Redskins get Stai from Detroit

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ASHBURN, Va., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The Washington Redskins have traded an undisclosed draft pick to Detroit for guard Brenden Stai.

He likely will compete for one of the starting guard positions on the Redskins' offensive line.

Redskins offensive line coach Kim Helton has said tackles Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen and center Larry Moore are expected to start the season at their respective positions. However, the guard position has been unsettled.

Washington has started Ross Tucker, Rod Jones and Kipp Vickers at guard during the team's first three preseason games. Jones filled in for Samuels at left tackle last Sunday against the Steelers and is expected to start there again Saturday night against Tampa Bay. Samuels is recovering from an ankle sprain.

"He's real excited bout it," said Stai's agent, Paul Sheehy. "You're always disappointed (about being traded). When he signed with Detroit last year, we expected it would be a long-term situation. But it seems like there's a lot of excitement [in Washington]. He's pumped."

Stai has started 74 straight games, and he hasn't missed a game since early in the 1997 season. He has started in all seven postseason games he's played in over his seven-year career, which included five years in Pittsburgh, one year in Jacksonville and one season in Detroit.

Stai, a 6-4, 318-pounder, entered the NFL as a third-round draft choice of the Steelers in 1995. He was an All-America and All-Big Eight selection as a senior at Nebraska, helping the Cornhuskers win the 1994 National Championship.