BGO Exclusive: Dexter Manley Turns Important Corner In Life

[MR Historian]

Dexter Manley Turns Important Corner in Life

Today when Dexter Manley’s name comes up, Redskins fans remember a ferocious defensive end who brought a special passion to the game, who posted an abundance of sacks, and who had fun while playing football. His bright smile was a sign of his charm. They also recall an athlete whose flamboyance and loose lips caused many eyes to roll.

But for many people, the name Dexter Manley instantly triggers thoughts about a man with an ominous past, specifically a drug problem that curtailed his NFL career. Manley tested positive for cocaine four times during his playing days and was forced to retire from the league in his 11th season in 1991.

Nearly two decades later, and after serving two jail terms for offenses related to cocaine possession, Manley is certain he’s turned a critical corner in life and is traveling on the straight and narrow. Professionally, he does public relations work in the Washington area, appears at corporate events and handles speaking engagements where he expounds on his personal struggles and urges youth to avoid such setbacks. He lives in Bethesda, Md., with his wife, Lydia.

“Life is good. I’m clean,” Manley, who turned 50 in February, told BGObsession.com. “God reached out and touched me, and I listened, and I made a decision what I want to do with my life, just keep turning my life over, keep living well and standing up providing for my family, most importantly for my grandchildren. I can walk around here and be an ex-Redskin and people can say, `There’s Dexter Manley,’ and they can talk to me about the Redskins’ glory days when I played. Now, it’s like the past, the present and the future.”

Manley, a Redskin from 1981 to 1989, was a dominant player on one of the NFL’s elite teams during the 1980s and earned two Super Bowl rings (XVII and XXII). A package of intensity combined with unmitigated speed and power, the 6-3, 257-pounder was one of the most feared pass rushers during his era and posted the most sacks in the NFL (64) from 1982 to 1986. In setting a Redskins-record 97.5 sacks that stands, he established himself as arguably the greatest defensive end to ever wear the burgundy and gold.

In fact, he could have gone down as one of the greatest to ever play his position and has been a preliminary nominee for Hall of Fame induction. But his chances of being enshrined are slim because of his shady past. His involvement with drugs is his top regret in life.

“I grew up in Houston’s third ward in the ghetto and fought guys older than me, I never lost a fight, I never lost a battle,” he said. But I lost this war to cocaine. I let drugs interfere and rob me and pimp me and prostitute me, and it took everything from me because I lost the desire to be the best football player. I lost focus. I had these great dreams, but my dreams were fading away because I was caught up in cocaine.”

Manley said he never played while he was high on cocaine. After his third positive drug test midway through the 1989 season, he was banned from the NFL for a year. After being reinstated, Manley signed with the Phoenix Cardinals and played four games in 1990. He spent the next season in Tampa Bay but tested positive a fourth time. His playing days ended with a short stint in the Canadian Football League in 1992.

Manley, who has followed the recent drama surrounding former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick with great interest, supports NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to reinstate Vick, who served a two-year jail term after admitting to bankrolling a barbaric dogfighting operation on his property in Virginia. Vick hasn’t played in the league since 2006.

“We all deserve a second chance, and Vick deserves a second chance,” Manley said. “Roger Goodell has done a thorough job of letting Michael Vick back in. We’re all cracked vessels, America’s a cracked vessel, so who makes America, people make America. What I mean by that is no one is unscathed. Michael Vick will just have to deal with his situation publicly.”

But Manley is opposed to Goodell’s decision to apply a “conditional” tag on Vick’s reinstatement. The commissioner said Vick can sign with a team and participate in the final two preseason games, but that he’ll decide within the first six weeks of the regular season if Vick can begin playing. Manley said he was forced to sit out a few games after signing with the Cardinals in 1990 following his reinstatement after a one-year suspension.

“How much more do you have to pay?” he said. “It’s double-jeopardy. “You already paid by sitting out for two years, now they’re going to tack another six games on it. That’s stuff the NFL, the commissioner come up with to kind of make themselves look good. That looks good to the big corporate sponsors, I guess. Roger Goodell has an iron fist and that’s sort of the way he’s going to manage his league.”

[Sarge]

I really hope Dexter is cleaned up for good. I loved watching him play during his prime and thanked the football gods that he played for us and not against us.

Can't say I agree with his tact on Vick though. As the old Barretta song used to go, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time".

Thanks for the interview guys!

[MikeSr619]

love love LOVE that Dexter is well and living retirement healthy.

thanks for the interview.

[beamish]

just for you, sarge!

http://tinyurl.com/n7mp7y

[Boone]

Nice interview Mike. I wonder what Dexter would say to Vick if he had the chance? Vick's really gotten a golden chance to repair the self-inflicted damage he's done. Curious that Dexter views Goodell as being excessively harsh - I think most of us view him as being pretty generous in his decision.

[MR Historian]

Originally Posted by Boone

Nice interview Mike. I wonder what Dexter would say to Vick if he had the chance? Vick's really gotten a golden chance to repair the self-inflicted damage he's done. Curious that Dexter views Goodell as being excessively harsh - I think most of us view him as being pretty generous in his decision.

Thanks, John! I think Dexter would tell Vick to stay focused and always remember the new opportunity he's been given because one wrong turn will almost certainly mean the end of his NFL career. Dexter also had some positive words about Goodell, including that he's been tough on some players in hopes of maintaining the credibility of the league.

[LizKauai]

It's never to late to make a change for the better- and never to soon. All the best to Mr. Manley!

[MR Historian]

Originally Posted by MR Historian

Thanks, John! I think Dexter would tell Vick to stay focused and always remember the new opportunity he's been given because one wrong turn will almost certainly mean the end of his NFL career. Dexter also had some positive words about Goodell, including that he's been tough on some players in hopes of maintaining the credibility of the league.

Manley also said the following about Goodell's "iron fist":

"I think that’s good for the league. It’s the integrity of the game. He’s still allowing these guys opportunities to play and sooner or later those guys have to decide to man-up, or you can look for another avenue. You can’t keep embarrassing the league and the team while people keep giving you chances. Sooner or later, you’ve got to put out some conditions and guidelines. If you can’t follow those guidelines, you can play in this league. If you can’t follow those guidelines, that means you’ve got to look for another avenue. Roger Goodell has done a fine job. He’s such a politician. He should be a senator.”

[MikeSr619]

Its amazing to me to see the people that were in sports and messed up come back years later and say something as intelligent and true as that. Dexter does it there and Mike Tyson did it not too long ago as well...