On a day where the league is focusing on plans for attacking an uncapped free agency period come midnight tonight, the biggest news around Redskins Park today centers around the retirement of the Redskins bookend left tackle for the first decade of this millennium.
After 10 years of service, Chris Samuels officially made the announcement to look after his health as opposed to lacing on cleats every Sunday during the fall.
This decision is not a surprise to most and comes after a battle with spinal stenosis that came to a head in Washington’s Week 5 loss to the Carolina Panthers last October.
Of course, because Chris has been my favorite player since his rookie season in 2000, I would love for him to continue for several more years and see him play at a high level. But in this case, I am lucky enough to say I was able to see my favorite player’s final play in person, since I was in attendance at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on October 11th.
Thank you for your 10 years of dedicated professionalism and service that you have provided this franchise. In an era of ups and downs for Redskins fans, you brought a fresh air of consistency and dominant play to the line.
Luckily, Chris will continue to stay in the area and work with the players this offseason as a coaching intern. Hopefully the lessons learned from “Head Hog” Joe Bugel will translate into a similarly successful coaching career for him. If his playing career is any indication, the lessons will translate into coaching very fluidly.
Will Samuels’ six Pro Bowl appearances and exceptional play be enough to put him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? That remains to be seen but if it does happen, I will be there.
Thank you, Chris.