Every time Gary Clark caught a touchdown pass for Washington, be it from Doug Williams, Jay Schroeder, Mark Rypien, or whoever else, it was for the fans.

Whenever he and Ricky Sanders rumbled down the grass of the old Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, or helped the ‘Skins to Super Bowl wins in 1987 and 1991, it was for the Hogs in the stands, the cheering group synonymous with the team from the nation’s capital.

Well, the group of admirers that gathered at Tidewater Sports and Collectibles at Chesapeake Square Mall on Saturday weren’t wearing grandma dresses, wigs, sunglasses or pig noses, the required Hogs attire. But they still remembered two the NFL’s top receivers of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

&uot;Without the fans, we wouldn’t be anywhere,&uot; said Clark, who played eight seasons with the ‘Skins and retired in 1996, 16th on the all-time NFL ranks with 10,856 rushing yards.

&uot;We should be thanking them more than ever. It’s all about them.&uot;

It’s still hard to leave the spotlight, said Sanders, who joked that people remind him about his own Super Bowl exploits every time the Big Game comes along.

&uot;It’s tough,&uot; he said. &uot;You get used to the attention. But it’s a good feeling to have devoted fans.&uot;

Since he left the game in 1994, life’s been all right for Sanders.

&uot;I’m just playing golf and working hard,&uot; he said.

And let’s just say that the football field isn’t the only place where Clark had Sanders’ back.

&uot;I caddy for Rick and mow his lawn!&uot; Clark said with a laugh. &uot;Sometimes he gives me some lemonade.&uot;

The twosome teamed with Art Monk, the former all-time league leader in pass receptions (he’s since been passed by Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Tim Brown and Andre Reed) to form the group that Washington fans of the time nicknamed &uot;The Posse.&uot; When Monk was passed over for induction into the Hall of Fame last year, Clark wasn’t happy.

&uot;That was ridiculous,&uot; he said. &uot;He should have been in on the first time. But it’s something that’s going to happen. Hopefully, the next time will be a charm.&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com