NEWS

The Sports Illustrated cover on August 16, 1976 features Calvin Hill (father of Grant), who was one of four high-priced free agents brought to Washington to get the team back to the playoffs. The others: Jean Fugget, former Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan and another name you might remember: a mowhawked malcontent from the Jets named John Riggins.
As expected, the signing bonanza flopped even though the team made it to the playoffs in '76. But, over the next four seasons they were good enough to be a contender, but not good enough to make those smaller playoff fields. Eventually the team regressed, two coaches were let go as the records spiraled toward mediocrity and new owner Jack Kent Cooke made a surprise hire when he swiped a little-known assistant from San Diego to be his first head coach in 1981. Eleven years later, there would be three Super Bowl trophies at Redskins Park.
Maybe there's similar good news on the horizon, but I doubt it.In the past few days I've found myself reading my old books and newspapers from the Redskins glory days so I can remind myself how much I love the team. It still excites me to read about the '83 season or read Rypien's passing stats from '91. I still love talking about the games I went to and the memories from working at RFK. It makes me irrationally happy.