By Spence | August 19, 2008

ESPN asked that question of fans of all 32 NFL teams. Some of the answers were funny/depressing, such as Bobby Hebert [the ragin' Cajun] being voted the best New Orleans Saint of all time. Others were more predictable, such as Lawrence Taylor being voted the best New York Giant of all time. [Lawrence Taylor was the single greatest defensive player in NFL history, in my opinion.]

So who is the greatest Washington Redskin of all time? ESPN voters decided on 2008 Hall of Fame inductee Darrell Green, who received a whopping 40.7% of the vote. Fellow 2008 Hall of Fame inductee Art Monk finished a distant second with 15.9% of the vote and Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh rounded out the top 3 with 15.4% of the vote.

I’d like to know what you think. Who was the greatest Washington Redskin of all time? These are the options we’ve given you, in alphabetical order

1. QB Sammy Baugh
2. CB Darrell Green
3. LB Chris Hanburger
4. QB Sonny Jurgensen
5. RB/WR/RS Bobby Mitchell
6. WR Art Monk
7. RB John Riggins
8. WR Charley Taylor
9. Joe Theismann

Each has a case to be made. Sammy Baugh revolutionized the passing game, was clearly the best passing quarterback of his time, and was also a great punter. Darrell Green played for 2 decades, usually at the highest level, and almost never had the luxury of a double-team partner to help shut down the other team’s best receiver. Chris Hanburger was a tackling machine who made 9 Pro Bowls, tops in Redskins history. Sonny Jurgensen led the best and most exciting offense of the 1960s and was the top-rated passer in the NFL the year he retired. Bobby Mitchell was one of the greatest and most versatile offensive players and a key part of that great 1960s offense led by Jurgensen. Art Monk was arguably the most reliable receiver during the decade of the 1980s and he retired as the leading pass-catcher in NFL history. He also caught over 100 passes in 1984, almost a decade before the league became pass-happy in the early 1990s. John Riggins retired as one of the top-5 most productive running backs in NFL history and his run of playoff games in 1982-83 was probably the greatest post-season performance by any running back in NFL history. Charley Taylor retired as the leading pass-catcher in NFL history, anticipating Art Monk by 20 years. Joe Theismann led the Redskins to 2 Super Bowls, one NFL championship and was named league MVP in 1983.

The poll can be found near the top of the left sidebar. Please vote.

Discuss this in Redskins Park with other DC sports fans!