CARLISLE, Pa., Aug. 22 -- The Washington Redskins, seeking a veteran free safety to replace Mark Carrier, have signed free agent Keith Lyle, who was one of the casualties of the defensive purge in St. Louis.
The 29-year-old Lyle started 89 of 105 games in his seven years with the Rams and helped them win Super Bowl XXXIV after the 1999 season.
Second-year players David Terrell and Josh Symonette were competing for the starting free safety job in training camp, but Redskins Coach Marty Schottenheimer apparently felt more comfortable with a veteran as insurance.
Carrier was Washington's starter at strong safety last season, but was waived in June for salary cap purposes.
The 6-2, 210-pound Lyle started all 16 games for the Rams last season and had 68 tackles and one interception. But after the Rams allowed a league-high 471 points, Coach Mike Martz did a complete overhaul of the defense and Lyle, defensive end Kevin Carter, cornerback Todd Lyght and linebacker Mike Jones were among the prime players that were jettisoned.
Lyle, a D.C. native who went to Marshall High School in northern Virginia and was a third-round pick in 1994 out of the University of Virginia, enjoyed the best season of his career in 1996 when he intercepted nine passes, tying for the league lead, and recorded 63 tackles. He said he's happy he's got a job again.
"I thought this would come," Lyle said. "I just didn't think it would come this late. This offseason has been challenging and mentally draining at times. But I just kept working. I kept praying. I knew it was going to happen."
He will make the league minimum of $477,000.
