Ashburn, VA - In 1987, the NFL faced a strike leaving teams without its players.
The Washington Redskins were among those teams scrambling to find players to
fill the void. Among the Redskins’ players who paricipated in the strike: Darryl Green, Darryl
Grant, Clint Didier and Neal Olkewicz, to name a few. Still, the season had to
go on.
Eric Coyle served as center for the Super Bowl winning team. He praised the Redskins
organization for advocating for the players and making the day a reality. Coyle
said that outside of being married and having four kids, this is one of the
greatest days of his life.
David Windham (right) said he felt "blessed" to have received his ring today and already had plans for his Super Bowl accessory.
"This to be loved, cherished" he said. "I'm going to wear it a little while then I'm going to insure it and put it in a case", he said.
Windham's family traveled with him to Redskins park and said he was excited and happy that his teammates were there to help the Redskins win the Super Bowl."
Keeping in touch
Enter the replacement players.
Those replacement players not only filled a void, they would go
on to help the franchise win Super Bowl XXII. Tuesday, they were honored for their efforts
at Redskins Park with – Super Bowl rings.
“The 3-0 record of the Redskins
replacement players was part of the remarkable success of the 1987 Washington
Redskins,” said Owner Dan Snyder. “Their contributions are part of Redskins
history and represent an integral reason why a Lombardi Trophy from the 1987
campaign resides in our facility today. Thanks in part to the generosity of our
partners on this project, we are happy to honor these players for their role in
that World Championship.”
Long-time Redskins' general manager Charley Casserly served as the
event’s host.
For college interns who gripe about not being paid, there’s hope. Casserly started with the Redskins as an unpaid intern under George Allen (Redskins’
head coach, 1971-1977, father of Bruce Allen, the team’s current GM) . Casserly,
now an NFL Network analyst, would work his way to assistant general manager and would then go on to serve as the team's scouting general manager. His tenure with the Redskins lasted
twenty-three years.
Casserly also helped put together the team’s replacement players.
“This was about finding as many bodies as possible to line up to
run a practice”, Casserly said in the documentary titled, Year of the Scab, ESPN’s 30 for 30 film (that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival
in 2017) that chronicled the 1987 NFL strike.
Players honored at Tuesday’s event recalled
playing for the Redskins for that brief moment and were thankful for the effort the
Redskins, along with GM Bruce Allen, took to put the event together.
Greatest day, despite adverse conditions
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| Eric Coyle shows off his new Super Bowl ring. |
“Absolutely 100%”, he said. “100%.”
Coyle played just 3 games with the Redskins, but said what he
remembers most is the kinship and the bond he claims developed quickly
between players.
“Conditions were so adversarial – either we’re going to split up,
or we’re going to bound together”, he said. “We did. We reached out, we loved
each other. We had a bunch of knuckleheads on this team; so many different
characters, but man, we came together as a team and a family in a very short
amount of time. “It was beautiful”, he said. “These guys are my brothers, and it happened
just like that. It’s super special.”
Coyle lives thousands of miles from the people and place that would
rekindle football memories and friendships. He owns horses and came to today’s
event in almost full cowboy-like regalia: jeans, cowboy boots and cowboy hat.
Although reminiscing and seeing the old team mates was special,
after today, it’s back to reality.
When asked if today somehow changed his life
he was quick to reply, “No.”
“I still [have] to take out the trash and feed the horses”, he said
jokingly. “But the reality is something was stolen from us, we were told those
games counted and mattered. I understand the politics at the time, but it’s just
really nice to be on the right side of an equation once in a while, you know?
And they worked it out.”
Something in the ‘Wind’ham.
"This to be loved, cherished" he said. "I'm going to wear it a little while then I'm going to insure it and put it in a case", he said.
Windham's family traveled with him to Redskins park and said he was excited and happy that his teammates were there to help the Redskins win the Super Bowl."
“It’s really cool”, said Joy
Stevenson, Windham’s daughter who grew up watching her famous dad play football
on TV.
“Growing up watching football and now getting to experience part of
his football life, it makes it worth my lifetime. We’ve waited almost 30 years
for this to happen”, she said.
When asked if there was anything she remembers most about football
life with her dad she said, “I always cherished his jerseys. I have his bags,
his shirts, his pictures, and now I have a Super Bowl ring to add to the
collection.”
