Larry Brown vs. Art Monk

Advantage: Monk

Larry Brown put together a stellar career and is arguably the best speed running back ever to put on a Redskins uniform. While this is a tough call to make, Monk just has better overall statistics and was part of more winning teams. He belongs in the Hall of Fame and is the steadiest receiver in franchise history and one of the best possession wideouts of all time.

By Jason Feller |  August 2, 2006; 5:32 PM ET
Previous: Sammy Baugh vs. Sonny Jurgensen | Next: Brian Mitchell vs. John Riggins

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I beg to differ. Larry Brown was the epitome of a hard-nosed football player. He gave everything he had on every play. On top of that, he was a great Redskin. Larry Brown played through tremendous pain. I remember when he had a huge lump on his head and we wondered how he put the helmet on over it. Not only that, but he would take on any tackler. He, to the detriment of the longevity of his career, never stepped out of bounds. He is also, as is Art Monk, a great individual. What ultimately sets Brown above Monk as a Redskin is that he didn't jump ship at the end of his career.

All that said, I think Monk belongs in the Hall of Fame, while Larry Brown simply doesn't have the stats for that. Larry Brown was/is the ultimate Redskin warrior. If we are measuring Redskins, put Sonny, Larry, and Darryl Green as a three-way tie for #1.

Posted by: Chris Hayes | August 2, 2006 11:05 PM

Chris, has obviously been a Redskin fan for some time he hit the nail on he head. Larry was a ton better than Monk. Larry never side stepped out-of-bounds like Monk did, plus the overall team was better during Monk's tenure.

Posted by: Charlie | August 3, 2006 02:17 PM

Larry Brown was the MVP of the league, and carried the entire team on his shoulders. I remember a Giants game, ( I believe the same game Sonny ruptured his Achilles tendon) where Brown had over 170 yards in the mud and a tough Giants defense as being one of the finest RB performances in history.

Monk is an awesome WR with HOF stats, but Larry Brown gets the nod here.

Posted by: Fred | August 3, 2006 02:41 PM

Larry Brown as speed running back???? Did you ever see him play??? He was not a speed back. He a tough running back but no one aquessed him of speed. Riggins was actually faster... but you are right, Riggo was also better.

Posted by: Phil0258 | August 3, 2006 07:10 PM

This is a very tough call...especially since they are apples and oranges. It isn't easy to compare a RB to a WR. It's downright silly to compare how many times they stepped out of bounds. I shouldn't even have to explain why. It is easier to lower your shoulder and take on a defender you can see and prepare for, than to catch a pass across the middle. And Monk didn't jump ship...he was released. By former Cowboy coordinator/failure as a head coach
Norv Turner. But don't get me wrong, Larry Brown was my childhood hero...for all the reasons others have named. Bottom line: I want both are legends

Posted by: Tom | August 3, 2006 11:15 PM

i'm as hardcore a skin's fan as anyone else, but i can't understand for the life of me how CHARLEY TAYLOR or JERRY SMITH are not a part of the equation in this contest!!!!!!!! You want to talk about true, all-time, great Redskins?? The discussion cannot leave these two Skin's legends out of the picture!!! Both were ahead of their time in terms of what they brought to the NFL.. Long before there was a T.O., Michael Irvin, etc.... CHARLEY TAYLOR!! & he was light years ahead of those two talent wise, in attitude & team leadership, blocking, route-running, etc... Jerry Smith was the original NFL h-back w/glue like hands, speed, routes, etc.. If you're too young to know who he was, search him out & just watch!! To this day, he is my favorite tight end ever!! He was just so smooth the way that he played, as John Madden would say--"ya don't really notice him at first & then BOOM! He's in the end zone or just making one of 8 catches.. #42.. #87... REDSKIN'S & NFL HALL OF FAMERS!!

Posted by: ricky | August 4, 2006 09:01 AM

How could the list of legends for the Washington Redskins come up without(to me)
the greatest of them all - CHARLEY TAYLOR!!!!

