Who Wore It Best? Part 9

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June 30, 2020

By Noonefromtampa

Welcome to part 9 of my offseason column series that reflects back on the history of the Redskins franchise by looking at former and current players and the jersey numbers they wore.

This week, it’s jerseys numbered from 80 to 89, which by modern jersey assignment numbering means wide receivers and tight ends.

Jersey #80

We start this group with a nice selection of players: tight end Stephen Alexander plus wide receivers Laveranues Coles, Jamison Crowder, Desmond Howard, Roy Jefferson and Virgil Seay. Alexander had 122 catches for 1,302 yards and 9 touchdowns during his career. Coles had 172 catches for 2,154 yards and 7 touchdowns. Crowder had 221 receptions for 2,628 yards and 14 touchdowns. Howard had 66 catches for 1,033 yards and 5 touchdowns. Jefferson had 208 catches for 3,119 yards and 16 touchdowns. Seay had 43 receptions for 792 yards and 5 touchdowns. The player who wore it best was Jefferson.  His accolades include:

  • 14th all-time on Redskins Receiving list
  • 1971 – Pro Bowl and 2nd team All-Pro
  • 1972 Super Bowl team
  • 80 Greatest Redskins

Jersey #81

The short answer is Art Monk, who 888 receptions for 12,026 and 65 touchdowns. His accolades with the Redskins include:

  • Super Bowl champion (XVII, XXII, XXVI)
  • Pro Bowl (1984–1986)
  • NFL receptions leader (1984)
  • First-team All-Pro (1984)
  • Second-Team All-Pro (1985)
  • First receiver to reach 900 career receptions
  • NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
  • 70 Greatest Redskins
  • Washington Redskins Ring of Fame
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame (2008)

Jersey #82

At #82, the choices are slim: Michael Westbrook, Antonio Brown (not the AB version), Antwaan Randle El and Logan Paulson. While not popular with a lot of fans and Stephen Davis, Westbrook is the player who wore it best. He is 11th on the all time Redskins receiving list with 277 receptions for 4,280 and 24 touchdowns.

Jersey #83

The #83 jersey has been worn by receivers Albert Connell, Kevin Lockett, Brian Quick, Ricky Sanders and James Thrash. While Thrash was the consummate team player, the one who wore it best award goes to Sanders (you can listen to The Hog Sty’s exclusive 30 minute interview with Sanders by clicking here), who had 414 receptions for 5,854 yards with 26 touchdowns. His accolades include:

  • 6th All-time on Redskins Receiving list
  • Super Bowl champion (XXII, XXVI)
  • 70 Greatest Redskins

Jersey #84

At #84 are tight ends Jean Fugett, Jamie Asher and Niles Paul; receivers Chris Doering, Taylor Jacobs, Joey Galloway and Marko Mitchell. Then there is Gary Clark, who is the easy choice. Clark has 549 receptions for 8,742 yards and 58 touchdowns. His accolades include:

  • 3rd All-time on Redskins Receiving list
  • Super Bowl champion (XXII, XXVI)
  • Pro Bowl (1986, 1987, 1990, 1991)
  • All-Pro (1986, 1987, 1991)
  • 70 Greatest Redskins
  • Washington Redskins Ring of Fame

Jersey #85

Players who wore #85 include underperforming receivers Leonard Hankerson, Brandon Lloyd and Darnerien McCants, plus good players like receiver Henry Ellard and tight ends Vernon Davis and Don Warren. [Yes, Mike Sellers also wore #85 wore for a while.]  Ellard, who ranks 12th all-time receiving, with 216 catches for 3,390 and 17 touchdowns, is ahead of Warren, who is 19th on the list, but I’m going with Warren, who was considered a member of the Hogs, as the player who wore it best. Warren played on all three Gibbs Super Bowl champion teams and was named 70 Greatest Redskins.

Jersey #86

There are a number of memorable players who wore #86, such as the late Reche Caldwell (WR), Irving Fryer (WR), Leslie Shepherd (WR), and Walter Rasby (TE). However, the choice for who wore it best comes down to tight ends Clint Didier, Fred Davis and Jordan Reed. Didier played on two Super Bowl Champion teams in 1982 and 1987 but only ranks #32 on the all-time Redskins receiving list. Davis ranks just ahead of Didier at #28. The player who wore it best was Reed who ranks #13 on the list with 329 catches for 3,371 yards and 38 touchdowns. Reed also had an incredible 73.8% catch rate.

Jersey #87

Jersey #87 has another large group of players: “Downtown” Charlie Brown (WR), Rod Gardner (WR), Ron Middleton (TE), Jeremy Sprinkle (TE), Todd Yoder (TE) and Jerry Smith (TE). The player who wore it best was Jerry Smith, who is 7th on the all-time Redskins receiving list with 421 receptions for 5,496 yards and 60 touchdowns. His accolades include:

  • Pro Bowl (1967, 1969)
  • First-team All-Pro (1969)
  • Second-team All-Pro (1967)
  • 80 Greatest Redskins
  • Washington Redskins Ring of Fame

Also, why is Jerry Smith not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Here are some omparable player statistics:

Player Years Rcpt Yards TDs
Mike Ditka 1961-1972 427 5,812 43
John Mackey 1963-1972 331 5,236 38
Jackie Smith 1963-1978 480 7,918 40
Jerry Smith 1965-1977 421 5,396 60
Charlie Sanders 1968-1977 336 4,817 31
Dave Casper 1974-1984 378 5,216 52
Kellen Winslow 1979-1987 541 6,741 45

Jersey #88

Players who wore #88 include Danny Buggs (WR), James Jenkins (TE), Rick “Doc” Walker (TE), Robert Royal (TE), Pat Richter (P/WR) and Pierre Garcon (WR). The player who wore it best goes to Garcon, who is 10th on the all-time Redskins receiving list with 376 catches for 4,549 and 21 touchdowns.

Jersey #89

At #89 we get a couple of players who were grandfathered in when the number rules changed: Verlon Biggs (DE) and David Robinson (LB). One of the Smurfs, Alvin Garrett, wore #89, along with Zeron Flemister (TE), Clarence Verdin (WR), Anthony Allen (WR) and Santana Moss (WR). The who wore it best award goes to Moss, who is 4th all-time with 581 receptions for 7,867 yards and 47 touchdowns. In 2005, Moss made the Pro Bowl and was name 2nd team All-Pro.

Next week, we will review jersey numbers ninety through ninety-nine.