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WASHINGTON - Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington agreed to an eight-year, $80-million contract extension with the Redskins, his agent said Friday.
Carl Poston said the deal includes $26.5-million in bonuses, most of which become available immediately. Under Arrington's current contract he would have earned just less than $10-million in salary and bonuses the next three seasons.
The Redskins were eager to sign Arrington to a long-term contract that would accommodate the team's salary cap constraints.
The deal replaces the last years of Arrington's current contract and defers some of those costs to later years.
"We're happy he'll be wearing burgundy and gold for a very long time," Redskins owner Daniel Snyder said.
Arrington declined a $50-million, seven-year contract extension from the Redskins this month.
Arrington was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl last week. He has career highs this season with 112 tackles, seven forced fumbles and 13 quarterback pressures. He also has six sacks.
"This is really a compliment to Dan Snyder on his commitment to winning," Poston said.
The Redskins signed Arrington as the second overall choice in the 2000 NFL draft. The former Penn State star led the team in tackles in 2001 and led the NFL with 11 sacks in 2002.
BILLS: Pro Bowl guard Ruben Brown has been excused from playing in the season finale at New England today for unspecified reasons, leaving the nine-year veteran's future with the team uncertain. Brown had not practiced all week and did not travel with the team to Boston. Coach Gregg Williams would only say that Brown was "not playing for personal reasons," adding he had not been suspended. Brown, who set a franchise record by earning his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl selection last week, was not available for comment.
BRONCOS: Denver waived defensive tackle Luis Almanzar and linebacker Patrick Chukwurah, and it signed wide receiver Nate Jackson and running back Cecil Sapp from the practice squad.
CARDINALS: Neil Rackers, Arizona's placekicker since early November, signed a two-year contract extension.
DOLPHINS: Running back Ricky Williams and fullback Rob Konrad are expected to play through injuries against the Jets on Sunday. Williams has battled a shoulder injury throughout the season, and Konrad is recovering from a concussion.
PACKERS: Brett Favre returned to practice, two days after his father's funeral, and the focus for himself as well as his teammates was squarely on football. Favre took snaps for the first time since he led the Packers to a 41-7 victory at Oakland on Monday night, a day after his father died. "Obviously, he had some catching up to do," coach Mike Sherman said after the afternoon workout. "But, he's been doing this for quite a long time. So, he probably had less catching up to do than most players would." The Packers (9-6) enter the last game of the regular season in contention for a playoff spot and likely will need to beat the playoff-bound Broncos. Favre, who threw for 399 yards Monday, wasn't available for comment after practice.
STEELERS: Receiver Hines Ward was selected Pittsburgh's MVP for the second season in a row. Only three others - Terry Bradshaw, Jerome Bettis and Levon Kirkland - have won the award in consecutive seasons.