Plackemeier gets boot

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Washington Redskins added punter to their list of needs this offseason by waiving Ryan Plackemeier on Thursday.

Signed in October to replace Durant Brooks, Plackemeier punted in the Redskins’ final 10 games but averaged only 33.9 net yards on 55 attempts. That ranked last in the league among players with more than 20 punts.

The Redskins ranked last in the NFL in net punting. Plackemeier will count a small amount against the Redskins’ salary cap because he was signed to a two-year contract when he won the job after Brooks’ release.

The only punter under contract is Zac Atterberry, who was signed to a futures contract earlier this winter and has no regular-season attempts. He attended Lindenwood, an NAIA program, and was in the Chicago Bears’ camp last preseason.

Since the start of 2004, the Redskins have employed five punters, and only Derrick Frost lasted at least two years. Frost lost a training camp battle last summer to Brooks, the rookie draft pick who lasted only six games.

The Redskins are expected to sign another punter for training camp, and the only marquee name on the free agent list is Shane Lechler, who is expected to be retained by Oakland.

- Ryan O’Halloran