Redskins, Cartwright Agree To a Three-Year Contract

The Washington Redskins reached an agreement with return specialist Rock Cartwright yesterday, retaining one of their key performers on special teams. Terms of the deal were not announced, but a team source said Cartwright received a three-year, $3.35 million contract that includes $500,000 guaranteed.

"We're real happy we were able to get this done," said Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' executive vice president of football operations. "It made total sense because Rock is an outstanding special teams player, and he's also one of our leaders in the locker room. Rock does a lot of things for our team on and off the field, so he was definitely someone we wanted back."

Attempts to contact Cartwright were unsuccessful. Under the terms of his new deal, Cartwright, a six-year veteran, will receive a $300,000 signing bonus with a base salary of $605,000 in 2008 -- the minimum for a player with six years in the league. He will receive a $200,000 roster bonus and a $745,000 salary in 2009 and a $1.5 million salary in 2010.

Cartwright, who made almost $680,000 last season, became a free agent when he achieved performance incentives that voided the remainder of his contract. He ranked sixth in the NFL with 1,339 yards on kickoff returns. Cartwright was believed to be seeking $2 million guaranteed. In an interview Thursday at Redskins Park, Cartwright said he had not received any offers from other teams.

"Kind of frustrated," he said. "Thought something would have happened by now, but it hasn't."

The deal with Cartwright was the Redskins' first move in free agency since they reached an agreement with backup quarterback Todd Collins last Friday -- the first day of the process.

-- Jason Reid