Strong safety LaRon Landry departed the Washington Redskins in free agency, as expected. The former cornerstone of the Redskins’ secondary signed a one-year, $4 million free agent contract with the New York Jets on Monday
The Redskins drafted him sixth overall in 2007 with hopes of pairing him with Sean Taylor to create the most feared tandem of safeties in the NFL. Instead, Taylor was murdered during a home invasion that November. Landry’s career in Washington fizzled as he sat out 15 games the last two seasons due to injury.
Landry, 27, was known early in his career as much for his personal foul penalties as his highlight-reel hits. He thrived as a strong safety in 2010 after coach Mike Shanahan installed a 3-4 defense, but his success was short-lived because of injuries.
He fell out of favor with Redskins management near the end of last season when he did not heed a specialist’s recommendation to have surgery on his right Achilles tendon. The Redskins tired of his unavailability, and they were unwilling to pay him a sizable contract given the uncertainty of his fitness going forward.
Landry missed eight games last season because of three different injuries - a strained hamstring, his Achilles and a strained groin. It was the second straight season he finished on injured reserve.
This offseason, Landry has undergone stem cell treatments for bone spurs in his heel instead of having surgery. He hopes to be healthy in time for the season.
Landry had four interceptions, six forced fumbles and 5 1/2 sacks in 64 games with the Redskins.
Redskins free agent receiver Donte Stallworth agreed to a one-year contract with the New England Patriots, rejoining the team he played for during its undefeated regular season in 2007.
Stallworth became a formidable third-down option for the Redskins late last season. He had 22 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.
Around the league
• PANTHERS: Carolina signed free agent running back Mike Tolbert to a four-year contract. Tolbert had spent all four of his seasons in the NFL with San Diego. He had 490 yards rushing and 433 yards receiving on 54 catches last season and scored 10 touchdowns while splitting time with Ryan Mathews.
• CHIEFS: Kansas City signed free agent quarterback Brady Quinn and veteran right tackle Eric Winston, who was in the fourth year of a $30 million, five-year deal when he was cut by Houston to save salary cap space. Winston helped the Texans become the NFL’s second-leading rushing team.
• BENGALS: Cincinnati signed free agent cornerback Jason Allen from Houston and agreed to a four-year deal with safety Reggie Nelson, who was one of their unrestricted free agents. The moves bolster a secondary that is missing top cornerback Leon Hall, who is recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon.
• LIONS: Detroit re-signed punter Ben Graham to a one-year contract. Graham was the team’s punter for the final seven games of last season, putting 10 of 28 punts inside the 20-yard line with only three touchbacks.
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