Thomas helped Monk reach two Pro Bowls, in 1986 and 1987, and Monk caught at least 70 passes in four of the next six seasons, 38 in the strike-shortened 1987 season.

“Emmitt came up in a time when you played both ways in college,” said Tony Dungy, the only black coach to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. “I think it goes back to what he had to do in his era, which was pretty much whatever it takes. That’s the way he learned the game, and I learned a lot from him.”

And it was the coaches that helped Monk overcome some of his own concerns.

“There are times in my career where I just lost confidence,” Monk said. “I can even remember one point we were going into a meeting, he (Gibbs) pulled me aside and said, ’Hey, I know you’re going through some hard times right now, but I still believe in you, I’m going to play you, I’m still going to count on you.’ “

With Monk, Green and Thomas all being honored this weekend and the Redskins playing Indianapolis in Sunday night’s game, the weekend has a distinctively Beltway look.

Not everyone is from the Washington area, though.

Linebacker Andre Tippett, who spent his entire career with New England; offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, who started his career in the defunct USFL before playing more than a decade in Minnesota and Denver; and defensive end Fred Dean, who started with San Diego and won two Super Bowls with San Francisco, are also in the 2008 Hall of Fame class.

Zimmerman was considered one of the best blockers of his era, Dean is credited with being the first situational pass rusher, and Tippett, who still works for the Patriots, always drew comparisons to Lawrence Taylor.

“I think we all wanted to play and do the things that he (Taylor) did,” Tippett said. “It really doesn’t matter now because we are all in the same place.”

But having three of the biggest contributors in Washington’s golden era inducted together will always have a special place in Gibbs’ heart.

“Darrell and Art were two of our leaders with very different personalities,” Gibbs said. “Emmitt was a great player himself and carried a lot of respect with him. But what’s most important to me is the kind of people they are, and they’re all great people, so it’s great to see them go in together.”

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