It was an emotional weekend for the Redskins and their legion of fans in Canton, Ohio, as Darrell Green and Art Monk were finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
On Sunday night, in front of a national television audience, the Redskins capped the celebration with a 30-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.
Jason Campbell was sharp, throwing a touchdown pass on the Redskins' first offensive drive of preseason.
In the second half, rookie Colt Brennan threw two touchdown passes as the Redskins came back from a 16-9 deficit to win their preseason opener.
"I was excited to be able to score on the first drive," head coach Jim Zorn said. "Other than that, this was a special game that we get to start out with--the Hall of Fame Game. And to see two Redskins greats go in the Hall of Fame, and to have so many Redskins fans here, it is incredible, really. It's like a home game."
Zorn had to be happy with the play of his quarterbacks and the Redskins' rushing attack.
The Redskins' four quarterbacks--Campbell, Todd Collins, Brennan and Derek Devine--were remarkable in terms of accuracy and completion percentage. They finished the game a combined 19-of-22 for 216 yards and three touchdowns.
On the ground, Rock Cartwright and Marcus Mason combined for a 156 rushing yards and a 5.0 yards-per-carry average.
Cartwright started at running back and posted 58 rushing yards on 13 carries, while Marcus Mason had 98 yards on 18 carries. Mason also grabbed a 5-yard touchdown, on the Redskins' go-ahead score.
Undrafted rookie Matteral Richardson closed out the scoring with a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Two more rookies shined on defense: Chris Horton had two sacks and a pass break-up and Rob Jackson also had a sack. Both Horton and Jackson were seventh-round draft picks by the Redskins last April.
With the exception of Clinton Portis, who sat out the preseason contest, the Redskins opened the game with their projected starting lineup on offense.
Campbell played two offensive series and impressed in his first action since Dec. 6 of last year. He completed 5-of-5 passes for 61 yards and a 20-yard touchdown to Antwaan Randle El on the Redskins' opening series.
The Colts tried some trickery early on, attempting an on-sides kick to open the game. Horton wasn't fooled. He pounced on the ball for the recovery at the Colts' 45-yard line.
After Cartwright broke through a hole to the right for a 17-yard gain, Campbell found Randle El running a deep crossing pattern to the end zone. Randle El was wide open and caught Campbell's 20-yard pass for the touchdown.
Campbell and Randle El gave Santana Moss credit on the play.
"Randle El ran a good route, but it was opened up by Santana running a great post route and being in position," Campbell said. "The offensive line did a great job of protection. I just had to step up in the pocket and give him an accurate throw."
Added Randle El: "Great job by Santana taking the corner and safety out of the play. Great blocking up front and Jason threw a dart."
The Redskins' second offensive drive was stymied after Campbell was sacked for a 7-yard loss by defensive linemen Raheem Brock and Josh Thomas.
Campbell's last throw of the game was an 11-yard completion to Chris Cooley, but it was short of a first down.
Campbell earned praise from Jim Zorn.
"I'm very pleased with Jason," Zorn said. "I think he had poise in the pocket. I thought his tempo was good and his accuracy was pretty good."
Ultimately, this was a game for rookies, reserves and young players. By the middle of the second quarter, they had filled most of the positions on the field.
J.T. Tryon stepped up with a key play in the second quarter, breaking up a 4th-and-1 pass from quarterback Quinn Gray to wide receiver Devin Aromashodu.
Then, with the Colts starting a drive at their own 9-yard line, center Colin Ferrell snapped the ball over Gray's head. The ball bounced out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
The score gave the Redskins a 9-3 lead.
Midway through the second quarter, the Colts took the lead for the first time when Gray tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Onrea Jones. Stuart Schweigert appeared to be late getting over in coverage downfield as Jones pulled in the pass as he crossed the goal line for the score.
Late in the first half, Gray threw deep again, completing a 47-yard pass to wide receiver Courtney Roby to the Redskins' 6-yard line. Tryon had wrapped up Roby, and he was called for pass interference on the play, but the penalty was declined.
The big play set up a 24-yard field goal by Vinatieri to close out the first half.
Another Vinatieri field goal in the third quarter put the Colts ahead 16-9.
The Redskins turned to Brennan.
Seeing his first NFL action, Brennan started the second half at quarterback and was impressive guiding the offense downfield n his first drive. He converted a key 3rd-and-7 play by throwing a 34-yard pass to Billy McMullen.
Brennan capped the drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Mann in the left corner of the end zone. Mann made a diving grab to pull in the pass one step ahead of a defender.
In the fourth quarter, Brennan led a 15-play, 88-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes of game clock and resulted in another touchdown.
