Marshall tabbed to replace Pierce

[Shane]

I love the attitude that Joe Gibbs brings. We could have had Pierce, but it would have thrown the salary structure out of whack for the first two years, so no deal.

Fred Smoot, we are offering you terrific money, and we aren't going to let the market drive our price higher. We feel we are paying you a fair amount for the good skills and ability you bring, but we won't overpay.

We lose Pierce - and we promote Marshall, who served so well last year in place of Arrington. Marshall, the undrafted guy who has drifted from team to team, and made his name with us first through special teams. Say hello to the new starting middle linebacker on the NFL's best defense. No big shot free agents need apply.

And with Pierce, I think it is better that we let him go - that one line of his kind of gave his goals away - he wants to make a name for himself, and New York is the best place for him to do it he said. For almost the same money he could have been a part of the Redskins, but he wanted the New York lights. That's fine, and I don't mean to criticize him. It just isn't the team first attitude that we need here, in my view.