Old Redskins questions I've always wondered about.......

[grhqofb5]

As a relatively young fan who (at least I believe) has a decent historical knowledge of the franchise, players, etc., I often find myself wondering about certain things that aren't reflected in the stat sheet, things that may have happened a while ago and have sort of been lost in time, with no real record. A few questions that my raise some decent debate and/or discussion:

(1) After Super Bowl XXII, and coming into the 1988 season, was Doug Williams publicly annointed the starting quarterback over Jay Schroeder? I seem to remember Schroeder being on the team up to at least training camp. What was the story?

(2) Charlie Brown was an up and coming superstar in the 1982-1983 seasons. Looks like he may have been injured in 1984, then was traded or released. Why did the team give up on him, and what did we receive in return?

(3) When George Rogers was brought in before the 1985 season, how did Riggins react, knowing that Rogers was going to be his replacement?

(4) When Dexter Manley was banned from the league, what was the general fan/local media reaction? When he returned to the league, why didn't the Redskins take him back? Too much history?

(5) When Theismann broke his leg in 1985, did the fanbase /local media/team expect that he would eventually return, or was the injury immediately deemed to be career ending?

The purpose of this thread is to discuss similar topics, and to tap into some of the knowledge possessed by the "older" members of the board.

[IHOPSkins]

.....(4) When Dexter Manley was banned from the league, what was the general fan/local media reaction? When he returned to the league, why didn't the Redskins take him back?.......

My memory is not the best But I will field this one

....Too much history?....

Pretty much yes

Gibbs had given Dex enough chances and Dex just could not change.....Gibbs let him go

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...-Dexter-Manley

[derskinsfan]

Here's how I remember it:

1) I remember hoping that Doug would decide to retire, because Schroeder was much younger and was pretty good just two years before. But I think he was traded early in training camp (or just before). Turned out to be the right move as we traded him to the Raiders for Jim Lachey, who anchored the left side for many years and helped us win another SB. Also, Schroeder was really never the same QB after being pummeled by the Giants three times in 1986.

2) Charlie Brown was traded to the Falcons in, I believe, 1985 for RC Thielmann, a veteran guard. Another good move. Thielmann fit right in and was a starter for us in SB XXII. Charlie Brown was okay but not great after the Skins, I think he only played a couple more years. Plus we added Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders in 1986. (Our immediate replacement for Brown in 1985 was Calvin Muhammad. He had a pretty good year in 85, then faded because he was diabetic.)

3) I don't remember a lot of controversy from Riggo when we brought on Rogers, but I do remember it was hard to figure out how to split up the carries. '85 turned out to be a transition year all around. Basically the last hurrah for Riggo, Moseley and Joe T. Rogers didn't turn out to be the answer though, either.

5) I don't think many people expected Joe T. to return after the broken leg, although I do remember him talking about making a comeback. The reality was that one leg is still shorter than the other because of the break. Also, he was having a pretty terrible season prior to the injury. He just wasn't playing as crisply. Lots of turnovers, few downfield plays. It seemed as though the end was near.

[Darth Tater]

From a fans POV on the Riggo/Rogers issue. Gibbs 1 pretty much used a RBBC approach (albeit with an obvious head). At first this was Riggo as the head (and was also the banger) but Joe Washington got a significant number of snaps. Joe Washington was done and Riggo was getting up there.

[Tastes Like Chicken]

What's the story with SB XVIII? The rumor I heard, was that part of the reason why we got spanked by the Raiders, was because some key players partied their butts off the night before the game. Any truth behind that, any good stories?

[dan757]

Awesome Idea for a thread OP! Thanks for doing this.

[Hitman21ST]

Whatever happened to Timmy Smith after his breakout performance?

[stwasm]

Here's how I remember it:

1) I remember hoping that Doug would decide to retire, because Schroeder was much younger and was pretty good just two years before. But I think he was traded early in training camp (or just before). Turned out to be the right move as we traded him to the Raiders for Jim Lachey, who anchored the left side for many years and helped us win another SB. Also, Schroeder was really never the same QB after being pummeled by the Giants three times in 1986.

Another part of this is that Schroeder and Williams didn't get along. The year before, when the Giants shut out the Skins in the NFC Championship Game, Schroeder was hurt during the game and, when Williams went onto the field to replace him, Schroeder yelled at him and humiliated him on the field in front of the team so he could finish the game. After the Super Bowl win, in a pre-season game against the Steelers, Williams played well while Schroeder was terrible, prompting fans in the stadium to chant, "We Want Doug!" Schroeder then publicly accused the offense of playing harder for Doug than him. It was at that point Beathard traded Schroeder to Oakland for Jim Lachey. Turned out to be a GREAT move for us and a not-so-good for the Raiders.

[MadMonkey]

Whatever happened to Timmy Smith after his breakout performance?

Came into camp the following season overweight and out of shape. Played horribly and had impending drug charges which led to his release and eventually ended up with the Cowboys.

[king991]

Theismann wanted to come back and play for the Skins after the injury but the doctors and Gibbs felt it was too dangerous and didn't want him to play for his health...Per Theismann's request Jack Kent Cooke waived him and he went to Philly. Cooke and Gibbs actually wrote a pretty touching letter to Theismann (sentimental Skins fan here) when they released him, thanking him and such. I have a copy of it filed away somewhere, try to find it

[MartinC]

Whatever happened to Timmy Smith after his breakout performance?

Night clubs. Cocaine. Drug dealing. Prison.

In just about that order.

[onedrop]

i remember watching LT break Joe T's leg and asking my step dad how long he would be out. his response....he aint coming back.

[grhqofb5]

Whatever happened to Timmy Smith after his breakout performance?

I'm old enough to remember a little bit on this one. He has a couple good games to start the season, but it became obvious that he wasn't the answer at RB. Then he got into trouble (missed several games for unknown reasons), and then the drug issues came out.


Another question, I know that Gary Clark came from the USFL via James Madison University. How did the Redskins determine that they wanted him, and was he expected to produce on the level that he did (apparantly it was pretty much right away).

[Darth Tater]

Whatever happened to Timmy Smith after his breakout performance?

Had a problem with the sniffles as I understand it.

---------- Post added May-9th-2012 at 02:06 PM ----------

I'm old enough to remember a little bit on this one. He has a couple good games to start the season, but it became obvious that he wasn't the answer at RB. Then he got into trouble (missed several games for unknown reasons), and then the drug issues came out.


Another question, I know that Gary Clark came from the USFL via James Madison University. How did the Redskins determine that they wanted him, and was he expected to produce on the level that he did (apparantly it was pretty much right away).

IIRC, he was high round draft material to begin with and then was one of the best WR in the USFL, Yes, he was expected to perform at a high-level right away (not at the level he did but at a solid number 2 for Monk).

[grhqofb5]

Had a problem with the sniffles as I understand it.

---------- Post added May-9th-2012 at 02:06 PM ----------


IIRC, he was high round draft material to begin with and then was one of the best WR in the USFL, Yes, he was expected to perform at a high-level right away (not at the level he did but at a solid number 2 for Monk).

On the issue of the USFL, how seriously did the local fanbase/media take the Washington Federals franchise? Were they seen as a threat to the Redskins, or was it more like a novelty that everyone thought would go away after a year or two?