Frerotte NFL.com profile

        Last offseason, free agent quarterback Gus Frerotte didn't sign with the Bengals because the team wouldn't guarantee him the starting job. As Frerotte visited Paul Brown Stadium on Wednesday, he said all he wanted was a chance to beat out starter Jon Kitna and backup Akili Smith.

        If he gets that chance, Frerotte, still recovering from offseason surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder, said he could become a Bengal. If not, he said he will attempt to re-sign with the Denver Broncos — joining Elvis Grbac, Trent Dilfer and Drew Bledsoe in not joining the Bengals this offseason.

        “I think they (Bengals) fully understand that,” Frerotte said. “I've made it clear throughout my whole free agency that I want to play or I want to have competition, or I'm going to go back to Denver.”

        Frerotte, who is entering his ninth NFL season, passed a medical examination and threw passes to Bengals receivers Peter Warrick and T.J. Houshmandzadeh for about 30 minutes. Most of the pass routes were fewer than 25 yards.

        Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said Frerotte looked good during the workout.

        “Right now, Jon is the starter,” Bratkowski said. “But common sense tells us if someone comes in that's better than your starter, you make some changes.”

        Jim Lippincott, the Bengals' director of player personnel, said negotiations have not started with Frerotte's agent, Marvin Demoff, and the team doesn't have any timeline set. Lippincott said team vice president Paul H. Brown will handle negotiations.

        Minicamp starts May4, and training camp starts July26.

        On Dec.26, Frerotte had reconstructive shoulder surgery. He said he is about “90 to 95 percent” recovered and still rehabilitates his shoulder twice a week.

        Lippincott said Frerotte's injury wouldn't stop him from being ready for minicamp.

        After serving as one of Frerotte's moving targets, Warrick seems to agree.

        “He can throw,” Warrick said.

        Frerotte hasn't started regularly since the 1997 season with the Washington Redskins. He also has played for Detroit and Denver.

        Last season with the Broncos, he threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns in limited action. In Frerotte's lone start, against Kansas City on Dec.16, he injured his shoulder. Frerotte ended the season on injured reserve.

        He has been throwing for one month.

        “"I think you could tell he was coming off the injury, but he threw the ball with some speed and velocity,” Bratkowski said.

        Frerotte, 30, said he doesn't mind having to earn a starting job.

        “I'm not getting any younger, and I feel I can offer a lot to the team,” he said. “I just want to come in and play. I've been through eight years of it, you know.”

        The Bengals did not draft a quarterback last weekend.

        That gives them Kitna, who started 15 games in 2001 and threw for 12 touchdowns but 22 interceptions; Smith, who is ahead of his rehabilitation schedule after hamstring surgery in December but whose health is still unknown; and Scott Covington.

        “I'm not complaining at all,” Smith said. “I understand what they have to do. It's still a question whether I'll be ready or not. I can't question what the organization is trying to do at all.”

        Lippincott said Wednesday that there were no plans to bring in any other free agent quarterbacks.

Frerotte just wants a chance

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