The Redskins made another non-splashy but useful free agent signing this week, when they signed veteran cornerback David Macklin.
Originally a fourth round draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts in 2000, he spent the first four years of his career there, and started for two of them. He was drafted out of Penn State University where he was a three-year starter, and tied for the Big Ten Conference lead in interceptions in his junior season.
Macklin then went to the Arizona Cardinals where he spent the last three seasons. He started seven of the fourteen games that he played for Arizona last year, and he had 33 total tackles, one interception and six passes defended.
In his seven-year career, he has played in 110 games (75 starts), and has recorded 352 tackles, 14 interceptions and one sack.
Macklin is a Virginia native and attended Menchville High School in Newport News. He came to the Redskins because he wanted a chance to play for coach Joe Gibbs. He was actually said to have had better offers from the Chiefs, the Saints, and the Eagles, but came to Washington anyway. He signed a one-year veteran league minimum contract that will pay him $760,000 plus a $40,000 bonus. Due to the veteran league minimum rule, his salary will only count about $500,000 against the 2007 cap.
Macklin provides Washington with another bona fide option at cornerback. Is this a sign that Shawn Springs will ultimately be released for cap purposes? Is it a sign that Springs may indeed move to safety? Or is it just a sign that the Redskins aren't happy going into this season and subjecting themselves to the same injury problems in the secondary that they had last year?
Regardless of which is the real answer, Washington improved their depth with another solid, low-key free agent signing.
The Redskins now have four legitimate corners with substantial NFL starting experience. Macklin will compete with Springs, Carlos Rogers, and Fred Smoot for playing time, and competition is ALWAYS healthy in an NFL training camp.
Frost Re-Signed
The Redskins also announced on Monday that punter Derrick Frost had been re-signed.
It doesn't come as much of a surprise, Washington doesn't have any other punters on the roster. Despite consistency problems, Frost will once again be the odds-on favorite to win the punting job that he has held for the last two years. His ability to platoon as the kick off specialist, and as the field goal holder, likely aided in the decision to re-sign him.
While he did improve late last season, it's possible that Redskin fans will be subject to the same slow torture that they've seen in every season that Tom Tupa didn't punt in the last decade.
Is that back injury healed up yet, Tom?
Preseason Schedule Now Official
The Redskins announced the final preseason schedule this week. Originally, only tentative dates for the last three games were announced, but now the schedule is set:
Aug. 11 - @ Tennessee Titans - 8 pm. ET
Aug. 18 - Pittsburgh Steelers - 8 pm. ET
Aug. 25 - Baltimore Ravens - 8 pm. ET
Aug. 30 - @ Jacksonville Jaguars - 7:30 pm. ET
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