EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Former Bengals quarterback Gus Frerotte agreed to terms Wednesday with Minnesota, ending the Vikings' search for a veteran backup to Daunte Culpepper.

Frerotte joins his fifth team and enters his 10th NFL season. He spent last year with Cincinnati, completing 44 of 85 passes (51.8 percent) for 437 yards, a touchdown and five interceptions in four games.

Frerotte replaces Todd Bouman, who was traded to New Orleans for a sixth-round draft pick. Shaun Hill, a rookie last year, is the No. 3 quarterback.

Frerotte, who has started 62 career games, had his best seasons with Washington from 1995-97. He passed for 3,453 yards for the Redskins in 1996 and threw 17 touchdown passes for them in 1997.

REDSKINS: Laveranues Coles joined Washington when the Jets let go of their top receiver by declining to match the Redskins' seven-year, $35 million offer, which includes a $13 million bonus.

The Jets will receive Washington's first-round draft pick - No. 13 overall - as compensation.

Jets general manager Terry Bradway needled the Redskins for overpaying for Coles and another Jets player, unrestricted free agent guard Randy Thomas, who received a seven-year, $28 million deal this month.

"It is extremely rare for a team to pay more than a player asks," Bradway said.

Washington owner Dan Snyder has set new salary standards for coaches and players since he bought the Redskins in 1999, paying coach Steve Spurrier $5 million a year and assembling a $100 million roster for a team that went 8-8 three years ago.

Spokesman Karl Swanson said Snyder was not available to comment Wednesday. Vice president of football operations Joe Mendes defended the offer to Coles.

"The one thing that is historically true is that you have to pay more for a player to leave," Mendes said.

The Redskins this year have spent more than $27 million in signing bonuses on 11 free agents, nine unrestricted and two restricted, and traded for running back Trung Canidate.

PANTHERS: Free agent wide receiver Kevin Dyson agreed to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Dyson, who played five seasons with Tennessee, finished 2002 with 41 receptions for 460 yards and four touchdowns, second on the Titans. He missed four games because of an injured right hamstring that required surgery.

His best season was 2001 when he had 54 receptions for 825 yards and seven touchdowns, one year after a devastating knee injury.

Dyson is best known for scoring on the "Music City Miracle" kickoff return to win the 2000 AFC wild-card playoff game over Buffalo. Later that postseason, he came up 1 yard short of the end zone at the end of the 2000 Super Bowl.

SAINTS: Running back Fred McAfee re-signed to a one-year contract. A special teams standout, he made his first trip to the Pro Bowl after making 16 tackles and forcing a fumble in the 2002 season.

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