On a 3rd-and-4 at the Colts' 5-yard line, Brennan rolled right and waited for a receiver to get open. He saw Mason at the goal line and threw a quick pass.
Mason grabbed it and broke a tackle, turning into the end zone for the score.
Overall, Brennan completed 9-of-10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Devine closed out the game at quarterback.
With 1:50 left in the game, Richardson's touchdown sealed the win for the Redskins.
Richardson stepped in front of a pass by quarterback Jared Lorenzen. He had a clear path down the right sideline to the end zone for the touchdown.
On the field, in the stands at Fawcett Stadium, and all around Redskins nation, it was another reason to celebrate a memorable Hall of Fame weekend.
PRE-GAME COVERAGE
The 2008 season is here! The Redskins will open the NFL preseason against the Indianapolis Colts in the 46th annual Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio.
The contest will kick off at 8 p.m. ET at Canton's Fawcett Stadium and will be televised nationally on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
The game caps a weekend that will see the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction of two Redskins legends in Darrell Green and Art Monk. The pair will be the 23rd and 24th former Redskins to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
The Redskins have participated in the Hall of Fame Game four times: 1965, 1975, 1989 and 2004. They are undefeated in those games. The Colts are 2-1 in their three appearances (1964, 1982 and1996) in the Hall of Fame Game.
Fawcett Stadium has a FieldTurf surface. It seats 22,364.
On NBC, Al Michaels will call the play-by-play and John Madden will provide color commentary. Adam Schefter will serve as side reporter.
On radio, the game will be broadcast on ESPN 980. Larry Michael handles the play-by-play with color commentary by Hall of Famers Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff. Rick "Doc" Walker will serve as sideline reporter.
REDSKINS-COLTS SERIES HISTORY
Sunday night's game will mark the 27th time that the Redskins and Colts have met in the preseason. It's the first time the two clubs have faced each other since 1981. At that time, the Colts played in Baltimore.
The Colts own a 15-10-1 advantage in the preseason series. The franchises met 26 times between 1953-81, including annually from 1953-68, 1970-76, 1978 and 1980-81.
Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio will be the fifth venue to host a game in the series and the third different site that was not the clubs' home stadium.
Foreman Field in Norfolk, Va., hosted games in 1963, 1965 and 1967, while the 1972 matchup was hosted at Tampa Stadium. Baltimore's Memorial Stadium hosted 13 games in the series, while D.C./RFK Stadium hosted nine contests.
In the regular season series, the Colts hold an 18-10 edge. The two teams last met on Oct. 22, 2006 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
The Colts won 36-22 as quarterback Peyton Manning led an aerial assault by completing 25-of-35 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns (including three in the third quarter).
The Redskins' most recent win in the series came on Oct. 27, 2002 at FedExField. They prevailed 26-21.
Quarterback Shane Matthews threw two touchdown passes, one each to Chris Doering and Darnerien McCants, while running backs Stephen Davis and Kenny Watson combined for 147 yards on 31 carries.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony begins at 6 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio. The NFL Network and ESPN will provide live coverage of the festivities.
On Saturday, the NFL Network kicks off a two-hour pre-induction show at 4 p.m. ET, followed by all of the ceremonies at 6 p.m. ET and a one-hour wrap-up show. ESPN will televise the entire induction ceremonies starting at 6 p.m. ET.
The 2008 Hall of Fame class includes two Redskins greats: Darrell Green and Art Monk.
"Whether I deserved to play in the NFL or deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, I just loved the game, loved to play, loved being out there," Monk said.
Here is a look at each of the 2008 inductees:
-- Defensive end Fred Dean (1975-85) used a combination of quickness, speed and strength as a defensive end for San Diego and San Francisco to excel as a pass rusher. He had a career-best 17.5 sacks in 1983 and went to four Pro Bowls.
-- Cornerback Darrell Green (1983-2002) was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s. Known for his speed, Green intercepted 54 passes in his career, including in 19 consecutive seasons, an NFL record. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls.
-- Wide receiver Art Monk(1980-95) set then-NFL records for receptions in a season (106 in 1984), most consecutive games with a reception (164) and career catches (820). He had 50 or more receptions in nine seasons, while gaining 1,000 yards five times.
-- Cornerback Emmitt Thomas (1966-78) posted a club-record 58 career interceptions with Kansas City. The total ranks ninth all-time. He had three pickoffs in the 1969 playoffs, including one in Super Bowl IV. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent and went to five Pro Bowls. Thomas was a Redskins assistant coach from (1986-94).
-- Linebacker Andre Tippett (1982-93) held New England club records at retirement for career sacks (100), sacks in a season (18.5, 1984) and opponent fumbles recovered (19). He led the AFC with 16.5 sacks in 1987. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1980s and played in five Pro Bowls.
-- Offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman (1986-97) started in 169 consecutive games with Minnesota and Denver. He was named to the NFL All-Decade Teams of the 1980s and 1990s. He anchored an offensive line that helped Denver lead the NFl in combined yardage in 1996 and 1997.
Who will present for the Redskins' greats? Darrell Green will be presented by his son Jared Green and Art Monk will be presented by his son James Monk, Jr.
NEWS & NOTES: REDSKINS-COLTS
-- Zorn At the Hall of Fame Game
Redskins head coach Jim Zorn makes his NFL preseason coaching debut in the Hall of Fame Game.
Zorn was hired as head coach on Feb. 10, 2008. He succeeded Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, becoming the 27th head coach in Redskins franchise history.
Zorn is more thrilled at the setting than with his debut.
"The Hall of Fame Game is a special game," Zorn said. "It is the only game going on at the time and it honors a tremendous history of Hall of Fame players. That's what I'm most excited about."
Jim Zorn played in the 1984 Hall of Fame Game as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He completed 4-of-6 passes for 46 yards.
-- Redskins Rookies Head to Hall
Rookie players of the Colts and Redskins are the last of the 2008 class to visit the Hall of Fame in a program that was instituted this year to teach incoming NFL players about the history of pro football.
Redskins rookies were scheduled to head to the Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon, shortly after the team arrived in Cleveland.
The idea was inspired by 2007 Hall of Fame inductee Michael Irvin in a conversation with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last August in Canton.
-- Another Debut: Jason Taylor
Defensive end Jason Taylor will make his Redskins debut in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday.
The Redskins traded with the Miami Dolphins to acquire the six-time Pro Bowler on July 20.
Taylor and Andre Carter are one of three sets of current NFL teammates who both registered double-digit sack totals in 2007. Coincidentally, all three duos reside in the NFC East in Dallas's DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis and the New York Giants' Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.
Taylor had 11 sacks last season while Carter had 10.5.
Taylor's 117 sacks are the most among all NFL active players and rank 14th all-time in NFL history.
Additionally, Taylor's 100.5 sacks this decade are a league-high, 11.5 more than Michael Strahan's 85 and 26 more than any other active player (Leonard Little, 74.5).
Taylor has also demonstrated a propensity for getting his hands on the football as his 41 forced fumbles are 10 more than any other current NFL player (Dwight Freeney and Little, 31).
-- Ohio Homecoming
The Hall of Fame Game serves as a homecoming for several Redskins players and coaches.
Redskins who grew up in the Buckeye State: Khary Campbell (Toledo), London Fletcher (Cleveland), Andrew Crummey (Ven Wert), Fred Davis (Toledo), Anthony Montgomery (Cleveland) and Sherman Smith (Youngstown).
Redskins who went to college in the Buckeye State: Marcus Mason (Youngstown State), Shawn Springs (Ohio State), Jason Taylor (Akron) and Jason Fabini (Cincinnati).
-- Colts Inactives
The Colts have announced that the following players are not expected to play in the Hall of Fame Game: defensive end Dwight Freeney (foot injury), linebacker Tyjuan Hagler (chest), offensive guard Ryan Lilja (knee), quarterback Peyton Manning ( knee), tight end Tom Santi (knee) and safety Bob Sanders (shoulder).
Manning had surgery on his left knee in July. He is expected to miss the preseason. His backup Jim Sorgi is expected to start.
Also probably seeing action at quarterback for the Colts will be veterans Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen.
-- Washington And the Colts
Linebacker Marcus Washington was drafted by the Colts in the second round (59th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. On Sunday night, he will play for the second time against his former team.
Washington played against Indianapolis on Oct. 22, 2006. The Colts played a video tribute to Washington on the stadium JumboTron during the game.
-- Cooley's Emergence
Chris Cooley played his first NFL preseason game at the Hall of Fame Game in 2004. The Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos 20-17 that year.
Since 2004, Chris Cooley ranks second with most touchdowns by a tight end. He has 27 touchdowns, second only to San Diego's Antonio Gates, who has 41.
Indianapolis's Dallas Clark is third with 24 touchdown grabs.
-- Colts' Bethea
Colts defensive back Antoine Bethea attended Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Bethea took part in the Redskins' local college workout prior to the 2006 NFL Draft. The workout was held at Redskins Park.
Bethea would go on to be selected by the Colts in the sixth round of the draft.
-- Blache Has Colts Connection
Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache coached in Indianapolis from 1994-98.
He served as the Colts' defensive line coach.
FAMILIAR FACES ON THE COLTS
Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks served as cornerbacks coach for the Redskins in 2000.
