NFL Greatest Players

Sammy Baugh: He blew through Washington like a twister off the West Texas plains. The tall, skinny, pin-legged kid with the shy drawl and powerful right arm ravaged conservative opponents while putting his new city on the NFL map and the professional game on a fast track toward innovation. ,s/df,/sd

Sammy Baugh, a 6-2, 182-pound All-American from Texas Christian University, was everything he was cracked up to be -- in performance, if not looks.

Slingin' Sammy, a poised and confident rookie, introduced his ball-control passing game and led the Redskins to the NFL championship in the franchise's first Washington season (after a move from Boston) while touching off a remarkable 16-year career that would produce five division titles, another championship and 16 major records.

Baugh is remembered as the man who revolutionized the offensive concept of the game.

He spent the first half of his career as a triple-threat halfback in the Redskins' single-wing offense and the second half as an All-Pro quarterback in the new T-formation.

Opponents marveled at the whip-like motion Baugh used to deliver bullet passes in a pass-only-in-desperation era.

Form meant nothing to the Redskins' quiet man, who delivered the ball underhanded, from the ear, sidearm, off-balance, hard, soft or in any other manner that would get his team to the end zone.

But offense was only half the Baugh story.

He doubled in his first seven seasons as an outstanding defensive back who once intercepted a record four passes in a game.

He also was an outstanding quick-kicker and punter who still owns records for career (45.1 yards per kick) and season average (51.4). When Baugh retired as a four-time NFL passing-yardage leader, he had thrown for a then-amazing 21,886 yards and completed 56.5 percent of his passes for a record 187 touchdowns.