Posted by: Morris DeVeaux Ashe | August 4, 2006 10:30 AM

Larry Brown was my childhood hero as well. When I played in high school for Wootton in Maryland in the 70's, I wore his number and tried to duplicate his playing and running style. Later in the Air Force I used #43 as my call sign flying. He was one of the toughest players I have ever seen play the game. Him and Charley Harraway were one of the best tandem of backs (both rushed for over 1000 yards in 1972, 14 game schedule) in Redskins history. By the way, whos idea was it to pit Sonny vs. Sammy ? I didn't see Sammy play so I can't speak about him. Sonny threw the best spiral and was the most accurate of all quarterbacks to play then and now. I remember him coming in for Billy in one game in 1972 (against Dallas I believe) where he literally threw square outs to Charley Taylor down the field to a touchdown and won the game in less than a minute. The next game he unfortunately tore his Achilles tendon at New York. Getting back to Larry Brown, he embodied the Redskins work ethic and fought for every yard. He was a true over achiever and gave 100% to the team, D.C., and the fans. The man who was drafted by Vince Lombardi in the fifth round, his heart and spirit had a profound effect on my life and many others.

Posted by: Jim, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.) | August 4, 2006 10:49 AM

Larry Brown was a rookie of the year, NFL MVP (in the 'Skins first Super Bowl season) and the heart of the team's offense in those few, productive years he was healthy.
As much as I admire and respect Art Monk, I'd argue that he wasn't even the best RECEIVER on the 'Skins during the core of his era (Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders were at least as good), and Riggo was the heart of those teams.
Stats just don't tell the story here. Would you take Henry Ellard over the injury-shortened career of Gale Sayers?

Posted by: Harry | August 4, 2006 04:37 PM

I remember them stopping what I think was the Dallas game on a Monday night when Larry Brown went over 1,000 yards. He was the first Redskin to do it and I can still picture him with his helmet tilted up on his head and the ref handing him the ball. I also remember when Monk Monk broke Steve Largent's record for something or another and thinking "that's nice... BUT NOT AS NICE AS WHEN LARRY BROWN GAINED A 1,000 YARDS IN A SEASON!"

Posted by: TRH | August 4, 2006 04:49 PM

Larry Brown was the most fierce competitor to ever wear a Redskins uniform. He was also a very humble ballplayer and to this day chooses to be out of the limelight. He is in a class all by himself. Art Monk was a tremendous ballplayer but pound for pound Larry Brown is the greatest running back in Redskins history. On many occasions Brown carried the team on his back to victory. With all due respect to Monk he did not do that.

Posted by: Kurt | August 5, 2006 09:29 AM

Larry Brown is the most underrated player to ever don the Burgundy and Gold. Larry Brown did it all. He literally carried the Redskins on his back for years. Statistics do not tell the whole story of the MAN! Larry Brown was a MAN! There are very few Redskins that can hold a candle to Larry Brown. 'Nuff said.

Posted by: Curt B. | August 5, 2006 06:24 PM

Oh, lordy, only on this board would I find a bunch of guys who even saw Larry Brown, #43, play. If you never did, you are missing something. Larry Brown was the Redskins offence during the George Allen era. He wasn't a speed runner at all -- he was a cartwheeling runner. He hit the holes, hit the defence in the teeth, and parts were flying off of him as he seemed to fall forward for five yards. He was physically crushed for how many seasons? Five or so? Destroyed his knees, played hurt, and was a real Redskin. And he didn't have the Hogs in front of him, either. Imagine what could have been then.

Art Monk was wonderful as a possession receiver, but he never struck fear in the hearts of a defence. Sure, his career earns him a spot in the HOF, and is very deserved. But for THIS board, Larry Brown should be the pick.

Posted by: Cruzer | August 5, 2006 09:22 PM

Larry had the legs to be a finesse runner but this was pre-Hogs; most of the time poor Larry was out there on his own, facing a team picture of the defense. So he had to take hit after jarring hit and keep running. Somehow he did it, God bless him. Art was dependable but I can't vote for him without Gary Clark and Charley Brown being thrown in. Those guys took the coverage off Art and allowed him to use his height for possession catches. Larry gets the nod.

