In a memo to Washington Post staffers, Sports section editor Matt Vita announced that Redskins Insider author Jason Reid is moving into the columnist slot that opened when Michael Wilbon left the paper for a full-time role at ESPN in November.

Reid calls his appointment "humbling." As a reporter and blogger who's occasionally "injected some opinion in my analysis," he says he's not terrifically cowed by the move to a platform in which he can opine as well as report.  "I think that anything that I’ve done in this business has been grounded in my reporting; obviously as a columnist I’ll have an opportunity to put a new spin on things."

Mike Jones, who covers the Redskins for TBD, says Reid was a familiar figure at Redskins Park. "He's out there every day," Jones says. "He’s the guy that everybody was chasing as far as the Redskins beat reporters."

"I'm not arrogant enough to think that I can replace Michael Wilbon," Reid says. He says he hasn't called Wilbon yet but plans to do so today. "I’m about to actually call Mike in a couple minutes and do what I always do — pick his brain whenever I can."

Vita's memo:

I am very happy to announce that Jason Reid will become a columnist for Sports. Jason is one of the most hard-working, conscientious and thoughtful sports writers in the country who has covered the NBA (Clippers), MLB (Dodgers) and NFL (Redskins). In his four years at the Post, Jason has become the dominant beat writer on the Redskins with impeccable sources in the locker room, front office, among player agents and around the league. His tireless work leading the Redskins Insider has helped grow the audience for the blog in each of the last three seasons. This past year, Jason demonstrated his considerable skills as an analyst and observer in writing weekly On Football columns that routinely were among the most widely read Redskins stories on the website. I am confident Jason has the experience, work ethic and drive to become a top-flight commentator on sports and their role in society, and will be a welcome addition to Tom Boswell, Sally Jenkins, Mike Wise and Tracee Hamilton as the best lineup of sports columnists in the country.

Jason’s new responsibilities create an opening on the Redskins beat. A strong external candidate has emerged but we are open to hearing from others in the newsroom interested in taking on the mantle of chief Redskins blogger and Redskins news hound on one of the most high-profile and demanding beats at the Post.