Chris Samuels: An Appreciation

At the moment, there are a thousand stories, and infinite angles regarding the current plight of this once-proud franchise, and I'm not up to the task of weighing in all of them. [I do commend you to the Redskins Revolution posts over at Hogs Haven - they're generating something positive out of all the misery, and have helped me greatly in this autumn of our discontent.]

But I do want to address one thing today - I want to honor Chris Samuels for his singularly brilliant career with the Skins. I know he's not on IR or retired yet, but as I understand his condition (stenosis), doctors are likely to recommend that he never play again. I hope they do, and that he follows their recommendation, even though rejecting it might give the 2009 O-line a shot at being more productive this year. But the risk of paralysis is too great, and the potential reward of maybe a couple more wins isn't worth it - in any year, much less this one. So Chris, if we have indeed seen the last of you on the gridiron, just know that you won't be forgotten by the fans.

Let's review this great player's career:

• Drafted 3rd in 2000, Samuels is one of the few bets that has payed off handsomely for Washington (note: the Skins drafted LaVar Arrington with the 2nd pick that year)
• Spent his entire career with the team, through six coaching chances
• Elected to six Pro Bowls
• Chiefly responsible for blocking the side of the field that Clinton Portis made his personal stable boy for several seasons
• Classy: After he chop blocked the Bears' Antonio Garay, injuring him, Samuels apologized to both Garay and Lovie Smith
• Perhaps most notable of all, I can't remember screaming "C'mon Samuels!" in disgust after some ridiculous penalty or blown play. I have screamed nearly every other o-lineman's name in this spirit numerous times (See, e.g. Heyer, Stephon).

So if this is it for Chris Samuels in the burgundy and gold, I just want to say thanks and that I look forward to the day when No. 60 gets his name enshrined up the Ring of Fame.