"Art and Darrell are very deserving of this honor and it will be special for them to receive their rings and share this experience with Redskins fans," Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder said. "This will be a wonderful and memorable evening to celebrate the significant accomplishments of these two great Redskins."
The fans at FedEx Field (a place Monk never played in) will already be rowdy because it is Cowboys Week. The last time the home fans saw their team play was two weeks ago in a loss to Pittsburgh. Those same fans overtook Canton, OH in July when Monk and Green were officially inducted into the Hall.
As a Redskins fan, let me say that today was about as good as it gets.
Darrell Green, in his first year of eligibility, and Art Monk, in his 8th, were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in front of a crowd filled with burgundy and gold. The crowd celebrated both Green and Monk, former coach Emmitt Thomas ... as well as the other inducted players.
They even dropped a chorus of boos anytime the term "Dallas Cowboys" was mentioned.
Green got into the Hall about as quickly as he could make a pick-six. Green played 20 seasons -- all with Washington -- and used his induction speech to mention many people who helped him along the way and was the first and only inductee to cry during his speech. He also mentioned two Redskins who passed over the past year, Sean Taylor and Kevin Mitchell.
By the way, ESPN keeps saying that Green and Taylor were former teammates. Green retired in 2002. Taylor was drafted in 2004.
Green was my idol growing up because he was so fast. He was also a little guy ... like me ... and made the cornerback position interesting to me (I would end up playing CB and kick returner for my school).
As for Art Monk ... all you can say is "it is about time".
As a Redskins fan, there is no doubt the greatest player for Washington during my lifetime is Darrell Green. A model of class and consistency, Green is beloved by all who bleed burgundy and gold.
I just wrote that it is very difficult to find that one signature Art Monk moment. However, that isn't the case with Green.
That 1987 Divisional Playoff game against the Chicago Bears where he returned a punt 52 yards for a momentum-changing touchdown is something I know I will never forget. That was an outstanding moment in a postseason filled with outstanding moments. The next week, the Redskins needed a goal line stand to beat the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. It was Green who jarred the would-be reception loose on the game's final play.
That punt return always reminds me of how I used to watch those "NFL's fastest man" competitions that Green used to keep on winning. Also reminded me of whenever he did go back to return a punt or something ... you stayed glued to the TV.
Before they were voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Washington Redskins wide receiver Art Monk and cornerback Darrell Green starred in this ridiculous Pizza Hut commercial:
There are just so many stupid things about that commercial. The idea that three NFL players are actually going to get into a fight over the best way to get a pizza. The idea that eating a pizza in the store is something that an "old man" would do, while hip youngsters who listen to tunes have their pizzas delivered. The idea that a cornerback would trash talk a wide receiver by saying he would drop a pizza. And so on.
And yet now that Monk and Green are Hall of Famers, that commercial feels like a classic. Perhaps they can show it at the induction ceremony.
It makes sense that the Washington Redskins will appear in the preseason Hall Of Fame Game for the second time in five years. The Skins will see legends Darrell Green and Art Monk enshrined that weekend into the Hall ... as well as Emmitt Thomas, a former Kansas City Chief who spent time on Washington's coaching staff.
The Redskins will take on the Indianapolis Colts. The game will take place on August 3rd in Canton, Ohio.
The game will be the first time we'll get to see new head coach Jim Zorn leading the "maroon and black" (gotta get that one right, Jimmy). Five years ago, Joe Gibbs' return to coaching was in the Hall of Fame Game when Washington beat the Denver Broncos, 20-17. The Redskins have won all four Hall games in which they've played.
This also means that the Colts and Redskins will each have five preseason games. That may suck for the Colts, who pretty much know who they are and what they do ... but the Redskins may need that extra game to get acclimated to what Zorn may want from his team and young quarterback.
At long last, Redskins' receiver Art Monk will be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It took eight long years to finally add the man who once held the all-time receptions record, single season receptions record and record for consecutive games with a reception (they have since all been broken).
As a Redskins fan, I couldn't be happier. It's about time. Not only were his numbers worthy of consideration, but he was one the classiest players the NFL has ever seen. It's also sweet since Darrell Green, the Redskins' cornerback who also exudes class. Green made it in on his first try.
As I said, both had the numbers to get in. But what makes them Redskins' legends are their contributions off the field:
Green, 47, started the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation in 1988, a learning center to help underprivileged children to improve learning skills. It is still in operation today. Monk, 50, has run the Good Samaritan Foundation, which feeds the poor and also helps children with learning, for 15 years with former teammate Charles Mann.
In my 32 years of existence, I've seen my Washington Redskins go to four Super Bowls, winning three. But the most unlikely is the 1987 championship team. Doug Williams took over for a benched Jay Schroeder and the Skins went on to win the title with big plays.
In the first of my three part Random YouTube Magic on the '87 Redskins postseason, we get to check out one of the most memorable plays in Skins lore: Darrell Green's punt return against the Chicago Bears. With the game tied 14-14, Green returned this punt 52 yards for to go-ahead touchdown. On the play, he hurdled over a Bears defender which caused him to sprain cartilage in his rib cage.
The Redskins would go on to win that game, 21-17, stunning the frozen fans at Chicago's Soldier Field.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has released its list of preliminary nominees for 2008, and the list includes seven players who are eligible for the first time.
I expect two of those players to make it in their first year of eligibility: Vikings and Eagles (and, briefly, Dolphins) wide receiver Cris Carter, and Redskins cornerback Darrell Green. I will be absolutely floored if they don't both make it, and I would enthusiastically vote for them myself.
There are 124 candidates on this preliminary list, and next month we'll get a list of 25 finalists. Those 25 will then be voted on to get 15 finalists, and on the day before the Super Bowl, the selection committee will meet to vote on those 15 finalists, plus two previously announced senior nominees, Chicago Cardinals back Marshall Goldberg and Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas.
Of those 17, between four and seven will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I reserve the right to change my mind on a couple choices, but if it were up to me the class of 2008 would consist of Green, Carter, Goldberg, Thomas, Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, Redskins offensive lineman Russ Grimm and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
If you're a Redskins fan, here's a little something to remind you of how the team used to actually value the draft as a means of building the roster. SI.com went through every first-round pick over the history of the NFL draft and listed the top selections.
In 1980, Washington landed Art Monk with the 18th overall pick and though some people still think he's not Hall-of-Fame worthy (apparently, he didn't do enough blow off hookers' backs in hotel rooms), he could be the 'Skins No. 2 wideout in 2007.
Three years later, Washington drafted cornerback Darrell Green at No. 28. Green was a seven-time Pro Bowler, played until he was like 50, and when he retired he was still one of the fastest guys in the NFL. Like Monk, Green would be a starter next season.
As Hogs Haven points out, reality can be a punch in the face, though: "Of course, as we never have draft picks anymore, this can never really happen again." Tell me, what does Vinny Cerrato do again?
Newly minted Hall of Famers Art Monk and Darrell Green will be honored prior to the Redskins Sunday night game against Dallas. Monk and Green will receive their Hall of Fame rings during the ceremony.
It makes sense that the Washington Redskins will appear in the preseason Hall Of Fame Game for the second time in five years. The Skins will see legends 
At long last, Redskins' receiver 
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has released its 
