Green Always Had It Covered Ex-Redskin Made Several Adjustments Over 20-Year Career
By Gene Wang Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, September 8, 2004; Page H02
A whisker under 5 feet 9, Darrell Green made his living in the land of relative giants. He measured himself against the likes of 6-2 Jerry Rice, the most prolific wide receiver of them all; engaged in epic confrontations with 6-3 Michael Irvin; and rendered 6-4 Randy Moss incidental during their one-on-one encounter in the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver's rookie season.
So don't tell the retired cornerback who played 20 years with the Washington Redskins about mismatches favoring the latest crop of big wide receivers. He's the guy who stared down Harold Carmichael, all 6-8 of him, and won.
I haven't evne read the article and Im going to pump this man up!!!
THE BEST CORNER EVER!!! He's a heck of a lot better the Deoin, was more complete and was physically disadvantaged compared to Deoin who was a lot taller.
Fastest player in the NFL almost until the day he retired.
In fact, he turned down the 1984 US Olympic team, where he would have been 1-2 sprinter with Carl Lewis, to turn pro with the Redskins. Green and Lewis were the top NCAA sprinters when Green was drafted.
I remember that in his first few years, Green used that speed to recover from mistakes. Then he learned enough that he hardly ever made mistakes...and opposing teams never threw toward him.
Anybody remember Barry Wilburn? I think that Wilburn led the league in interceptions one year because no team wanted to test Green. It was "Green = incomplete".
Incidentally, didn't Harold Carmichael start his carer playing against Pat Fischer (who was no slouch, himself)? I seem to remember a game when Fischer had carmichael completely covered, but Carmichael got the pass because he was a foot taller than Carmichael. Fischer jumped up on Carmichael's back, and rode there for about ten yards until someone got Carmichael at the ankles.
So consider the line that stretches from Fischer to Green...That's the Redskins winning tradition.
Chasing down tony D is one of the greatest Skins plays ever. I'm also kinda shocked he isnt help coach the team somehow now that Gibbs is back. I forgot about the Olympic team thanks for posting that.
Green is a class act and deserves a thread in his honor every week.