Frerotte NFL.com profile

        Gus Frerotte, known for head-butting a padded concrete wall after scoring a touchdown for Washington in 1997, will be the Bengals' next candidate trying to secure the quarterback job.

        Frerotte, Denver's backup the past two seasons, signed a one-year contract Wednesday with the Bengals.

        The deal is worth an estimated $1.4 million, and it puts Frerotte into a direct competition with incumbent Jon Kitna, who started 15 games last season. Frerotte's contract also includes incentives for playing time and team and individual performances.

        If he starts a game this coming season, he would become the fifth quarterback to draw that assignment since the Bengals drafted Akili Smith in 1999 as the franchise quarterback.

        “It was the opportunity to compete and play,” Frerotte said Wednesday from his home in Kittanning, Pa. “After sitting out last season in Denver, I told myself I want to have the chance to compete. I'll get 50 percent of the snaps in (training) camp.”

        Frerotte will drive Friday to Cincinnati to attend that evening's team meeting with coach Dick LeBeau. The first of four minicamp practices will be Saturday.

        Kitna started 15 games last season and as recently as April22, the day the draft wrapped up, Bengals president Mike Brown said Kitna would be the starter.

        LeBeau told Frerotte he would get an opportunity to compete for the job.

        “If (Brown) did say that, and I didn't hear him say it, we didn't have Gus Frerotte on the roster at the time,” LeBeau said late Wednesday. “If the depth chart came out tomorrow, yes, Jon would be No.1.”

        But asked if he envisioned holding a two-way competition in training camp between Kitna and Frerotte — similar to the three-way battle last year with Kitna, Smith and Scott Mitchell — LeBeau said, “I do.”

        The Bengals are worried Smith won't be ready for training camp after undergoing surgery on a torn hamstring in December. The other quarterbacks under contract are Scott Covington and free agent Gavin Hoffman from Pennsylvania.

        The career paths of Kitna and Frerotte have crossed in the past. In March 2001, in free agency, the Bengals offered them similar four-year contracts worth up to $12million with a $4 million signing bonus. Kitna accepted, and Frerotte signed a one-year contract to remain with the Broncos.

        On Monday, when the Bengals confirmed they had made a contract offer to Frerotte, Kitna said he thought it would be best for the team if he started — given the growing pains he endured with the young corps of wide receivers in the first season in coordinator Bob Bratkowski's offense.

        “I'm not real worried about losing my job,” Kitna said. “It's a never-ending saga. Ten days ago, I was the guy. Now I'm in a competition. I'll say the same thing I've said all along: "If God wants me to be the starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, I will be.'”

        Knocks on Kitna have been arm strength and touchdown pass-interception ratio. Last season, Kitna threw 22 interceptions and 12 touchdown passes. He has 61 TD passes and 67 interceptions in six seasons.

        There are no such concerns about Frerotte's arm strength, and he has thrown 69 touchdowns compared to 59 interceptions.

        He is 6feet3, 225 pounds and has started 61 NFL games, including two in the postseason.

        He was selected to one Pro Bowl after passing for a career-high 3,453 yards for Washington in 1996. After two more seasons with the Redskins, he played the 1999 season for Detroit, and in 2000, he set a Broncos franchise record with 462 passing yards against San Diego and tied the team record with five touchdown passes in one game.

        “We have been looking to add a veteran quarterback and to get one with Gus' record of production is a real plus,” LeBeau said. “He has a strong arm and he's mobile.”

        Frerotte said he liked LeBeau and is impressed by the mix of veteran and young talent on the team's roster.

        “They've got good receivers, a great running back (Corey Dillon), and an offensive line that was third in the league in (fewest) sacks allowed,” Frerotte said.

        He had surgery in December to repair a separated throwing shoulder suffered in his only 2001 start. He was 30-for-48 passing for 308 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

        “The shoulder is fine,” he said. “I've been throwing for about three or four weeks.”

        About the only opponent that has gotten the better of Frerotte was the wall he head-butted after the touchdown in 1997.

        “I'm not embarrassed by it,” he said of the confrontation, which left him with a slight concussion. “I was just excited and decided to bounce off the wall. I just hit it a little harder than planned.”

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