Redskins make room for Godfrey with release of Marshall

From ESPN

The Washington Redskins continued the overhaul of their linebacker corps Tuesday, signing unrestricted free agent Randall Godfrey and releasing former starter Lemar Marshall, the team's leader in total tackles over the past two years.

Godfrey, 34 and a veteran of 11 seasons, is joining his fifth different franchise. He was released by San Diego, where he played the past three seasons, earlier this spring. Details of what is believed to be a one-year contract were not immediately available.

It is believed that Godfrey, made expendable by the Chargers because they had a young linebacker they wanted to infuse into the rotation, will be a backup for the Redskins.

The Redskins have a new middle linebacker this season in veteran free agent acquisition London Fletcher, and second-year pro Rocky McIntosh has been elevated to the starter's spot at weakside linebacker. The starting strongside linebacker, former Pro Bowl performer Marcus Washington, will miss two weeks with an elbow injury and may be used more as a situational pass rusher in 2007.

Marshall, 30, started all but one game at middle linebacker in 2006 and finished second on the team in tackles. He led the Redskins in tackles in 2005 as their starter at weakside linebacker. His release comes at least as a mild surprise.

A five-year veteran who signed with Washington as a free agent in 2001, Marshall played in 75 games for the Redskins and had 343 tackles. The former Michigan State standout was scheduled to have a base salary of $1 million in 2007.

The much-traveled Godfrey began his career with the Dallas Cowboys as a second-round pick in the 1996 draft. In stints with Dallas (1996-99), Tennessee (2000-2002), Seattle (2003) and San Diego (2004-2006), the former Georgia star has 822 tackles, 17 sacks, six interceptions, 31 passes defensed, 17 forced fumbles and nine fumbles recovered.

Godfrey was said to be considering retirement before the Redskins contacted him.