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Redskins running back Tim Hightower says his decision to re-sign with the Redskins in free agency came down to one factor more than any other: He wants to win, and he believes the Redskins are going to win.

That might sound a little strange considering that in Hightower’s one season with the Redskins, they were a last place, 5-11 team. But Hightower said on ESPN’s NFL 32 that he believes strongly that Mike Shanahan and his staff are putting together a football team that is going to win.

“The coaching staff, they’re committed — they’ve let it be known that they’re committed to winning,” Hightower said. “I want to be in a winning program. You want to be in a winning program, with coaches who are dedicated to winning.”

Hightower may also have a more favorable view of the Redskins because when Hightower was playing, the Redskins were actually pretty good: The Redskins won three of their first four games in 2011. Unfortunately, Hightower suffered a shoulder injury in that fourth game, missed the Redskins’ fifth game and then suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the Redskins’ sixth game. Overall the Redskins went 3-2 in games Hightower played and 2-9 in games Hightower missed.

Those early games gave Hightower a positive feeling about the Redskins’ offense.

“I felt embraced, I felt like this was where I was supposed to be,” Hightower said. “It fit me well. I’m a downhill runner, I’m an aggressive runner, and it fit very well with my skill set.”

A healthy Hightower splitting carries with last year’s two promising rookie running backs, Roy Helu and Evan Royster, could give the Redskins a strong backfield. Throw in the talent the Redskins acquired at quarterback in Robert Griffin III, and Hightower may be right to say he’s part of a winning offense.