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February-18th-2005, 09:13 PM
Marshall Re-Signs With Redskins for Three Years
By Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36044-2005Feb18?language=printer
The Washington Redskins yesterday announced the re-signing of linebacker Lemar Marshall, who emerged from obscurity last season, performing well in place of the injured LaVar Arrington. Marshall's contract was worth roughly $2 million over three years, sources said, a substantial raise from the $380,000 he earned last season.
Marshall -- a three-year veteran -- was an impending restricted free agent, a category that would have given the Redskins the final say in whether he departed to another club. However, Washington reached an agreement this week instead of giving Marshall, 28, a tender offer by the March 1 deadline, which would have allowed teams an opportunity to offer him a contract too big to match.
"We're thrilled to have Lemar re-sign with us here at the Redskins," Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday in a statement. "He was a huge part of our success on defense last season and we plan on him being a huge factor in what we try to accomplish here in the future."
The 6-foot-2, 227-pound Marshall converted from safety after graduating from Michigan State in 1999. After landing in Washington in December 2001 following a peripatetic NFL start (Tampa Bay, Denver, Philadelphia), Marshall became known for his special teams contributions while playing sparsely as a reserve linebacker. But Marshall replaced Arrington (right knee injury) in the third game last season. He helped Washington's defense finish third in the NFL by collecting a career-high 82 tackles (52 solo) and 1.5 sacks.
"I am extremely excited to re-sign with the Redskins and get to work," Marshall said in a release. "I am eager to get back with my teammates and the coaching staff and start working for the 2005 season."
Marshall is the first of Washington's 20 free agents to re-sign with the club. Gibbs said earlier this week that free agents had shown a reluctance to consummate deals before March 2, when free agency starts.
If the Redskins had waited to give Marshall a tender offer, the club would have risked losing him by being unwilling to match a relatively rich contract from another team. A club has seven days to match an outside offer to one of its restricted free agents. If the team allows that player to depart, it obtains a draft pick from the round in which he was originally selected. However, Marshall was undrafted out of Michigan State, meaning the Redskins wouldn't have received any compensation.
Marshall's signing came after left tackle Jon Jansen, quarterback Patrick Ramsey and defensive end Renaldo Wynn restructured their contracts to provide the Redskins some relief under the salary cap.
By Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36044-2005Feb18?language=printer
The Washington Redskins yesterday announced the re-signing of linebacker Lemar Marshall, who emerged from obscurity last season, performing well in place of the injured LaVar Arrington. Marshall's contract was worth roughly $2 million over three years, sources said, a substantial raise from the $380,000 he earned last season.
Marshall -- a three-year veteran -- was an impending restricted free agent, a category that would have given the Redskins the final say in whether he departed to another club. However, Washington reached an agreement this week instead of giving Marshall, 28, a tender offer by the March 1 deadline, which would have allowed teams an opportunity to offer him a contract too big to match.
"We're thrilled to have Lemar re-sign with us here at the Redskins," Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday in a statement. "He was a huge part of our success on defense last season and we plan on him being a huge factor in what we try to accomplish here in the future."
The 6-foot-2, 227-pound Marshall converted from safety after graduating from Michigan State in 1999. After landing in Washington in December 2001 following a peripatetic NFL start (Tampa Bay, Denver, Philadelphia), Marshall became known for his special teams contributions while playing sparsely as a reserve linebacker. But Marshall replaced Arrington (right knee injury) in the third game last season. He helped Washington's defense finish third in the NFL by collecting a career-high 82 tackles (52 solo) and 1.5 sacks.
"I am extremely excited to re-sign with the Redskins and get to work," Marshall said in a release. "I am eager to get back with my teammates and the coaching staff and start working for the 2005 season."
Marshall is the first of Washington's 20 free agents to re-sign with the club. Gibbs said earlier this week that free agents had shown a reluctance to consummate deals before March 2, when free agency starts.
If the Redskins had waited to give Marshall a tender offer, the club would have risked losing him by being unwilling to match a relatively rich contract from another team. A club has seven days to match an outside offer to one of its restricted free agents. If the team allows that player to depart, it obtains a draft pick from the round in which he was originally selected. However, Marshall was undrafted out of Michigan State, meaning the Redskins wouldn't have received any compensation.
Marshall's signing came after left tackle Jon Jansen, quarterback Patrick Ramsey and defensive end Renaldo Wynn restructured their contracts to provide the Redskins some relief under the salary cap.