Unrestricted free agent linebacker Eddie Mason, one of the best kickoff and punt coverage special teams players in the league, Monday agreed to return to the Washington Redskins for a fourth consecutive season.

Mason, 30, is expected to sign a one-year contract worth $650,000.

The five-year veteran has been among the Redskins' leading tacklers on special teams in each of his previous three seasons with the club, and had 19 tackles on the kick coverage units in 2001, third most on the team. He is also an able backup at all three linebacker positions, although he is best suited to play middle linebacker.

The former North Carolina standout began his NFL career in 1995 as a sixth-round draft choice of the New York Jets. He led the team with 25 tackles on special teams as a rookie and was voted the club's special teams most valuable player. A knee injury suffered in the 1996 training camp sidelined him for two seasons and he didn't return to the NFL until 1998, with Jacksonville.

Mason signed with the Redskins as a free agent in 1999 and, in addition to covering kicks, is noted as a stellar blocker in the return game.

For his career, Mason has appeared in 64 games and started three of them. He has 37 tackles from scrimmage, three sacks, and one pass defensed. On special teams, Mason unofficially had totaled 95 tackles.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.