last draft had he come out early. By staying  at Oklahoma for his senior year he may have shot himself in the foot. He injured his throwing shoulder not once, but twice last season, and his arm strength was already average. Bradford is also somewhat difficult to evaluate because Oklahoma was such a talented offense, with open receivers everywhere and great pass protection.

Clausen’s stock is rising and he could very well be the number one quarterback on most teams’ draft board when it’s all said and done. He shows great accuracy and intelligence, with sufficient mobility and arm strength. His touch on deep passes is also very impressive. Playing in Charlie Weis’ pro-style system at Notre Dame will give him a distinct advantage over Bradford, who played in a spread offense. That knowledge, along with his competitiveness, could make a good impression in interview sessions at the combine. He will not throw at the combine however, due to a foot injury. He and Bradford will hold private workouts that could determine which of them is selected first, being that they are very closely rated at the moment.

Whichever of these positions isn’t addressed in the first round will very likely be addressed in the second, because offensive tackle is the biggest need position and Shanahan has reportedly stated that he will select a quarterback at some point in the first two rounds. However, they could always select a guard, a runningback, or a defensive back in the second round. Also, if the Skins fall in love with some of the elite players in this draft, such as defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy, or Tennessee safety Eric Berry, they make take such a player if they somehow fall to pick number four.

The NFL draft is a fluid situation, and the NFL combine will shake up a lot of things. Keep an eye out for the Combine Recap in the blogs, as well as mock drafts and opinion pieces. Who knows how much will change between now and April.

I’ve spent too much time trying to defend the guy, and trying to tell other Redskin fans how right he often is, to do so again here. Some like him, some don’t. That’s up to the individual.

But the clip of him going off about Clinton Portis is quite simply the best rant I’ve ever heard on a radio show. Ever.

Download the clip from here.

Lavar just takes ‘rant’ to a whole… ‘nother… level…

Dan Steinberg provided a transcript of what was said at D.C. Sports Bog, but as he says in the intro, reading the transcript doesn’t even come close to doing it justice.

You have to check it out, it’s just under twenty minutes long.

Wow.

Lavar, buddy… that was simply off the hook.

Now, that’s moot.

So, let’s celebrate that there is finally a Hog in the Hall… Heck, according to George Starke, he is the reason for the name, “The Hogs”… But, there needs to be one more.

The rest of the story is, while Grimm was clearly the heart of what was arguably the greatest offensive line in NFL history, he was but a part of it. The Hogs were comprised of great players…

Joe Jacoby, LT/RT, 1981-1993.

"Jake", leading the way

“Jake” is the poster child for the overlooked. He arrived as a no expectations free agent to Redskins camp… (legend has it that Joe Gibbs thought he was a Defensive Tackle, in as camp fodder) and became one of history’s greatest Left Tackles. For every year that Russ Grimm went to the Pro Bowl, Joe Jacoby was right next to him. Big Jake’s absence from the list of HOF candidates is no less baffling than the length of time it took for Monk and Grimm to be elected.

There are a number of other overlooked Redskins… and my concern is that time and distance will continue to dilute memories of their greatness…

This list is in no particular order… their greatness speaks for itself.

Len Hauss, Center, 1964-1977

Lenny Hauss, ready to roll

Hauss was the rock upon which Sonny Jurgenson, and later, Billy Kilmer, stood to weave their magic. He pointed the way for Larry Brown and Charlie Harraway. Hauss started 192 consecutive games between 1964 and 1977. He was selected for the Pro Bowl 6 times. For many years, when you thought “Center” the picture in your head had to have a burgundy jersey with the number 56. Lenny’s absence from the Hall is a disgrace.

Larry Brown, Half Back. 1969-1976.

Brown, on the move

Larry was Washington’s first 1000 yard rusher. He was the soul of the Redskins offense from 1970 until his retirement. His tenacious and gritty play was an inspiration to watch. He was a prolific rusher, a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, and a devastating blocker in pass protection… in fact, that was his forte when drafted by the great Vince Lombardi. It was Lombardi who discovered Larry’s hearing deficit, resulting in Larry suddenly being able to hear the snap count… and the rest was history. Larry was selected to the Pro Bowl 4 times, was a 3 time All Pro selection, and was named the NFL MVP in 1972. When Larry Brown played, he literally left it all on the field. Why is this incredible player not in the Hall?

Jerry Smith, Tight End, 1965-1977.

Jerry Smith... looks like Sonny's about to hit him in stride... as usual...

