Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 73 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 73?
Chase Roullier (2017-2022) was the 199th player taken in the 2017 NFL draft. When starter Spencer Long was injured, Roullier played so well he started the rest of his rookie season. For the next three seasons, the former Wyoming Cowboy started 16, 14 and 16 games. Roullier was given a new contract and was playing well again in 2021 when he suffered a broken leg at Denver in the 9th game. After Roullier rehabbed strongly, he again suffered a season-ending injury on the last play of the second game of 2022 and was released in the offseason.
Happy birthday to the man in the middle, Chase Roullier 🥳🎂 pic.twitter.com/1TSZxI1Zfm
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 23, 2021
Paul Laaveg (1970-75) was the 103rd overall selection of the 1970 NFL draft. The former Iowa Hawkeye started every game for the 1972 NFC Championship team that lost to the 17-0 undefeated Miami Dolphins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII. He started every game of the 1972-74 seasons before injuries reduced his 1975 season to five games. He retired following that season.
Mark May (1981-89), one of the original “Hogs,” was the 20th overall player drafted in the 1981 NFL draft. May’s versatility was a great asset to his career as he played both tackle and both guard positions. Four times in his career, May started all 16 games of the season for Washington. He played on three Super Bowl teams, two of which won the Super Bowl. When George Starke was injured in his final season (1984), May moved from right guard to right tackle. In his last four seasons, he moved back to right guard for Washington, San Diego and Phoenix. He was a Pro Bowler in 1988 for Washington.
2023 Kickoff Countdown
73 days until Week 1
No. 73 – Mark May
The extremely versatile lineman earned one Pro-Bowl nod and was a key part of two Super Bowl wins for Washington, starting out at right guard before moving to right tackle after the “Head Hog” George Starke retired pic.twitter.com/IWQ1rL7eRh
— P.W. McDonnell (@burdmanDMV) June 29, 2023
