Jayson Werth and the 10 Biggest Athletes in Washington, D.C. Sports
Jayson Werth is now Washington-bound after agreeing to a seven-year, $126 million deal with the Nationals.
The former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder signed the third-largest contract for an outfielder in MLB history, in a move that will instantly make him one of Washington's most recognizable athletes.
But who else do the residents of the nation's capital most identify with?
Here are the 10 biggest athletes in Washington sports, ranked in descending order. Share your thoughts below.
10. Donovan McNabb, Redskins
1 of 10
I was going to start off this list with Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. But then the $100-million man decided to run his mouth off and now might be Washington's least popular athlete (though he's still physically the biggest).
So instead we'll give the honor to McNabb, a quarterback who has spent all of 12 games as a Washington Redskin. But after signing a five-year, $78 million extension at midseason, he figures to go down as one of Washington's most prolific signal callers ever.
McNabb has thrown for 3,149 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, to go along with a 57.9 completion percentage. The Redskins are 5-7 and will not be going to the playoffs, but they do have impressive victories over Philadelphia, Green Bay and Chicago.
By the time McNabb's contract is up, he could see himself move up to near the top of this list.
9. Jayson Werth, Nationals
2 of 10
You don't have to think he's grossly overpaid to recognize that the Nationals just acquired a player who will be the cornerstone of the franchise for the next several years.
Werth is a terrific ball player. He had his best season in 2010, batting .296 with a .338 on-base percentage and a .921 OPS. He smacked a career-high 46 doubles and launched an additional 27 home runs. He even stole 13 bases and was among the league leaders in outfield assists.
This is not the kind of player that comes along very often, and Werth instantly becomes the most complete offensive player in the history of the Nationals franchise (no disrespect intended to another player on this list). So naturally, he'll be a fan favorite.
Plus, it's pretty hard to miss that beard.
8. LaRon Landry, Redskins
3 of 10
Landry has been a career Redskin after being drafted by Washington sixth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Landry is a fantastic player and one of the best safeties in all of football, but his inclusion on this list is more for sentimental reasons. When he was drafted Landry and former Redskin Sean Taylor were supposed to form the best safety tandem in football, popularly known as "Area 51" (Landry wore No. 30 and Taylor No. 21). But those dreams were shattered when Taylor was murdered in his home midway through the 2007 season.
Landry moved over to replace Taylor at the free safety position, and he has stayed there ever since. Over the course of four seasons Landry has 255 career solo tackles, 79 assisted tackles, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
He's started every game he's ever played for the Redskins.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. JaVale McGee, Wizards
4 of 10
McGee, a first round draft pick in 2008, emerged as the Wizards' best player after Gilbert Arenas was suspended last season for violating team rules and bringing guns into the locker room.
The 7-foot, 252-pound center became a full-time starter in mid-February and was a dominant force in the middle, recording six double-doubles. On the season he averaged 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting nearly 51 percent from the field.
He's improved on those numbers in 2010, and so far is averaging 10.1 points and 8.5 rebounds, to go on top of 2.6 blocks per game and a shooting percentage of over 58 percent.
The 22-year-old is still raw, but he could one day help form a terrific tandem with another Wizard on this list.
6. Alexander Semin, Capitals
5 of 10
His teammate (don't worry, he's on this list, too) might get more glory, but Semin is a fantastic player in his own right.
The 26-year-old left wing debuted for the Capitals in 2003 and tallied 22 points in 52 games before being demoted to the AHL. But after the lockout in 2004, Semin returned to Russia and was forced to fulfill his military obligations.
Semin came back to the Capitals in 2006 and joined a terrific first line that included Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Over parts of six seasons Semin has recorded 166 goals and 167 assists. In each of the last three seasons (including this one), Semin has tallied more points than games played.
He is scheduled to become a free agent after this season, but if Washington decides to bring him back, he could go down as one of the Capitals' most talented players ever.
5. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
6 of 10
Zimmerman has been a career National since being drafted by Washington with the fourth-overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft. The third basemen made his debut later that year and quickly established himself as one of the best young hitters in baseball.
Zimmerman finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2006, but he has made an All-Star team and won two Silver Slugger awards. He also won a Gold Glove in 2009. His career line is an impressive .288/.355/.484, and he has managed to hit an average of 25 home runs a season despite having next-to zero lineup protection.
He is the current face of the franchise and has been one of the sole bright spots in a team that traditionally finishes dead last in the NL East. The 25-year-old is is signed for the next three seasons, during which time he may be able to see the Nationals make their first franchise playoff appearance (especially if 2010 No. 1-overall pick Bryce Harper is around).
4. Santana Moss, Redskins
7 of 10
With Clinton Portis perennially injured and nearing the end of his career, wide receiver Santana Moss takes over as the franchise's icon player.
Moss has been a Redskin since 2005, and in that time he has proven himself as one of football's most prolific receivers. Over the last six seasons Moss has made 413 receptions for 5,829 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The 31-year-old is having another great season for Washington, recording 64 receptions for 802 yards so far in 12 games. Moss has one year left on the six-year contract he signed with the Redskins in 2005.
3. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
8 of 10
He may only have 68 major league innings to his name, yet Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg might one day become not just the biggest athlete in Washington sports, but the biggest athlete perhaps in the country.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft was regarded as one of the greatest pitchers to ever be drafted. And as it turned out, the performance matched the hype.
Strasburg was dominant in his first season with the Nationals, recording 14 strikeouts in his first major league start and breaking a variety of rookie pitching records. He finished 2010 with a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts and an insane K/9 rate of 12.2, which ranked him among baseball's best pitchers.
He suffered an injury late in 2010 and will likely have to sit out the entire 2011 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. But when he comes back in 2012, he will immediately regain his status as the National's MVP and one of the biggest stars in the entire city.
2. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals
9 of 10
Ovechkin was the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft, but because of a lockout the 25-year-old Russian didn't get to make his debut until the next season. And what a season it was.
Ovechkin netted 52 goals and added 54 assists, as he quickly established himself as one of the premier forwards in the NHL. Though he had to sometimes share the spotlight with superstar Sydney Crosby, the 2005 first-overall pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ovechkin nonetheless impressed enough to receive the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the NHL's best rookie.
He followed that up by winning the Hart Memorial Trophy in both 2008 and 2009 as the NHL's MVP, and he led the Capitals to three consecutive division titles.
Over the last six seasons Ovechkin has 280 career goals and 283 career assists, and he's well on his way to becoming one of the best hockey players ever.
In 2008 Ovechkin signed a 13-year, $124 million contract extension that was the richest in NHL history. The only thing he has left to accomplish in a Capitals uniform is to win a Stanley Cup. Given 13 years, he can probably do it.
1. John Wall, Wizards
10 of 10
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft is also the No. 1 player on our list.
The Wizards looked like one of the most cursed franchises in professional sports in the aftermath of the Gilbert Arenas suspension. They went into the 2010 draft with miniscule odds of landing an impact player for a franchise that needed a complete make over.
As luck wold have it, the Wizards were awarded the first-overall pick and the right to draft Kentucky's John Wall, one of the best guards to come to the NBA in years.
Wall has come as advertised and is the runaway front-runner for Rookie of the Year. So far he is averaging 17 points, 8.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game, numbers typically only achieved by the NBA's best point guards.
The Wizards are a team still in rebuilding mode, but their future looks bright with a player like Wall bringing the ball up the court. Wall has already been anointed as the franchise's savior.
So, yeah, he's a pretty big deal in the city of Washington, D.C.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