Stevenson told us she ran into an old friend before the ceremony, Redskins’ receiver, Paul Richardson. The two went to college together. Richardson was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks and recently took to social media two months ago about being profiled by the police in his newly purchased car while driving on the toll road. (This is why NFL players take a knee ).Have the police released the video yet?
Stevenson told us she ran into an old friend before the ceremony, Redskins’ receiver, Paul Richardson. The two went to college together. Richardson was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks and recently took to social media two months ago about being profiled by the police in his newly purchased car while driving on the toll road. (This is why NFL players take a knee ).Have the police released the video yet?
A surreal existence
It’s been thirty years in the making for these justified players,
and now the wait is over.
“It’s surreal”, said former DB Skip Lane who recounts going
up against the Dallas Cowboys.
“As much as I was part of the push to get the rings, I keep
touching it and I don’t really feel like it’s real. It’s thirty-one years
coming and it’s a great justification of the effort we put in and not being
referred to as ‘scabs’ any longer (which I'm sure we will be). This puts a nice cap on the journey”, he
said. "These guys are warriors and they represent a lot of guys in the NFL, one or two-year players that never quite get the career, so this justifies our existence in that we had a part of that Super
Bowl win.”
Keeping in touch
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| Charles Jackson shows off his #37 jersey. |
Before the ceremony ended, after handshakes, hugs and high fives
were given, the Replacement Players leave with new found purpose (existence even)
and with promises to keep in touch for those who haven't.
A Facebook page is being planned and there are talks of fundraising
and tailgating.
“Except for a few players it’s been thirty years since I’ve seen
these guys, said Eric Wilson, former Redskins LB.
After today, are you planning to keep in touch, we asked.
“Absolutely!, he replied.
“We’re going to try to put together a Facebook page, we’re also
going to try to put together, maybe, an event or two where we get together…for
sure.”
On the upcoming Redskins season Wilson said he thinks the team
has been making some really good moves.
“I’m really happy about the quarterback situation”, he said. “I’m
real anxious to see how he’ll (Alex Smith) step in. I think it was a good move,
and I think they had a real solid draft so I'm anxious to see how they’ll turn out this year”, he said.
Wilson had kind words for the World Champion Washington Capitals as well. He congratulated the team on their 2018 Stanley Cup
win.
“Just elated that they were finally able to take the next step and
win a World Championship for this area", he said.
Wilson had high praise for team’s captain, Alex Ovechkin.
“Everyone has really talked a lot about Ovie. Just can’t say enough
about his play over the years, and for him to finally get a ring and represent
that team and that organization, it’s fantastic.”
You can see the entire Redskins’ ring ceremony here and watch the Captials’ celebratory parade through downtown D.C. here.
The 1987 Super Bowl XXII Champions in attendance at Tuesday's event included Obed Ariri,
Derek Bunch,Mark Carlson, John Cowne,
Eric Coyle,
Alec Gibson, Allen Harvin, Charles Jackson,
Ted Karras, Jon Kimmel, Skip Lane,
Phil Pettey,
Tony Robinson, Anthony Sagnella,
Joe Cofer, Tony Settles, Willard Scissum,
Jack Stanley,
Henry Waechter, Eric Wilson, Wayne Wilson, David Windham,
Mike Wooten, Jack Weil, Craig McEwen.
DC UrbanSports. All rights reserved. Photos by CD Brown for DC UrbanSports.
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| Alec Gibson strikes a pose after receiving his Super Bowl ring. |
The 1987 Super Bowl XXII Champions in attendance at Tuesday's event included Obed Ariri,
Derek Bunch,Mark Carlson, John Cowne,
Eric Coyle,
Alec Gibson, Allen Harvin, Charles Jackson,
Ted Karras, Jon Kimmel, Skip Lane,
Phil Pettey,
Tony Robinson, Anthony Sagnella,
Joe Cofer, Tony Settles, Willard Scissum,
Jack Stanley,
Henry Waechter, Eric Wilson, Wayne Wilson, David Windham,
Mike Wooten, Jack Weil, Craig McEwen.
DC UrbanSports. All rights reserved. Photos by CD Brown for DC UrbanSports.
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