Wk 15 ‘85 v. Cinncinatti Bengals
49 yd catch,
50 yd catch
40 yd catch

Divisional round of playoffs v. Chicago Bears
37 yd catch

Reg. season ‘89 v. Chicago Bears
41 yd catch

I’m sure there are probably more than I’ve found, but this is a start.

THE 81 GREATEST/LONGEST PLAYS OF ART MONK’S CAREER:

-1980-
1) wk 10 v. Chicago Bears
40 yard catch
2) wk 13 v. Atlanta Falcons
41 yard catch
3) wk 16 v. St. Louis Cardinals
54 yard TD
-1981-
4) wk 3 v. St. Louis Cardinals
79 yard TD
5) wk 9 v. St. Louis Cardinals
38 yard TD
6) wk 13 v. Buffalo Bills
25 yard TD
7) wk 16 v. Los Angeles Rams
64 yard catch
8) 34 yard catch
-1982-
9) wk 1 v. Philadelphia Eagles
43 yard catch
10) 28 yard catch
11) 27 yard catch (vs. Herman Edwards to set up game-winning FG in OT)
-1983-
12)wk 9 v. San Diego Chargers
25 yard catch (acrobatic twisting catch of ball thrown well behind him followed by being hit by defender)
13)wk 12 v. Los Angeles Rams
46 yard pass completion (one of only two passes thrown in career)
14)wk 15 v. Dallas Cowboys
43 yard TD (division and top seed-deciding showdown, this TD followed by ruckus in end zone as Cowboys attempted to stop “Fun Bunch” celebration)
15) Divisional round of Playoffs v. Los Angeles Rams
40 yard TD
16) 21 yard TD
-1984-
17)wk 5 v. Philadelphia Eagles
51 yard TD
18)wk 6 v. Indianapolis Colts
48 yard TD
19)wk 15 v. Dallas Cowboys
18 yard rush (on reverse on scoring drive)
20)wk 16 v. St. Louis Cardinals
23 yard TD
21) 36 yard catch (breaks single-season catches record with this catch)
22) 20 yard catch (on 3rd and 19, sets up game-winning FG in showdown for division title)
-1985-
23)wk 9 v. Atlanta Falcons
34 yard TD
24)wk 11 v. NY Giants
44 yard catch (on 1st play from scrimmage after Theismann’s broken leg on Monday Night Football)
25) 50 yard catch
26)wk 15 v. Cincinnati Bengals
4 yard TD (part of 17-point comeback and 230-yard day for Monk)
-1986-
27)wk 3 v. San Diego Chargers
38 yard catch (deep tipped ball)
28) 40 yard catch
29) 58 yard catch (part of 11-point comeback and 195 total yards day for Monk)
30)wk 4 v. Seattle Seahawks
69 yard catch
31)wk 9 v. Minnesota Vikings
35 yard catch
32) 34 yard TD (part of OT thriller)
33)wk 12 v. Dallas Cowboys
35 yard catch
34)wk 15 v. Denver Broncos
55 yard TD
35) Divisional round of Playoffs v. Chicago Bears
28 yard TD (victimized “46″ blitz)
36) 23 yard TD (eventual game-winning score against CB who had only given up one TD all year)
37) NFC Championship Game v. NY Giants
48 yard catch
-1987-
38)wk 1 v. Philadelphia Eagles
39 yard TD
39) Super Bowl XXII v. Denver Broncos
40 yard catch (1st completion by Doug Williams in game; came on 3rd and 16; Monk’s first game action since mid-season injury)
-1988-
40)wk 7 v. Phoenix Cardinals
46 yard TD
41)wk 15 v. Dallas Cowboys
41 yard catch
-1989-
42)wk 2 v. Philadelphia Eagles
43 yard TD
43)wk 3 v. Dallas Cowboys
40 yard catch
44)wk 12 v. Chicago Bears
18 yard TD (part of 152 yard 2 TD day for Monk)
45)wk 15 v. Atlanta Falcons
34 yard TD
46) 60 yard TD
-1990-
47)wk 2 v. San Francisco 49ers
35 yard TD
48)wk 7 v. Philadelphia Eagles
44 yard catch
49)wk 9 v. Detroit Lions
40 yard catch (on 3rd and 15 in OT on game-winning drive; 13-catch 168 yard day for Monk)
50) Wild Card Playoff Game v. Philadelphia Eagles
28 yard catch
51) 16 yard TD (eventual game-winning score)
52) Divisional Round Playoff Game v. San Francisco 49ers
31 yard TD
53) 40 yard catch
-1991-
54)wk 2 v. Dallas Cowboys
37 yard TD (Monday Night Football)
55)wk 4 v. Cincinnati Bengals
54 yard catch
56) 30 yard catch
57)wk 5 v. Philadelphia Eagles
19 yard TD
58)wk 6 v. Chicago Bears
26 yard TD
59)wk 7 v. Cleveland Browns
14 yard TD (diving catch; passed Charlie Joiner for 2nd on career receptions list with this catch)
60)wk 11 v. Atlanta Falcons
32 yard catch
61) 19 yard TD
62) 64 yard TD
63)wk 12 v. Pittsburgh Steelers
63 yard catch
64) 11 yard TD (barely got both sets of toes in bounds)
65) NFC Championship Game v. Detroit Lions
31 yard catch
66) 21 yard TD
67) Super Bowl XXVI v. Buffalo Bills
12 yard catch
68) 17 yard catch
69) 19 yard catch (on 3rd and 14)
70) 31 yard catch
71) 17 yard catch (Monk had 7 catches for 113 yards)
72)wk 6 v. Denver Broncos (Monday Night Football)
18 yard catch (tied Steve Largent for most career receptions)
73) 10 yard catch (broke record for most career catches)
74)wk 14 v. NY Giants
42 yard TD
75)wk 17 v. Los Angeles Raiders
49 yard TD
76) 43 yard catch
-1993-
77)wk 1 v. Dallas Cowboys (Monday Night Football)
28 yard catch
78) 15 yard TD
-1994-
79)wk 13 v. Miami Dolphins
69 yard catch
80)wk 15 v. Detroit Lions
5 yard catch (set record for most consecutive games with a catch)
-1995-
81)wk 17 v. Chicago Bears
36 yard catch (broke arm on play; last catch of career)

