Monk among 10 ex-Redskins on ballot

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Six-time finalist Art Monk leads a list of 10 former Washington Redskins who are among the 111 candidates on the preliminary ballot for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February.

The other former Redskins players on the ballot released yesterday are receivers Gary Clark and Henry Ellard, offensive linemen Russ Grimm (a finalist the past two years) and Joe Jacoby; defensive linemen Dexter Manley and Charles Mann; linebacker Ken Harvey; cornerback Lemar Parrish and punter Reggie Roby.

The preliminary list will be first whittled to 25 semifinalists, then to 15 finalists who will be discussed by the 39-member board of selectors at their meeting on Feb. 3 in Miami. Between three and six finalists will be elected.

Monk, who starred for the Redskins from 1980 to 1993, retired in 1996 as the all-time leader with 940 catches and ranked fourth in receiving yards and second in consecutive games with a catch. Monk had also set a record with 106 catches in 1984. The opposite of such active flashy receivers as Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson, the shy Monk was the master of the clutch third-down catch.

Clark was just 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, but he was fearless running patterns over the middle. He was also dangerous downfield, catching 58 touchdown passes in eight seasons with the Redskins and averaging 16.9 yards a catch.

Ellard signed as a free agent after Monk was cut by new coach Norv Turner in 1994. Already 33, the one-time track star had three 1,000-yard seasons in Washington. On a team with no running game and rookie quarterbacks in 1994, Ellard racked up 1,397 yards and six touchdowns on 74 catches.

Grimm, who teamed with Monk on Washington's Super Bowl champions in 1982, 1987 and 1991, was the leader of the famed "Hogs." He was selected to four straight Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1986 until injuries took their toll.

Jacoby, who spent much of his 13 seasons with the Redskins lining up at left tackle next to Grimm, was a mountain man for his time at 6-7, 305. Yet, Jacoby was agile enough to be a superb pass-blocker, making the Pro Bowl each year from 1983 to 1986.

Like Grimm and Jacoby, Manley and Mann were best when they were together. Manley was a dominant pass-rusher, whose big plays helped lift Washington past Dallas in the 1982 NFC Championship. Manley set the franchise record with 91 sacks in just 125 games. His 181/2 sacks in 1986 are also the most by a Redskins player. Mann was more durable and versatile than Manley, but he could also get the quarterback. Mann recorded 79 sacks in 10 years as a Washington starter.

Harvey, the first free agent of the Turner era, responded to his big contract by being chosen for the next four Pro Bowls. He led the NFC with 131/2 sacks in 1994 despite constant double teams since the Redskins didn't have another quality pass-rusher. Harvey was credited with 483 tackles and 391/2 sacks from 1994 to 1997.

Parrish isn't well-remembered in Washington since he played in the non-playoff interregnum (1978-81) between the Redskins' rise under late Hall of Fame coach George Allen and the glory days under Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. However, Parrish was chosen for two of his eight Pro Bowls with the Redskins while intercepting 21 passes.

Roby played just two of his 16 seasons in Washington, but his 44.3-yard average would rank second in team history behind that of Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh if he had enough punts to qualify. Roby was the NFC's Pro Bowl punter with the Redskins in 1994.