Fifty years of great Washington Redskins characters

George Allen (Head coach, 1971-1977)

Every time you lose, you die a little inside. Not all your organs… maybe just your liver.

The coach who picked up after the sudden death of Vince Lombardi brought in every proven veteran he could get his hands on, and finished turning a perennial laughing-stock into a Super Bowl contender. He was a man with the enthusiasm of a child leading men who played a game for a living. The stories of his paranoia are legion. And by God did he hate the Cowboys. It was never the Dallas Cowboys. It was the “damn Cowboys.” George Allen once offered to fight Cowboys’ coach Tom Landry at midfield. Coach Landry refused the invitation.

Joe Bugel (Off. line coach, Off. coordinator, Asst. head coach, 1981-1989, 2004-2009)

I don’t have a big vocabulary. I have every swear word.

Had “Buges” done nothing more than christen the Hogs, he would be remembered. The fact that he was among the best offensive line coaches the league has ever seen, that he helped the Redskins to championships, and that he provided the most colorful sound bites of them all, makes him a legend. A man who truly wore his emotions for all to see. My other favorite quote: “Never be ashamed to look somebody in the face and say ‘I love you.”

Jack Kent Cooke (Majority owner, 1974-1997)

I don’t intend to die.

Mr. Cooke – he was always Mr. Cooke – said this to sportswriter Mo Siegel at Duke’s one day. At one point, Mr. Cooke said “if I die…” which prompted Siegel to interrupt, and ask for clarification of the “if.” Mr. Cooke explained with the quote above. Five marriages, four wives, three major American sports teams, two smaller professional teams, and a special place in the hearts of every Redskins’ fan. He hired two extraordinary talents in Bobby Beathard and Joe Gibbs, then left them alone to do their thing, only stepping in to mediate the rare dispute between the GM and coach. I don’t know what that sounds like to you, but to me, it sounds like good ownership.

Russ Grimm (Offensive guard, 1981-1991)

There’s no greater feeling than being able to move a man from Point A to Point B against his will.

This was Russ Grimm at his HOF induction, quoting his offensive line coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Joe Moore. No matter who said it first, this epitomized the Hogs. And kind of like the Hall of Fame has seen fit to do, I am letting Grimm stand in for that entire unit, because Messrs. Starke, Jacoby, May, Bostic, Dean, and affiliate and associate members all deserve a shout out.

Tre Johnson (Offensive guard, 1994-200, 2002)

A combination of William Faulkner and Casey Stengel.

This is how Landon School’s Ed Sundt described fellow teacher Edward Stanton “Tre” Johnson. Not that Johnson needs others to speak for him. Any one of his elaborate tattoos speak volumes. The 337-pound lineman with a self-admitted mean streak, was always interested in discussing matters beyond football. So much so that upon retirement, he took a job at Landon, an elite all-boys school in the DC suburbs where he has since taught ancient history and served as Cultural Transitions Counselor. Oh, and he also made the Pro Bowl.

Dexter Manley (Defensive end, 1981-1989)

Cowboy fans all have halitosis.

OK, this is not an exact quote. I could not find the exact quote. But he did make the accusation, and as disses go, this one scores big for originality. And Dexter Manley, the Redskins’ all-time sack leader, was a true original. I learned my lesson after recently ranking Dexter only 24th on the list of all-time Redskins’ defenders. People loved Dexter. People still love Dexter. And with good reason.

Clinton Portis (Running back, 2004-2010)

You’ve heard of Vampire From Brooklyn? Well, I’m Jerome from Southeast DC.

Even if he never put on a costume, CP would be a fan favorite for the way he played. Here was a star running back who seemed to love taking out a blitzing linebacker as much as breaking a big run. Portis’ rushing skills diminished over his time in DC, but his desire and his blocking never did. Nor did his sense of humor. When he first started donning costumes at post-game pressers in 2005, it was a small thing. But soon those costumes grew more elaborate, and he began to adopt personae. I believe Southeast Jerome was the first one he actually named. As he said a week before unveiling Jerome, “I might as well keep a sense of humor, because if I leave it up to you all, you’re going to run me into the ground.”

John Riggins (Running back, 1976-1985)

I’m bored, I’m broke, and I’m back.

Need we say more? Well, okay, maybe for context. Riggins sat out the 1980 season in a salary dispute. The new coach, Joe Gibbs, invited him back. He accepted the invitation. Super Bowl and Hall of Fame to follow.

Fred Smoot (Cornerback, 2001-2004, 2007-2009)

75 percent of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Smoot.

This may be the wittiest thing I have ever heard a football player say. I mean, it isn’t some generic platitude about heart or competition. Cornerbacks COVER people. It’s positionally specific. And he’s dropping science at the same time. I’m glad Smoot was here. He was a good corner, and a great spirit.

Steve Spurrier (Head coach, 2002-2003)

Okay, we wound up 5-11. Not very good. But there was some worse than us.

Could anything possibly sum up the head ball coach’s tenure in DC more than this gem from his final presser? Coming after a 31-7 dismantling at the hands of Philly, Steve Spurrier talked about the future, despite knowing that future was not going to be in the Redskins organization. Still, he had a lot of money and a nice set of golf clubs, so you know, life was good. Never forget, there are always going to some “worse than us” (Thank God for the Bengals in 2019, right?).

Diron Talbert (Defensive tackle, 1971-1980)

I was surprised they started Staubach. But I’m awfully glad they did.

George Allen may have primed the pump for Redskins-Cowboys hatred, but you needed players on the field to make it visceral. Enter Mr. Talbert, the tough tackle brought in from the Rams with a ready-made animosity for America’s team. And especially for the golden boy, Roger Staubach. After Staubach got the starting nod over Craig Morton in the 26-3 loss to the Redskins in the 1972 NFC Championship game, Talbert was quick to rub salt in the wound. A couple years later, he would talk about his desire to knock the Cowboys QB out of the upcoming Thanksgiving game. But that story doesn’t end well for Redskins fans, so we’ll leave it for another time.

Pete Wysocki (Linebacker, 1975-1980)

I try to stay just this side of being rabid.

Spoken like a true special teams stud.

And, our special 13th man.

Zema Williams (Chief Zee, 1978-infinity)

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!

The Chief took on all comers and never wavered. Now that’s character.