Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412140086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Monk increased his streak to 178 games by catching a 5-yard pass over the middle from Boomer Esiason on the game's first play from scrimmage in the New York Jets' 18-7 loss to the Detroit Lions.
After the catch, the 15-year pro received congratulations from players on both teams before Largent, a Republican congressman from Oklahoma, walked onto the field to shake Monk's hand. Largent, who played his entire 14-year career with the Seattle Seahawks, retired in 1989.
``It was very special to have him here,'' Monk said of Largent. ``He wanted to see his record broken, which meant a lot to me.
``We plan to get together after the season and compare notes. His company in the record books is a special thing.''
Pete Carroll, the Jets' coach, said he decided during the week to throw to Monk on the first play, though the receiver said the play wasn't designed for him.
``There was no primary receiver,'' said Monk, who spent the first 14 years of his NFL career with the Washington Redskins. ``Boomer had several routes to pick from and he just chose my route, a shallow crossing pattern, 4 or 5 yards. It was good to get it out of the way, but it's disappointing the catch happened in a loss.''
Monk made three receptions for 21 yards and had two notable drops in the defeat, which dropped the Jets' record to 6-8 and left them with slim hopes for a berth in the AFC playoffs.
Monk signed with New York in the off-season as an unrestricted free agent after 14 years with Washington. As a Redskin, he played in three Pro Bowls and won three championships in four Super Bowls.
``I was very fortunate to be in a situation where they threw the ball and I could fit into the system,'' Monk said of his days with Washington. ``Apart from durability, that was the factor most responsible for my streak.''
Jack Kent Cooke, the Redskins' owner, has expressed interest in having Monk, who turned 37 on Monday, finish his career with Washington.
``I would leave the door open for anything right now,'' Monk said of a possible return. ``My first responsibility is to the Jets, but I have good memories there [in Washington].''
Monk said the Redskins' decision to make him a first-round pick out of Syracuse in the 1980 draft came as ``a surprise. I didn't think I was capable of playing with these guys.''
Instead, Monk became a fixture. He has failed to catch a pass only twice in his career and still recalls the last time it happened, against the St.Louis Cardinals at the end of the 1982 season.
``They never threw me the ball,'' said the soft-spoken receiver. ``I got angry easier then, and I steamed all summer about it. I always remember the bad games.''
There haven't been many. Monk's streak began during his fourth season, on Oct.2, 1983, when he caught three passes in a game against the Los Angeles Raiders. He tied Largent's mark in New York's 24-13 loss at New England on Dec.4.
He is the NFL's all-time leader in receptions with 932, having surpassed Largent in 1992, and his career yardage (12,582) stands third behind only James Lofton (14,004) and Largent (13,089).
During the streak, Monk has caught passes in 31 stadiums from 12 quarterbacks and one receiver, Ricky Sanders.
``There was a game against the Rams last year,'' Monk said. ``We weren't moving, I was sitting on the bench a lot and I had given up on the streak. Then there was a broken play and the ball came to me. Something always happened.''
With Monk in danger of losing his streak Nov.20 in Minnesota, the Jets' public relations staff was about to phone the team's bench to remind the coaches. But Esiason and Monk connected twice in the fourth quarter.
``The record will sink in when my career is over,'' Monk said. ``By then somebody will break it.''
Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers has caught a pass in 140 consecutive games and seems the most likely candidate to surpass Monk's mark.
``Jerry's the kind of guy who could put a streak like that out of reach,'' Monk said. ``At least I'll be able to say I had it for a while. I always hoped I could do something special.''
He caught on quickly.
by CNB