I remembered most of these before I looked them up for the details. I remembered most of the rest of them once I’d been reminded about them.
You’ll notice how many of them are not 8-yard outs. This list stands as partial proof that Monk was fully capable of stretching the field. Should Gibbs really have sent smurfs like Alvin Garrett, Virgil Seay, and Ricky Sanders over the middle on those short routes where they would get pounded? If you say yes, you’re just mean.

So Monk put up better personal playoff numbers, while his team was winning a higher percentage of their playoff games, against stronger playoff competition, and bringing home Super Bowl rings.
All those pro bowls these other guys went to must look pretty insignificant.

I have prepared a powerpoint presentation on this subject. If the person running this site would like a copy, please e-mail me and let me know where I can send it as an attachment.

1) 12,721 Receiving Yards (#9 all time, eight years after retirement)

2) 940 Receptions ( was #1, is now #5 eight years after retiring)

3) 68 Receiving Touchdowns (still in top 30, all time)

4) 224 Games played

5) Caught at least one pass in 183 consecutive games (once a record)

6) Helped Washington to three SB victories in four appearances.

7) Three consecutive Pro Bowl Selections

8) “Art was Jerry Rice before Jerry Rice was” – Joe Theismann

9) Record of 106 receptions in 1984 stood for eight years.

10) “Quiet about his work, very loud with his results” - Mark Rypien

11) First to record 106 receptions in one season

12) First to catch at least one pass in 164 consecutive games

13) First to catch more than 900 passes.

14) Caught 58 passes as a rookie, unanimous All-Rookie Selection

15) Redskins 1984 MVP

16) 50 or more reception in a season 9 times

17) 1,000 or more yards receiving in a season 5 times

18) Master of the medium route over the middle, aka “No Man’s Land”

19) First Redskin to produce 3 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons

20) Prototype for the modern receiver

21) 3-time 1st or 2nd team All-NFC Team selection

22) In ‘85, named to the Pro Football Weekly All-Pro Team

23) In ‘85, named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team

24) In ‘85, named to the UPI All-NFL Team

25) In ‘86, named to the UPI All-NFC Team

26) Founded the Good Samaritan Foundation, with teammates.

27) 1, 062 Playoff yards

28) Largent, Lofton and Stallworth are already in.

29) The consummate pro; made the big catch, went back to the huddle.

30) Not a “Hot Dog”; let his play on the field do all the talking.

31) Nicknamed “Money” by teammates, “Artist” by the fans

32) Founded the Student Training Opportunity Program, with teammates

33) Started the Art Monk Football Camp” in 1983, and it’s still going.

34) 16-year career, 0 arrests.

