The Redskins completed the signing of veteran center Cory Raymer on Thursday. Raymer returns for his second tour with the burgundy and gold after spending the first seven years (1995-01) of his nine-year NFL career with the Redskins.
The 6-3, 300-pounder returns to Washington after spending the last two seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He played in 18 games and started 11 during that span.
Raymer joins tight end Walter Rasby in returning to the Redskins this offseason. Last week, the team also re-signed offensive lineman Lennie Friedman, who started the last eight games of the 2003 season for the Redskins at center.
In 2003, Raymer played in 15 games for the Chargers and started eight at center after returning from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for most of the 2002 season. Raymer also saw reserve action at right guard and left guard in 2003.
During his nine seasons in the NFL, Raymer has played in 81 games, starting 62. Prior to the 2000 season, he started 37 consecutive games, including two playoff contests.
Raymer has also helped open holes for several premiere running backs in his career, including former Redskins Terry Allen and Stephen Davis and the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson.
In 1999, he was a fixture on a Redskins' offensive line that helped Davis rush for 1,405 rushing yards (first in the NFC, third in the NFL) and a career-high 17 touchdowns.
A year later, Raymer suffered a knee injury in training camp that would eventually sideline him for the season. He came back in 2001 and started all 16 games at center for the Redskins.
Raymer was drafted by Washington in the second round (37th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. A broken ankle suffered during training camp sidelined him for most of his rookie season. He made his NFL debut and first career start in Week 11 of his rookie campaign.
As a senior, Raymer earned first-team All-America honors and became the first Badger since former Steelers great Mike Webster to earn All-Big Ten honors.
Raymer helped Wisconsin finish ninth in the nation in rushing with an average of 240.8 yards per game. He was one of 12 nominees for the Lombardi Award, which goes to college football's top lineman.
