Posts tagged ArtMonk at FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

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.

OK, we all know that I have been a Monk negative for many years. My line has been "catching 800 8-yard hooks just doesn't do it for me." Maybe it's time to take a closer look at that rather supercilious observation. Maybe a player who has drawn such a loyal following, year in year out, deserves more serious consideration. And perhaps those Redskin fans aren't mere nudniks, as I've unfortunately come to regard them, but people who might, just might, have a more accurate reading on the situation than I do. I'm not saying that you're swinging me over completely; it's just that I'm a lot closer to Monk's legitimacy as a Hall of Famer than I used to be.