Posted by: greg depaul | August 7, 2006 01:29 AM

Brown was perhaps the toughest, fiercest Redskin ever...but sadly, his career was simply too short to compete with the amazing run Monk had as a Redskin. As great as he was, injuries wore him down, and Brown was essentially washed up while still in his twenties. BTW, the injustice the pro football HOF continues to perpetrate with regard to Monk is disgraceful.

Posted by: Lou Jones | August 7, 2006 12:32 PM

CHARLEY TAYLOR!!! hahaha, no seriously he should be in the top 16. Brown vs. Monk should be closer than the vote. (Monk is winning huge) But with each HOF snub, Monk's endearment to the Redskin faithful grows. Brown was a great player and so was Monk, the edge has to go to Monk though. Because I never saw Brown play. Just remember the Super Bowl XXVI drive where Monk's TD was reversed, Monk caught several 3rd down passes and almost caught one for a TD. That drive is what we should always remember Art Monk for, because he did that all the time.

Posted by: Randall | August 7, 2006 02:47 PM

i agree with so many before me, larry brown WAS the washington redskins. i don't know why you're comparing a back with a reciever anyway because they were both great at different things. and yea, where is charley taylor? where is jerry smith? and by the way, sam huff was a frickin' giant! yes, he eventually came to washington, but chris hanburger was the man and a true redskin. he made more plays as a redskin than huff could dream of! no disrespect intended sam. in my opinion, if larry brown and chris hanburger aren't on the all time redskin team, this whole thing is a joke.

Posted by: rusty | August 9, 2006 10:34 AM

Larry Brown had more courage than any player in a Redskinds uniform. It is his courage that set him apart. It was his humility that made him a role model. It was his desire that makes him the greatest player in Burgundy and gold of all time. There are two men I wish to have met in my lifetime, John Coltrane and Larry Brown. Quiet giants. Leaders in a peaceful way.

OJ was his competitor. OJ was an evader, a speed runner who hit open holes, something he did later in life as well. I always knew OJ was a man whose true colors would show someday. Larry had him outclassed since the day he walked onto the field for the first time.

Someday there should be a honorary ceremony at a home game for fans of him. I have always lived in Chicago, never DC or Baltimore., never been to the home office for a game too! I would fly in just to stand up and cry and clap for a man who epitomizes what is is to be a real man. Thank God for Larry Brown.

Posted by: Jeffrey R. Glick | November 6, 2006 10:25 AM

Does anyone know where Larry Brown is today.
Hope he was successful after the Redskins.
Thanks

Posted by: Marcia | December 14, 2006 03:44 PM

Larry Brown was the best player to have played for Washington. When I was a child my father somehow got in touch with Larry Brown and they setup a time for Larry Brown to call me and wish me a Happy Birthday. Well on that day the Redskins lost to San Diego (I think)
So Larry Brown called and talked with my Dad and said to him "I want to give him a call after we have won..." So the next week I got a call and it was Larry Brown he talked to me and wished me a late Happy Birthday and sent me a signed ball, and picture too. To me that shows what a great guy he really is. So my pick is Larry Brown!

Posted by: Jeffery Pope | December 17, 2006 04:06 PM

Real Redskins understand that there's no such thing as Brown vs. Monk. They played different positions, in different era's, for different coaches and, with varying degrees of team success. No be fooled: you cannot compare the two, except for one thing: they both played with tremendous heart and with tremendous consistency. But as a young Redskin fan, dedicated to the "Skins whether they won or loss and before the era of George Allen, Joe Gibbs, 3 Superbowls, Riggs on the infamous "50 Gut" play, and the Doug Williams blowout of '87, few things have made a bigger impression on me than seeing "43" hobble through the line on bad wheels and gutting it out on nothing but heart. For my money, for my heart, Larry Brown #43 still personfies the epitomy of dedication and stregth even though he probably didn't even belong in the NFL. I'd would have traded almost anything to see him win that '72 Superbowl, I still haven't forgiven Pat Fisher for letting Howard Twitty catch that ball. Dang those Dolphins! Lord, plse don't let anyone ever wear "43" for the Redskins, Amen!

Posted by: Robert | December 31, 2006 08:13 PM

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