Washington Redskins sign O.J. Atogwe as free saftey on five-year, $25 million contract
The Washington Redskins have signed safety O.J. Atogwe to a $26 million contract for the next five years. The free agent joins a defence that was ranked second to last in 2010 and will hopefully be able to raise the Redskins’ defensive ranking in 2011, pending
a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
After spending six years with the St. Louis Rams, Atogwe was cut just two weeks ago and signed his contract with the ‘Skins on Thursday.
The Redskins’ previous free safety, Kareem Moore, started in 11 games last season. However, he was inconsistent and did not perform well, not to mention ending the season on injured reserve after injuring his knee. He has already undergone reconstructive
surgery on his right knee and is currently recovering from it.
At Washington, Atogwe will be reunited with Jim Haslett, who is now defensive coordinator for the ‘Skins. Atogwe spent three years in St. Louis playing for Haslett, who was also the defensive coordinator there. He was later made interim head coach.
Oshiomogho Atogwe was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, as overall pick number 66, by the St. Louis Rams. Before joining the National Football League (NFL), he played for the Stanford University Cardinals. Atogwe started in 33 games in a
row at Stanford and led the team in tackles with 71. He also had one sack, three forced fumbles, four pass deflections, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
The next year, Atogwe led the team again in tackles with 90 - five of which were for a loss of yards - and also had eight pass deflections and two interceptions as a free safety. He also had the most fumble recoveries and forced fumbles in the entire National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with six each. In his senior year, Atogwe started in all 11 games that season and racked up 76 tackles - four of which were for a loss of yards – together with four interceptions and seven blocked passes.
He signed a three-year contract for $1.6 million with the Rams. He finished his rookie year by participating in all 12 games and accumulating 11 tackles, one recovered fumble, one interception and one sack. The next year, he had 72 tackles, five forced fumbles
and three interceptions.
In 2007, Atogwe had the most interceptions in the National Football Conference (NFC) with 9 and had 75 tackles, two forced fumbles and one touchdown to boot in 2007.
Since then, he has been doing very well with the Rams. He was at the top of the Rams defence and called one of the rising stars at the free safety position by analysts. He was franchised by the Rams in 2009.
As recently as June 2010, Atogwe signed a contract extension with the Rams, this time for $32 million for five years. However, he was released by the Rams less than eight months later, on 18 February, 2011.
Tags: