WASHINGTON -- Two veterans -- running back Clarence Harmon and quarterback Tom Owen -- were among seven players cut Monday by the Washington Redskins.
The Redskins also cut running back Reggie Evans, tight end Van Heflin, center Art Kuehn, linebacker Quentin Lowery and defensive tackle Pat Ogrin. Linebacker Geff Gandy, the club's 10th-round draft pick from Arkansas, was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Later Monday, the Redskins cut running back Richard Williams, their second round draft from Memphis State, and two free agents-guard Nathan Newton, from Florida A&M and running back Greg Jones from Alcorn State to reach the 49-man NFL regular-season roster limit.
By cutting Owens, Gibbs kept two young quarterbacks to back starter Joe Theismann. He gave the No. 2 job to second-year backup Bob Holly from Princeton and also kept rookie Babe Laufenberg from Indiana, the Redskins' sixth-round draft pick.
'Bob played well (in Saturday's 29-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills),' said Gibbs. 'He had only two bad plays. I just think Bob can be a very steady performer for us.'
Harmon, 27, faces drug possession charges in a few weeks. He was signed as a free agent in 1977, the 17th running back signed that summer, and spent much of his career as a reserve running back and special teams player.
Ironically, Harmon holds the club's single-game receiving record even though former Redskin receiver Charley Taylor, now an assistant coach, holds the NFL career record with 649 catches. Harmon caught 12 passes for 118 yards in a 40-17 victory over San Diego in 1980.
Last season, Harmon was the Redskins' third leading rusher with 168 yards on 38 carries, and caught 11 pases for 86 yards. In the Redskins' Super Bowl victory, he carried nine times for 40 yards.
Harmon's best season was in 1980 when he replaced John Riggins, who sat out the season in a contract dispute. That year, Harmon carried 128 times for 484 yards and caught 54 passes for 534 yards.
Owen spent nine seasons in the NFL and was obtained last year from New England for second-year quarterback Tom Flick. Owen, 31, turned down a chance to sign with the U.S. Football League last spring to stay with the Redskins.
Owen saw no action with the Redskins last season but passed for 2,300 yards in four seasons with the Patriots and two with the San Francisco 49ers. He was traded by the 49ers, along with four draft picks, to the Patriots for quarterback Jim Plunkett in 1976.
Owen played in no games in 1977 and 1980. He was not used by the Patriots in 1977 and sat out much of 1980 in a contract dispute.
A three-year starter at Wichita State, Owen did not make the travel squad for the 1970 game at Logan, Utah. One of the Shockers' two chartered planes crashed en route to the game killing 14 players.
Evans, from the University of Richmond, was signed as a free agent a year ago but spent the 1982 season on injured reserve.
Kuehn, 30, was signed three weeks ago. He was released by the Seattle Seahawks after playing every game of club's first seven seasons.
Lowery also played in the Super Bowl last January. Signed as a free agent in 1981, the Youngstown State product played nine games each of the last two years, mostly on special teams.
Ogrin, 25, was cut prior to the 1982 season but re-signed after veteran defensive tackle Perry Brooks broke his leg. Ogrin, who played at Wyoming, played in three regular-season games and two playoff contests last season.
Heflin, 24, from Vanderbilt, was cut by the Cleveland Browns in 1982 and signed with the Redskins last spring.