He was drafted in the 9th round of the 1965 NFL Draft. He turned into Jurgensen’s go to receiver. When Jurgensen needed a first down, he looked for Jerry Smith, who was the model for using the Tight End as a devastating offensive receiving weapon. Teamed with Bobby Mitchell, and Charley Taylor, he contributed heavily to the most prolific pass offense of the late 60’s and early 70’s. His career included 60 touchdowns, which at the time of his retirement, was a record for tight ends. He had 5496 yards receiving, and an average of 13.1 ypc. Nothing to sneeze at, but in 1977, that was HUGE. Smith was adept at turning a short reception into a big gain. It was many years before his achievements were surpassed. He died prematurely, at the age of 43, of HIV. His stats and career should have made him a shoo in for the Hall of Fame…

Pat Fischer, Cornerback, 1968-1977.

That's 170 Lbs of Fischer upending the 225 lb MacArthur Lane of the Chiefs in the open field.

“The Mouse” was one of the most feared cornerbacks of his day. Bump and run was his forte, and related to a vicious, physical style of play that absolutely belied his small stature. Receivers respected him, and did what they could to avoid him in coverage. Like Larry Brown, Pat Fischer put everything he had into his game. He was known as a punishing tackler, despite his size. In my opinion, Pat Fischer was every inch the equal of Roger Werhli, who was selected to the Hall 2 years ago. Rules that outlawed Bump and Run coverage were created largely because Fischer was so effective in using the technique. You might say, he changed the game. Fischer was a 3 time Pro Bowl selection. Pat Fischer needs to be in the Hall of Fame.

Chris Hanburger, OLB, 1965-1978.

Chris Hanburger, on the Weak Side...

Speed, grace and a devastating tackler. Hanburger was everywhere on defense. He was selected to the Pro Bowl NINE times during his career… NINE!. No Redskins player has ever equaled that. To opponents, he was known as “the Hangman”, because of his penchant for the use of clothesline tackles. He was a First Team All Pro 4 times. Between 1966 and 1976, 1971 was the only year in which he did not receive recognition as either a Pro-Bowler or an All Conference selection. His absence from the Hall of Fame is a complete mystery.

What are we gonna do about it?

HTTR

You know what they say about opinions…
I have no idea what the next few weeks may hold… but I suspect that there is some fun afoot.

My plan?
Re-sign Campbell. Work on building an OL for the future. If a QB falls to us, fine. But, what the heck… nobody listens to me since my dog died.

“We are going to have a new style of defense, we are going to have a new style of offense,” general manager Bruce Allen said today on ESPN 980.

“It’s going to be Redskins football, and the pieces we can acquire this year will be the first steps to building that philosophy,” said the Redskins General Manager. More from Redskins Insider here

It sounds as though Allen plans to be active in FA, though the implications of that are very contingent upon whether there is a cap or not. According to some sources(including Ravens owner, Steve Biscotti), many teams will not be financially capable of out bidding for talent in a free market.

Beyond that, if there’s no cap, there is also the opportunity to clean up cap space for the future. There are two ways to do that. In the past, there were many older players with declining skills who stayed with a team because they could not afford the cap implications… With no cap, there are no longer implications for releasing such a player. The other option is to renegotiate the contract of players with a large cap number whom you’d want to keep. By front loading more of the money to be paid in this season, any future cap implications are mitigated. Obviously, any team that choses this route, is running some risks, in terms of player motivation to continue in the future, but, I’m sure that there are players that teams would be willing to take that risk on, to gain some future cap room.

Worried about the good old fashioned Snyder spending spree? Well, don’t. If there’s a cap, it won’t happen. If there’s no cap, it doesn’t matter. Spend the money… it’s not mine… as long as the team is set up for a multiple year run, I just don’t care. Spend it, baby!

Is that good or bad? I don’t know, but I remember, very well, the controversy stirred by George Allen when he came into town and started wheeling and dealing. I mean WHEELING AND DEALING. He showed up, sat down at the poker table, and immediately went all in. “The future is NOW! In his 7 years with the Redskins, Allen made an astonishing 81 trades. Many folks were not happy… for a while… All got over it, though. Darned near pulled it off… only Sonny’s achilles prevented it… (that’s my opinion, of course, but Don Shula agrees).

When George Allen wheeled and dealed, his currency was largely future draft picks. That left a long term sting once the ’skins had danced their dance. There was not much talent left… and no way to restock for several years. The Redskins all but disappeared from the NFL Draft for a while.

Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan appreciate the value of draft picks, so I don’t see a repeat of the ‘71 ’skins draft pick fire sales. If anything, they’ll be trying to collect more. Besides, there was no free agency in those days. Once a team locked up talent, the only way they left was trade, release, or retirement. There is talent availible on the market now… huge advantage to the team that has money in a no cap year.

Our draft needs may very well look quite different in April, from how they appear right now. I’m bracing for a late winter of multiple surprises…

HTTR

THN: What will the new coaching staff do to cater to your skill set to become the best linebacker you can be?

AC: I really don’t know because I don’t have an idea of what they want me to do. It will be a communication between the coaches, myself and Orakpo. Timing is of the essence and we will have a new learning experience.

THN: What do you like about the 3-4? How does a defense that is built for the 4-3 adjust to 3-4 in one offseason?

AC: The 3-4, when ran correctly, can be very deceptive against opponents. Blitz packages can create big plays in the backfield, interceptions, etc. We will have to take it one day at a time when we transition our defense to a 3-4.

THN: Will Coach Haslett implement a mixture of 3-4 and 4-3 or just the 3-4?

AC: I really don’t know what he will do. I have heard he has coached the 4-3 defense before but prefers the 3-4.

THN: Will the new defensive staff cater the defense to each individual player’s talents or will the new defense be scheme oriented? Does it matter to you which of those will be the main priority of the new defense?

AC: I am sure with the 3-4 defense the coaches will tweak certain packages, so we can be more successful with the talent we have.

THN: Did you learn anything about yourself during a tough 2009 season that will be beneficial for you for the rest of your career? Or did you already know how to handle stressful seasons based on your last couple years in San Francisco?

AC: You always learn something new every year. Similar to life, you have ups and downs but in the end you grow as a person. 2009 was a blessed year. As my career is winding down I will continue to perfect my skills until my time in the NFL is done. I know what I do is my job. I have to be a professional whether the outcome is good or bad.

THN: Was a change of culture necessary and why? Are things starting to change in a way that you would approve of?

AC: There is always going to be change in the NFL. That’s the nature of the business. Teams are measured by success and winning. When you show lack of success, everyone is always going to be evaluated… everyone.

THN: What kind of culture do you expect this new regime to provide?

AC: Hopefully a winning season. We are tired of losing.

THN: Have you talked to Coach Shanahan or new GM Bruce Allen? If so, what were the conversations like and what are your impressions of them? What do you like about what they’re bringing to Washington?

AC: I haven’t spoken to them. Both men bring experience and leadership to the Redskins.

THN: Have you talked to the new assistants at all?

AC: Unfortunately, I haven’t. I am sure I will speak to them after the Super Bowl.

THN: Do you feel snubbed by not making it into the Pro Bowl considering 2009 was arguably your best season?

AC: All I can say is that I played hard for my God, my wife, my kids, friends, teammates and the organization. All I can do is rest up and play to the best of my ability the following season.

THN: Have you been keeping in contact and joking with London [Fletcher] and Brian [Orakpo] while they’re down in Miami?

AC: I haven’t. I didn’t want to bother them.

THN: Even though you’re in California, have you been working on helping other Pro Bowl players try to prank Brian because he’s a rookie?

AC: Ha ha ha. No man, it’s [the] Pro Bowl and I think the last thing people are thinking about is pulling a prank on somebody.

THN: Do you like the Pro Bowl being in Miami? What are your thoughts on its move from Honolulu to South Florida?

AC: I understand why they wanted the change. But overall, the history of the Pro Bowl is to go to Hawaii. It’s a great spot to enjoy the weather, I’m sure fans from Hawaii go to watch their favorite players. Luckily it’s in a warm climate so I don’t think too many people are complaining.

THN: Give me your thoughts on the Super Bowl matchup and break it down for people. Who do you like in the game?

AC: I would like to see the underdog win out; the New Orleans Saints. I have to support two men: Gregg Williams, because of the history of working with each other in the past [and] the other is Scott Fujita, my old Cal teammate from back in the day.

THN: Where will you be watching it from and who will you be watching it with? Do you usually hold a Super Bowl party at your house or are you the type of player who watches it on his own and doesn’t celebrate it because you’re not there?

AC: My wife and I will be watching the Super Bowl at our house. No parties for us. Too much cleaning after all the guests have left.

THN: Update the fans on your progress on your recovery from surgery. How do you feel, how far along are you in your recovery, when will you be ready, etc.

AC: I will be ready to return. This injury is nothing compared to some of the nightmares I have seen on the field. The rehab will start in a week or two. I feel great and moving around well.

Long-Snapper. It’s rarely discussed, except when the snap goes sailing over the head of the punter. Other than the place kicker, no one has a greater effect, on a per play basis, on the game than this guy.

His snap must be perfect every time. 6 inches too high, too low… 6 inches left or right… and a game can be lost. A snap over the head of the punter can result in a 7 point turn-around in the blink of an eye.

No player is in a more precarious position than the long snapper. Most often, the career of the long snapper is measured in games.

Except for Ethan Albright.

Ethan Albright

Albright has participated in 16 games a season for 16 years. That is unheard of, for a long snapper. With one possible exception (we’ll review that later), his career has been unmarred by error. His excellence was recognized two years ago, when he was honored by place on the NFC Pro Bowl roster… high praise, indeed, for so humble a player in so humble a position.

The “exception” was a snap on a failed field goal attempt against New Orleans… and the only person who feels that this was the fault of long snapper Albright is… long snapper Albright! Virtually every other member of the Redskins (including Swisham) felt that the error was on Shawn Swisham… who was released following that game.  Swisham, for those living under a rock, is now the kicker for the Dallas Cowboys… 

On Friday, January 29, the Redskins signed a new long snapper, Nick Sundberg, to a contract. Sundberg was a rookie this past year, who was signed late in the season by the Ravens. So, it appears that Albright will have some competition during training camp this year. How odd would it be to see someone other than Albright on the field for field goals and punts?

For 9 years, one thing the Redskins have not had to worry about is reliable long snaps. What a luxury that has been. Could this be the end of an era?

I’ll be pulling for Red.

HTTR

Okay, maybe not exactly earth shattering news, but it’s January!

Every Redskin fan knows that the Redskins have venerable long snapper Ethan Albright, and have since 2001, but he is again a free agent come March. Will he re-sign? If he does, then Sundburg could just be camp fodder; Albright is as good as it gets at the position, and has been for pretty much his entire 16-year career.

Nick was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers in 2009, but was cut before the season started. He was picked up by the Ravens and placed on their practice squad for the last two games of the season.

He played 52 consecutive games at long snapper for the California Bears, where he started as a true freshman.

He went to high school at North Canyon High in Phoenix, Arizona and was the football team’s captain, as well as participating in both track and wrestling. Sundburg credits the offensive line coach his senior year – Ben Bernard – as the guy who helped him learn his trade, “He basically told me that if I wanted to go on, I could, I just needed to take it more seriously and work with him, snap five days a week, 150 to 200 balls a day, all year long. There was no such thing as a Spring Break to him.”

Sundburg had to hone his craft in a school gym because of the oppressing heat of the Arizona desert – he would sink baskets snapping the ball from half-court. When at Cal, he would line up 10 balls across the 10-yard line at Memorial Stadium – he could hit the goal post with every one. In fact, he can snap a ball FORTY yards and can even hit receivers in stride as they’re running their routes.

Could Sundburg be the next Ethan Albright in Washington?

“Forty men together can’t lose!”

- George Allen, December 31st, 1972, pumping the team up before the NFC Championship Game.

When Allen arrived on the scene in 1971, one of the things he knew was that, as much as the fans may have hated it, the route to championships required that we develop the ability to dominate the Dallas Cowboys. He was the perfect man for the job… and the Cowboy’s arrogance and milquetoast team personna, represented by the always perfect demeanor of Tom Landry, and the super clean cut presentation of Roger Staubach, provided the perfect foil for Allen’s blue collar, down and dirty, every man approach.

“Die you dogs. Die you Dallas dogs.”
- Sam Wyche (a Redskins back-up QB at the time)

Allen was part coach… part psychologist… and all genius. He knew how to convert every ounce of potential in a player into performance on the field. He knew how to make his team HATE Dallas… and immediately went to work, creating his version of the men in black hats… the Dallas Cowboys… and turning them into the demons of the NFC East. Some players were convinced that Tom Landry had been, in an earlier life, a serial killer. Tex Schram was, in many Redskin minds, the very image of evil. Allen was indeed, a master motivator, who could whip his team into a frenzy… his teams invariably played over their heads as a result. They were on a mission.

