This year's free agent signing period has been in full swing since March 1, and a number of interesting moves have been made in the two weeks since. I’ll use this week's column to cover some of the more interesting signings among the NFL's quarterbacks:

Trent Dilfer: Re-signed w/Seattle on 3/2; 4-yrs; $8M
Talk about a dream deal. Dilfer not only gets to remain in Seattle, but he also moves ahead of Matt Hasselbeck on the Seattle depth chart.

Dilfer’s new contract is worth $8 million over four years, including a $4 million signing bonus. If Dilfer wins 10 games next season and posts a quarterback rating of at least 85.0, it becomes a four-year deal worth $18 million. But make no mistake about it: After playing the last two seasons -- with Baltimore in 2000 and Seattle in 2001 -- for $1 million each, getting the opportunity to start again was more of a determining factor than money for Dilfer.

"This is good for the Seahawks, this is very good for me," Dilfer explained. "Some people may say, 'Well, you could have gotten more.' I don't care. I'm very comfortable with this. I've got to earn my money in years two, three and four. What's wrong with that? I've found in my life, the harder my job is, the better I perform."

But as Tacoma News Tribune reporter Don Ruiz correctly noted, the agreement left head coach/general manager Mike Holmgren with a hard job of his own: Informing Hasselbeck that Dilfer would be the starting quarterback.

"Is Matt disappointed? Certainly he is," Holmgren admitted. "I talked to him prior to us going public with what we had done. And he reacted the way I expected him to. But at the same time, he's a wonderful young man, and he's going to come in and fight and be the best player he can be. They've always had a great relationship, and I expect that to continue."

Dilfer said he intends to speak with Hasselbeck soon; the veteran added that whatever is said between the two will remain private.

In nine games last season, Dilfer completed 59.8 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns with four interceptions and a quarterback rating of 92. In 13 games, Hasselbeck completed 54.8 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns with eight interceptions and a quarterback rating of 70.9.

"Matt didn't lose this, Trent earned this," Holmgren said. "I think there is a distinction there, and a real distinction. Now, our quarterback situation is as strong depth-wise and quality-wise as most teams in football. And that's a good thing for the Seahawks."

Maybe so. But I find myself wondering just how happy Seahawks owner Paul Allen can possibly given Holmgren's handling of the situation?

After all, it was only a year ago last week that Holmgren acquired Hasselbeck from Green Bay, thinking he would be the quarterback of the future. In addition to giving up draft picks to secure his services, the team also signed Hasselbeck to a five-year, $24 million contract.

Asked at the time how important his decision to go with the untested Hasselbeck might be, Holmgren told reporters: "The fact that we were able to get Matt, a quality young man and a great quarterback in my opinion, I thought was really the start of something important for the Seahawks. Since the time we signed him and today, and the things I have seen, it appears that my future, my family's future and my little granddaughter's future all rest on his shoulders."

Uh-oh.

In an article published last Friday, SportsLine.com insider Pete Prisco quoted an unnamed NFC personnel director as asking: "How can Holmgren look that owner in the eye after what he's done?"

Rob Johnson: Signed w/Buccaneers on 3/9; 1-yr; $650K
By signing with the Buccaneers, Rob Johnson -- formerly with the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars -- joins a group of hurlers that already includes Brad Johnson, Shaun King and Joe Hamilton. That gives Tampa Bay three quarterbacks on the roster who have each started at least 20 NFL games, including two who share the surname Johnson. Brad Johnson was the Bucs’ starter in 2001 after signing a free agent contract last March, and Shaun King opened 21 games in his first two seasons after being drafted in the second round in 1999.

“We are pleased to add Rob to our football team,” head coach Jon Gruden said while announcing the deal on Saturday. “He has a lot of interesting qualities. He’s young, talented and has experience as a starting quarterback in the National Football League.”

It's worth noting that Gruden, during his introductory press conference on Feb. 20, turned the spotlight on the quarterback position immediately and foreshadowed Saturday’s events.

“I’m looking forward to finding more quarterbacks that can come in here and compete,” he said. It will be a position that we scrutinize very carefully and we’ll work to cultivate as many arms as we can in our program here.”

Then, during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on March 2, Gruden alluded to the competition he intends to foster this spring and summer.

“That whole process begins March 25 [when] we start with our quarterback orientation school,” he said. “Shaun King, Brad Johnson and Joey Hamilton will all be there, and we’re going to look hard to bring in a couple more arms to make it competitive and make that the lifeblood of our organization.”

In Rob Johnson, who threw for Gruden on Friday morning and delayed his original flight out of Tampa to begin immediate negotiations that evening, the Bucs have found another intriguing option, an intelligent and tough passer with a strong arm and excellent mobility. Johnson was the winner of a fractious quarterback derby in Buffalo with veteran Doug Flutie (now with San Diego) on three occasions – as the playoffs opened in 1999, as the 2000 season began and as the Bills considered their backfield options after the 2000 season.

Though Johnson never completely quieted the debate in Buffalo and was released following this past season, he did finish his Bills career with very respectable passing numbers. In 27 Buffalo starts (31 games overall), Johnson completed 60.5 percent of his passes (401 of 663) for 4,798 yards, 27 touchdowns and 17 touchdowns. That combination of statistics works out to a better-than-average passer rating of 85.5 for a team that won just 11 games over the past two seasons.

Now, he’ll hook up with Gruden, a noted quarterback guru who helped turn Rich Gannon into a league MVP candidate in Oakland.

