Theismann Tells of Gambling at Cards, Hangovers at Practice

Former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, in his soon-to-be-released book, says he often went to practices hung over and lost as much as $35,000 one season by gambling at cards, according to a published report.

Theismann recounted in his book, “Theismann,” times when a group of players, known as the “Five-O’Clock Club” would get together after practices in an equipment shed at Redskin Park for a beer but said some players “would go in and come out a lot worse.”

Excerpts of Theismann’s book, written with Atlanta Constitution columnist Dave Kindred, are published in the August issue of The Washingtonian magazine.

Theismann also revealed he lost as much as $10,000 during one training camp in card games, and described the airplane trips taken by the team for away football games as a “casino in the sky.” He said he lost $35,000 one season.

Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs expressed surprise at the tell-all nature of drinking and gambling by players.

“I never saw Joe Theismann where I didn’t think he was (giving) 100% on the practice field,” Gibbs was quoted by The Washington Post as saying at Carlisle, Pa. “I thought Joe Theismann was one of the best practice players I ever saw. I didn’t know that Joe drank--I swear I didn’t--other than to have a beer or something.

“I knew we had other guys who would drink off the field. But I never saw Joe or anybody else impaired at practice. I would have sent them off the field immediately if I had.