“Losing to Dallas was the worst feeling in the world. You’d rather have your arm cut off.”
-Diron Talbert

The Over the Hill Gang: from left, Mo Pottios, Ron McDole, Richie Petitbon, Diron Talbert and Jack Pardee

According to John Wilbur, who came to the Redskins as part of the “Ramskins” deal from LA (and whom, ironically, played for Dallas from 1966-1969) “George Allen never used to say ‘the Dallas Cowboys’. It was always ‘the goddamned Dallas Cowboys”. It’s the Cowboys’ uniform. It strikes hate and loathing in my mind, almost in a Pavlovian sense.”

“If you came out of the (Dallas) game and you weren’t bleeding, you hadn’t played.”
- Ken Houston

Allen used his pulpit to bait the ever cool, never-rattled, Roger Staubach. Nothing EVER bothered Staubach. Nothing EVER disturbed his focus. He could not be perturbed. He was “the ice man.” Unfortunately for Roger, no one told Allen… and no one told Diron Talbert, who, ultimately, was key to destroying the Cowboys.

“I picked him up and pushed him back… It wasn’t a smooth play, it was a desperation play. It was such an eerie feeling when it happened. There wasn’t any noise in the stadium for maybe three seconds. All of a sudden… the place went crazy. I had never seen anything like it.”
-Ken Houston, on stopping Walt Garrison in the final seconds of the classic Monday Night Football game in October, 1973

Allen baited Staubach. He coached Talbert, who baited Staubach, and relished that role. Taunted him without end. Talbert’s existence seemed focused on messing with the Cowboys quarterback, without end. Whenever possible, there was a threat… or a belittlement… or an attempt to embarrass… or intimidate… “I want Staubach in the shotgun.” Talbert insisted. Allen didn’t have to push Talbert very hard. Diron arrived in Washington already not caring very much for Staubach, as Roger had taken offense to a post season comment by Talbert. Ron McDole (the Dancing Bear), when asked his impression of Roger Staubach, said “Roger Staubach can’t read defenses, and wears skirts.
Challenging Staubach’s manhood became part of the Redskins repertoire…

“We don’t like them, they don’t like us.”
- Roger Staubach

The Cowboys responded. They got angry… and, on occasion, completely lost their cool… Playing the Redskins became torture for them, which was exactly what Allen wanted. According to Walt Garrison, the Cowboys coaching staff became concerned that there were Redskins scouts spying on every practice… (on the other hand, Coach Allen was convinced that there were spies all over the place at his practices, as well).

“Yeah, but only after he went for my knees three times.”
-Jack Pardee, after being accused of trying to knee Dallas receiver Lance Alworth in the head.

The culmination was Roger Staubach’s only personal foul penalty of his career. Following an interception of his pass by Pat Fischer, Staubach tried chasing him down, catching up to the Redskins cornerback only after he stepped out of bounds… and promptly gave him a shot. Others there were convinced that he hit Fischer, but he really wanted to find Talbert.

George Allen figured that the way to win the NFC East was to always beat the Cowboys.
It was fortunate that… he really didn’t like them…

“Tom Landry, hahahaha. Tex Schram, hahhaha. Roger Staubach, hahahha.“
-George Allen to a television camera, after beating Dallas in Texas Stadium in 1976.

George Allen gave birth to decades of the greatest football rivalry on earth… as quotes from subsequent years attest…

“My front four will be faced with the task of beating the “sweat-hogs”. It’s my belief that to be a defensive lineman, you have to have a personal hate for your opponent.”
- Ernie Stautner, defensive coordinator, Dallas

“We’re standing there for the national anthem. When it’s over, Joe (Bugel) looks over to the other sideline at Ernie Stautner, who’s the Cowboys defensive line coach. Joe yells over to him and flips him off.”
-Joe Jacoby

“Be sure… you learn how to get to the airport, will you?”
- Tom Landry, Head Coach, Dallas, to his players prior to the 1982 NFC Championship game

“Joe Theismann is a garbage-mouth little SOB. He’s such a hot dog that all he needs is a bun.”
-John Dutton

“I got to the line, and I said to Randy White, ‘Our coaches love you. We’re going to run it over you again and again.’ Randy wasn’t very happy, but after three or four times, he didn’t say a word.”
-Jeff Bostic

“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”
-Jim Lachey

“I wanted to just… put his lights out ….because, you know, …Dallas sucks…”
- Dexter Manley, referring to Danny White whom he knocked out of the first half of the 1982 NFC Championship game.

What a legacy!

HTTR