 | Feature: Redskins sign free agent running back Larry Johnson |
 Rick Maese
Making their biggest splash in a relatively quiet free agency period, the Redskins on Friday signed veteran running back Larry Johnson, whose off-the-field problems have at times overshadowed his on-field exploits.
The team would not release terms of the deal, but a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Johnson signed a three-year contract that carries a base salary of $3.5 million and could be worth $12 million with incentives.
The Redskins hope Johnson, 30, will complement running back Clinton Portis in their revamped offense and also push Portis on the practice field.
Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs last year after making offensive remarks and played the final seven games of the season with the Cincinnati Bengals as a reserve. On the year, Johnson had 581 yards on 178 carries and no touchdowns in 14 games. His last 1,000-yard season was 2006, when he rushed for a career-high 1,789 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
Just as the Redskins are looking at 2010 as a turning point, Johnson will come to Washington and try to embark on a fresh start of his own.
"Larry doesn't look at the past," said Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer. "You can only be judged by what you do as a human being and a man. He's got a child on the way, and I think he's grown up a great deal."
Neither Johnson nor Redskins coaches were made available for comment Friday evening. In a prepared statement, Coach Mike Shanahan said: "We are excited to bring in a running back that has had so much success in this league. Larry is a physical runner who will be a great addition to our backfield."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031203972.html
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