A day after cutting punter Ryan Plackemeier, the Washington Redskins re-signed long snapper Ethan Albright to a one-year contract Friday. Albright, who turns 38 in May and is heading into his ninth season with Washington, agreed to the 10-year-plus veteran minimum of $845,000. Only offensive tackles Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels have been with the Redskins longer than Albright, who played in the Pro Bowl after the 2007 season.
"I'm pretty excited to be back," Albright said. "This is the job I wanted. I enjoy playing for [special teams coach Danny Smith]. I'm glad the Redskins liked what they saw on film enough to bring me back. I'm looking forward to competing with [former Tennessee snapper Rob Cain, who Washington signed on Dec. 31]."
Albright, who hasn't missed a game since 1995 when he was with the Miami Dolphins, will be snapping to his ninth Redskins punter this fall. So far that list includes Bryan Barker, Craig Jarrett, Tom Tupa, Andy Groom, Derrick Frost, Durant Brooks and Plackemeier. Only Barker and Frost lasted more than a season.
Albright also has snapped to the holders for eight kickers: Brett Conway, James Tuthill, Jose Cortez, John Hall, Ola Kimrin, Jeff Chandler, Nick Novak and incumbent Shaun Suisham.
"That's part of the business," Albright said of the constant change. "You've got to build chemistry with your unit. I'll be here once we start the offseason program so I can work with whoever they bring in to be the punter."
The Redskins also claimed running back Anthony Alridge off waivers from the Denver Broncos. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Alridge spent last season on injured reserve after rushing for 1,597 yards and 14 touchdowns and catching 42 passes for 428 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at the University of Houston in 2007.
Plackemeier, who averaged only 33.9 net yards on 55 punts in 10 games with the Redskins, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday.
