We continue with the not-really-all-that-official-countdown to the 2023 Washington Commanders regular season. There are exactly 97 days left until the Commanders square off against the Arizona Cardinals on September 10th.
Here are some notable things about Washington that contain 97 in some way.
97 Jerseys
Efe Obada currently wears the number 97 for the Commanders. Lorenzo Alexander and Tim Settle will be the players that many fans think of first when they think of jersey number 97.
Here is a list of the other guys that have worn the number:
Lorenzo Alexander: 2010-2012
Romeo Bandison: 1996-1996
Jumpy Geathers: 1990-1992
Jason Hatcher: 2014-2015
Kelvin Kinney: 1997-1998
Terrell McClain: 2017-2017
Efe Obada: 2022-2023
Sterling Palmer: 1993-1996
Kendall Reyes: 2016-2016
Tim Settle: 2018-2021
Renaldo Wynn: 2002-2009
Other 97 Stuff
Dexter Manley is the unofficial franchise sack leader with 97 sacks. It’s unofficial because the league didn’t start officially tracking sacks until Manley’s second season. As he had 6 sacks in that first season, he officially only has 91 sacks and sits second behind Ryan Kerrigan’s 95.5. But Dex actually had 97.
’97 was the year that we lost Jack Kent Cooke. The Squire had once jokingly told a reporter, “I don’t intend to die,” but he unfortunately passed away of congestive heart failure on April 6th. He is still missed today.
’97 Season
1997 was the Washington Redskins’ 66th season in the National Football League and their 62nd in D.C. The team finished 8–7–1, 2nd in the NFC East, but failed to make the playoffs. The team ranked 15th in points scored, and 8th in points scored against.
It was their first season post Robert F. Kennedy Stadium,. It was their first season in Jack Kent Cooke Stadium – what would soon become FedEx Field.
The coach was Norv Turner, and the General Manager was Charley Casserly.
Members of that squad included QB Trent Green, RBs Terry Allen and Stephen Davis, WRs James Thrash, Albert Connell, and Michael Westbrook, G Joe Patton, C Cory Raymer, Ts Ed Simmons and Shah Pourdanesh, DE Kenard Lang, LBs Ken Harvey, Marvcus Patton and Derek Smith, and CBs Cris Dishman and Darrell Green and FS Stanley Richard.
The quarterbacks coach was Mike Martz and Russ Grimm was the offensive line coach. Mike Nolan was the defensive coordinator.
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97 more days to go…