Redskins, Jansen Agree to Six-Year Deal

Redskin right tackle Jon Jansen agreed to a six-year, $25-million contract Thursday to stay in Washington, where he has missed only one play in four seasons.

The deal includes an $8-million signing bonus and keeps the 1999 second-round draft pick from Michigan from becoming a free agent at the end of the season.

“For most of the year, I just didn’t see it working out,” Jansen said. “It was my inexperience with negotiations. I’m extremely happy that it did.

“I sometimes wish I could have played 25, 30 years ago, when the decisions seemed to be a lot easier. Obviously, it’s nice now because the money’s a lot more.”

Keeping Jansen is a major victory for the Redskins, who didn’t want to have to find a new tackle with so many other pressing needs in the upcoming off-season.

Nicknamed “Rock,” Jansen had wrestled with testing the open market, particularly because his power-blocking mentality hasn’t been an easy mesh in Coach Steve Spurrier’s pass-dominated offense.

“It’s big news,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “To keep a guy like that, that’s the type of thing we need around here. He’s a big-time player.”

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The New England Patriots put starting cornerback Otis Smith on injured reserve and released defensive tackle Steve Martin.

Smith, who hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter of New England’s 24-7 loss at Tennessee on Monday night, had started 13 of the team’s 14 games and had two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one.

With Smith out for the season, his spot could be taken by Terrell Buckley, the primary backup at cornerback.

Martin signed as a free agent last April and had played in all 14 games. He started the first four but only one of the last 10.

The 37-year-old Smith is in his 12th NFL season and fourth with the Patriots. He also played four seasons with Philadelphia and four-plus with the New York Jets.

Martin, 28, had 17 tackles, only one in the last five games as part of a defensive line that has been vulnerable to the run.

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A bolt of lightning struck near the Oakland Raiders’ practice facility in Alameda, forcing the team to cut practice short.

Thunderstorms, with heavy rain and high wind, pounded Northern California and knocked out power and toppled trees in the Bay Area. Raider Coach Bill Callahan called a halt to the rain-drenched workout as a precaution after the lightning strike sent players and coaches scurrying for cover.

“It came out of nowhere,” Callahan said. “A bolt came out and it was time to go in. We were in the midst of almost completing the entire practice.”