Last summer, Redskins coach Joe Gibbs flew to Michigan to meet with tackle Jon Jansen, assuring him of his future in the organization. Gibbs wanted Jansen to remain. Jansen wanted to stick around.
Both have now gotten their wish.
The Redskins signed Jansen to a new five-year deal, ripping up the final two years of his existing contract. Jansen’s new deal, through 2011, is worth $23 million with $10 million in guaranteed money.
The contract had been in the works since the season ended and was finalized over the weekend. Jansen has started for Washington since he was drafted in the second round in 1999. He has often talked about wanting to play for one team. And he likes the area; his wife recently gave birth to their second daughter.
If he fulfills the life of the contract, it could allow him to retire as a Redskin.
“It’s very important to me,” Jansen said by phone, “coming from Michigan, we had a great tradition and a lot of loyal people and fans. Coming to Washington was like going to the same thing, there were a lot of loyal people and fans and they’ll appreciate my loyalty.”
Jansen has evolved into a leader with the Redskins. He’s battled injuries in each of the past three seasons, starting with his Achilles’ tendon tear in 2004. The past two seasons he’s endured three broken thumbs and a severe calf injury that forced him to miss one game late in the year.
The Redskins have been criticized for not taking care of their own players, preferring to spend lavishly on other team’s free agents. But this signing represents a shift.
“This sends a message that they are going to start taking care of their own,” Jansen said. “Mr. Snyder has shown that he’s going to be loyal to me and that’s a trend we’ll see continue throughout what we do this offseason and in the future. … I really think we’re headed in the right direction.”
