"Schoenke was 24 and out of the league. He tried a comeback in 1966, bouncing from the Green Bay Packers to the Cleveland Browns without success. It looked like he'd be shifting all his attention to the insurance business. Then Washington offered him a spot on what passed for the 1966 version of today's practice squad."
"Schoenke was a slow-and-steady climber. Back when Washington was finally beginning to crawl out of the league's basement in the late 1960s, he seemed to just show up out of nowhere. But pretty soon, it was as if he had always been around. The much-loved offensive lineman did not arrive with a splash. But his ripples ran very deep."
Ray Schoenke's football career nearly ended in 1965 after being released by the Dallas Cowboys following two seasons. At 24, he attempted a comeback in 1966 with limited success before Washington offered him a practice squad position. Rather than arriving with fanfare, Schoenke quietly became an integral part of Washington's improving roster during the late 1960s. His versatility and steady presence on the offensive line complemented the team's developing passing attack featuring Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, and Jerry Smith. Schoenke's understated but significant contributions made him a genuine fan favorite, with his impact becoming apparent only after his recent death at 84.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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