Redskins By the (Jersey) Numbers: Vintage 94!

As we move through the numbers, we will certainly get to those that aren’t exactly chock-full of amazing players. While I can think of a couple reasons to get excited about today’s number, the body of work put in wearing a #94 Redskins jersey is somewhat underwhelming. When I look over the list of names to have worn #94, I am struck with both anger and hope...weird combo.

Let’s get the anger out of way. In 1998, then-owner John Kent Cooke made Dana Stubblefield one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive players on the heels of him being voted the NFL’s defensive player of the year. At 27 years old, some thought he was entering the peak of his career. Coming off of a 15-sack season with the San Francisco 49ers, Stubblefield managed only SEVEN sacks over THREE years. If you were to Google all-time worst contracts, there are very few results returned that don’t include Stubblefield. (Sidebar: note it was Cooke and not Snyder that brought in Stubby. A lot of people get that wrong—so I did my good deed of the day.)

When people think of #94, they probably don’t immediately think of Sean Gilbert, but given the Kirk Cousins saga, it is actually a pretty good thing to log into your memory banks. Drafted by the Rams in the 1992 draft, Gilbert was All-Rookie his first year and made the Pro Bowl his second year. The Rams became a bit crowded on their defensive line and so they traded Gilbert to the Redskins in 1996 for a first-round pick. He played a pretty solid defensive tackle for the Redskins that season and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. The Redskins slapped the franchise tag on him and he SAT OUT the entire 1997 season so that he could fulfill his dream of being a full-time pouter. Coming back after the season he sat out, the Redskins tagged him AGAIN, which led to all kinds of acrimony and hearings. Gilbert and his agent (and the union I think) argued that you couldn’t tag a guy twice (similar to the Supreme Court Harry vs. Lloyd “Triple Stamp vs. Double Stamp” case). They lost. The Carolina Panthers came calling and saved the day, offering the big man $46.5 million which the Redskins declined to match. Washington netted TWO first round picks out of the deal (1999 and 2000).

While Adam Carriker has always been a friend to Hogs Haven, and we continue to wish him the best in his post-playing days, I continue to have high hopes for one Preston Smith (Presssssssss-TONE!!). I get that he hasn’t necessarily blown everyone’s skirts up, but he is still a young, dynamic player that could benefit greatly from the presence of a guy like Jonathan Allen. Smith did start 16 games in 2016 (courtesy of Pro Football Reference) after starting just one game in his rookie campaign. He played HUGE in a home playoff game, which carries some serious water, and he is a Scot “McLovin” McCloughan pick. His upside is very real and to deny his athletic ability and monster physical traits would be foolish. He has work to do, but I choose the hope that is present in our young pass rusher to represent the number 94 today.