Who Wore It Best? Part 10
July 7, 2020
By Noonefromtampa
Welcome to Part 10 of my offseason column reflecting back on the history of the Redskins franchise by looking at former and current players and the jersey numbers they wore.
This week it’s jerseys numbered from 90 to 99, which by modern jersey assignment numbering means linebackers and defensive linemen.
Jersey #90
Defensive end turned hollywood actor Terry Crews wore #90 during his one season with the Redskins. Ziggy Hood (DT), Doug Worthington (DE) and Jeremy Jarmon (DE) also wore #90 during their tenures with the team. Jarmon was drafted in the supplemental draft one season and the next year the Redskins changed to a 3-4, for which he was not suited. Hood had a couple of okay seasons, but the player who wore it best was Kenard Lang, the defensive end from Miami (FL) and former first round pick in the 1997 draft. He played in 75 games and had 21.5 sacks.
Jersey #91
Greg Manusky (LB), Delbert Cowsette (DT), Regan Upshaw (DE), Matt Vanderbeek (DE) and Vonnie Holliday (DE) all wore #91 while they were with the Redskins. There is one player who stands out, however: Ryan Kerrigan. The former first round pick from Purdue is second on the Redskins career sack list with 90 sacks and should pass Dexter Manley (91 sacks) this season. [Note: Dexter did not get credit for sacks his rookie year because the were not an official stat that year, so the real number for Kerrigan to pass is 97.5.]
Jersey #92
There are a lot of names and a lot of mixed memories with this number: Albert Haynesworth, Daryl Gardener, Jerry DeLoach, Stacy McGee, Dexter Nottage, Demetric Evans and Chris Baker. This one is close, as both Evans and Baker had very similar numbers in sacks and tackles. Evans had 12 sacks and 87 total tackles, and Baker had 11.5 sacks and 103 total tackles. I’m going with Chris Baker as the player who wore it best.
Jersey #93
#93 has been worn by forgettable players like Peppi Zellner (DE), Kentwan Balmer (DE), and some memorable ones like Marc Boutte (DT) and Trent Murphy (LB). Currently Jonathan Allen wears #93, but the one who wore it best was strongman Phillip Daniels (DE), who had 17.5 sacks and 129 total tackles during his time with the Redskins.
Jersey #94
There are a lot of familiar players at #94, such as Adam Carriker (DE), Sean Gilbert (DE), Anthony Montgomery (DT), Preston Smith (LB), Dana Stubblefield (DT), and Bobby Wilson (DT). Carriker has flashes of great plays but suffered a devastating knee injury which ended his career. Most of the rest did not accomplish much with the Redskins. The player who wore it best was Preston Smith, who is tied for 11th all-time on the Redskins sack list with 24.5 sacks. Not surprisingly, he had a career year in Green Bay this past season after signing with them.
Jersey #95
#95 was worn by players such as Chris Neild (DT), Joe Salave’a (DT), Chris Wilson (LB), “Big Daddy” Dan Wilkinson (DT) and current player Daron Payne (DT). The player who wore it best was Wilkinson, who is tied for 13th all-time on the Redskins’ sack list with 23 sacks.
Jersey #96
There aren’t many choices at #96. Barry Cofield (DT), Cornelius Griffin (DT) and Rich Owens (DE) are the best, along with short timers Lamont Hollinquest (LB), Ma’ake Kemoeatu (DT), and Pernell McPhee (LB). Griffin is the player who wore it best and might be the best value free agent signed by the Redskins under Dan Snyder’s tenure as owner.
Jersey #97
Jason Hatcher (DE) and Terrell McClain (DE), both free agent busts from the Cowboys, are at #97 (don’t sign any more free agent defensive linemen from Dallas, please), along with Jumpy Geathers (DE), Sterling Palmer (DE), Renaldo Wynn (DE) and current player Tim Settle (DT). Geathers was the designated pass rusher on the 1991 Super Bowl Champion team. The player who wore it best was Wynn, the free agent from the Jaguars who played opposite Phillip Daniels. He was a solid player who racked up 8 sacks and 122 total tackles in his time as a Redskin.
Jersey #98
At #98, we havce Jessie Armstead (LB), Rob Jackson (LB) (who also wore #50), Twan Russell (LB), Tony Woods (LB) and current player Matt Ioannidis (DT). Jackson made some great plays at times but the player who wore it best was Brian Orakpo (LB). Orakpo is 6th all-time on the Redskins sack list with 40 sacks and finished his career with the Titans.
Jersey #99
Players at #99 include Andre Carter (DE), Marco Coleman (DE), Ricky Jean-Francois (DE), Jarvis Jenkins (DE), Tracy Rocker (DT) and Rod Stephens (LB). Francois, who was with the team in 2015-26, was something of a fan favorite. Coleman was pretty good player under three different head coaches in three years with the Redskins, posting 23 sacks. The player who wore it best was Andre Carter, who ranks 8th on the Redskins all-time sack list with 34 sacks.
I hope everyone enjoyed this series of columns and a trip down memory lane.