Washington was part of the Redskins big 2004 free agent class, coming here along with defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin and defensive end Phillip Daniels, among others. Washington lived up to his contract by making his one and only Pro Bowl that season.

He had a solid second season with the Redskins, but in his last three injuries limited his effectiveness. Washington missed 12 combined games the past three season with various ailments and knew by season’s end that his time here was nearly done.

But his energy will be missed by his coaches and teammates. Coaches loved talking about his upbeat nature and were encouraged this past training camp when Washington could often be seen smiling and laughing. They viewed that as a sign of a player finally healthy. Alas, that soon ended when the season began.

His defensive teammates often could be seen dancing to the music, something Washington started doing shortly after his arrival, his head bouncing up and down and words spewing out.

“As free agency approaches there are difficult choices that have to be made. This certainly was a hard decision because Marcus played such an important role on our defense and in our locker room,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said.

The Redskins now need to find a new strongside linebacker because they lack a legitimate option on the roster. H.B. Blades, generously listed at 5-foot-10, is a part-time starter at best.

Free agency could yield a player such as the New York Jets Eric Barton. Other options could include Bart Scott, if they wanted to pay a lot of money. He would have to move from inside in a 3-4 to outside ina  4-3. Buffalo’s Angelo Crowell is a possibility, though he has chronic knee issues and is coming off surgery.

The draft is a strong possibility with USC’s Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Jr., and Virginia’s Clint Sintim, who might be the best option. He’s a good pass rusher and can play in coverage.