35) Named to TSN’s “100 Greatest Football Players” list

36) Never once disappointed the team or the fans, on the field or off.

37) A first round draft pick that played like a first round draft pick.

38) Has more career catches than anyone currently in the Hall.

39) Putting loud jerks in over Monk sends the wrong message to kids.

40) Art does not lobby to get himself inducted

41) First down machine on 3rd and long

42) Still holds the club record for catches in a season (106)

43) Still holds the club record for passes caught in a game (13, twice)

44) Honored as one of the “Washingtonians of the Year” in 1992

45) Focuses on the forgotten “high school aged” youth in DC.

46) “I don’t know about the criteria, but whatever it is, I believe Art has achieved it” –Joe Theismann

47) “He was big, he was strong, and he was intelligent. He had everything”-Joe Gibbs, HOF inductee

48) “Art Monk was an example for Jerry Rice. That’s what Jerry always told me.”- Ronnie Lott, HOF inductee

49) “There’s nothing negative to say. He has the numbers, the catches, the championships.” –Lott

50) “Spend a day with Art Monk, and your life will improve by 10%”- Theismann

51) “You have a Hall of Fame for all it represents. I know he represents all that it’s about. Integrity, love and passion for the game, community, what he gave back. Look how he conducted himself. Nobody I know deserves it more.” –Lott

52) If he doesn’t get in, they might as well close the Hall.

53) “There was never a classier player in this franchise’s history, or in league history, than Art Monk. You always knew the team would be getting Art Monk’s best effort day in and day out.” –Charlie Casserly

54) “Monk is headed to Canton downhill on roller skates”- Bill Parcells, 1995

55) Only one other player, linebacker Monte Coleman, has been on the field for the Redskins more than Monk.

56) Art Monk is almost as proud of his relative anonymity as he is the record-setting numbers he compiled over a 16-year NFL career.

57) When Monk spoke, it was usually with tough catches in the clutch moments of big games.

58) Nothing came naturally for Monk, who spent countless hours on the practice field and many more behind the projector.

59) I never saw Monk drop a pass. Period.

60) Monk’s 40-yard catch with eight minutes left in the first quarter of SBXXII was Doug Williams’ first completion of what would be a record setting game.

61) Named in a 1992 poll during the team’s 50th Anniversary Season as the most popular Redskin of all time.

62) Participates in a “Kid’s Fishing Day” for underprivileged kids

63) Has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, reciting children’s fairy tales with musical accompaniment.

64) “He’s more than just his receptions. Few players have been able to achieve what he’s achieved.” –Richie Petitbon

65) “He is a gifted athlete who takes great care of himself. He’s a guy who works at his craft, and responds to any challenge. However, he does it so quietly that his accomplishments are sometimes overlooked.”- Joe Gibbs

66) Selected to the 1989 All-Madden Team

67) Early in his career, Art arranged and scheduled charity basketball games for the Redskins.

68) “I can’t see how a receiver could be more valuable to a team.” –Gibbs

69) Fame is often hard earned. Character is often elusive to define. A man of great character himself, Art Monk encompasses what it means to be a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

70) Monk wasn’t a “SportsCenter” type of receiver — more like a “Masterpiece Theatre” type.

71) You wouldn’t see Monk pull out a Sharpie to sign a ball after scoring a touchdown.

72) “He embodied the old school, and for that alone he should be enshrined so that when a father takes his son through the Hall of Fame, he can say, “Son, here is a man who once caught 106 passes in a season when no one was catching 100 passes. Here was a man who caught a pass in 183 straight games. And not once did he ever pull a cell phone out to make a call after any of those catches.” –Thomas Loverro, Washington Times

73) Football is a game of first downs and Monk was the receiver who would move the chains.

74) He has since been passed in this pass-crazy era, but in the context of when he played, Art Monk was a Hall of Fame receiver.

75) He did this while never playing with a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback.

76) Critics will say Monk benefited from playing in Joe Gibbs’ system. What might be the case is that the Gibbs system benefited from having Monk.

77) “I believe he’s a Hall of Famer. I was a pro scout when he was playing, so it was my job to know who those guys were. I would put Art in that category, but apparently there are a lot of Hall of Fame voters who don’t feel Art Monk was in that category. It’s hard for me to believe they ever saw him play.” –Bill Polian, President Indianapolis Colts

78) He was the anti-Terrell Owens.

79) He was the standard-bearer, the mold-maker and the receiver every team of his era wished they’d had.

80) He’s already a Hall Of Famer off the field.

81) It’s time.