“I can’t wait to get to work with coach Gruden and his staff,” said Johnson. “He is a special coach and this team has special players. I look forward to competing and contributing here.”

Johnson leaves the Bills as the franchise’s all-time leader in completion percentage and lowest interception percentage, and stands second on Buffalo’s career yards-per-pass attempt chart. In addition, the swift Johnson ran 110 times for 732 yards and three touchdowns in those 31 games.

The Bucs got a good idea of what Johnson can accomplish in November of 2000 during a 31-17 Buffalo loss at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs’ potent pass rush was in high gear that afternoon, sacking Johnson six times and pressuring him on numerous other occasions. Still, Johnson managed to complete 24 of 39 passes for 262 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, repeatedly throwing on the run.

Buffalo originally acquired Johnson in 1998 by sending first and fourth-round draft picks to Jacksonville, where he was stuck behind Pro Bowl QB Mark Brunell. In his first season in the AFC East, Johnson started six games, five at the beginning of the season before a concussion and an injury to his ribs sidelined him for most of the remaining contests. He still put up excellent numbers, however, completing 67 of 107 passes (62.6percent) for 910 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

In 1995, Johnson was the first name called on the second day of the draft, as the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars made the USC passer the opening pick of the fourth round. In three seasons behind Brunell and Steve Beuerlein, Johnson saw action in just six games with one start, completing 25 of 35 passes for 368 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Johnson left USC as the Trojans’ all-time leader in completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns, breaking Rodney Peete’s list of records. In 1991, he was the first true freshman to start a game at quarterback for USC in the post-World War II era. Out of high school, current San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci tried to woo Johnson to Cal, and baseball’s Minnesota Twins drafted him in the 16th round.

In an article published Monday, SI's Don Banks offered readers the following theory: "Could it be the Bucs view Brad Johnson as their most valuable commodity on the trade market and will see if they can recoup some of those four high draft picks they sent to Oakland to obtain Gruden? Maybe a team like Cincinnati, Baltimore or Buffalo will get needy enough for a starting quarterback to give the Bucs a deal they can't refuse."

Jim Miller: Re-signed w/Bears on 3/1; 5-yrs; $12M
"I'm excited," Miller said upon re-upping with the Bears on March 1. "This is the place I've wanted to be all along. Both sides all along were very confident that we would get this done and both sides are very happy."

Miller, an unrestricted free agent, led Chicago to victories in 11 of the 13 regular-season games he started, and was the starter in the Bears' playoff loss to Philadelphia.

He completed 228 of 395 passes for 2,299 yards with 13 touchdowns passes and 10 interceptions.

However, that just last month, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo laid out the team's offseason plans by explaining his belief that NFL teams have a "window" of four to five years in which they are established with their players, salary cap and organization and on track to championships.

"Our window is now," Angelo said. "We're a good football team. We have a healthy cap situation and a nucleus of good young players. We're right in there. We are in that period."

But even as he discussed his desire to re-sign Miller, Angelo was telling reporters about his determination to strengthen the team's foundation by acquiring a young quarterback this offseason.

"We definitely would like to do that and I think it is crucial because it's the most crucial position on the football team," Angelo said at the time.

"We want to have somebody up-and-coming and we will do whatever we have to do to address that."

Angelo made it clear that the Bears will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of a young passer. He could arrive via the draft, free agency or a trade.

"I think it's going to come from the draft," Angelo said. "Do I have a preference? No. It might come from someplace else. We're not closing our minds to how we acquire him."

The best quarterbacks available in the draft are Fresno State's David Carr and Oregon's Joey Harrington. But both are projected as top-five prospects and the Bears first-round pick is the 29th overall.

A second tier of quarterbacks expected to be available includes Tulane's Patrick Ramsey, Illinois' Kurt Kittner, Sam Houston State's Josh McCown and LSU's Rohan Davey.

Free agency appears to be a less appealing option. In fact, Miller might be the best of a lackluster crop that includes Washington's Tony Banks and Kent Graham, Baltimore's Randall Cunningham, Denver's Gus Frerotte and Cincinnati's Scott Mitchell.

Angelo will also keep an eye on players like Jeff Blake, who was released by New Orleans in a salary cap maneuver on March 1.

It should come as no surprise, however, if Angelo winds up acquiring his man via trade -- New England's Drew Bledsoe and Brunell are believed to be established veterans who could be available in exchange for pricey packages of high draft picks and players.

Then again, the Bears could deal for a less seasoned quarterback with potential. Angelo pointed to Kansas City's acquisition of Joe Germaine from St. Louis as an example. The former Ohio State star threw just 16 passes in his first two NFL seasons before being dealt to the Chiefs on Sept. 3.

"I thought Joe was a good young quarterback," Angelo said. "Because of cap situations, teams have to make moves. They might have to let a guy go that still is developing."

Speaking in general terms, Angelo said that his ideal quarterback is one who is a threat both running and passing. Just imagine combining the scrambling ability of Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb with the pinpoint-passing skills of St. Louis' Kurt Warner.

"The ideal situation is to have a guy like McNabb with accuracy," Angelo said. "He would be the [kind of] guy that you would look at. I'm not too sure [Minnesota's] Daunte Culpepper doesn't fall into that same category, and even [San Francisco's] Jeff Garcia.

"Anytime you get a quarterback that can make plays with his feet and his arm, obviously that would be the ideal quarterback."

Dameyune Craig -- Signed w/Redskins on 3/7; 1-yr; terms not disclosed.
Craig spent four years with the Carolina Panthers but only has one regular season appearance to his credit – a 4-for-8 relief appearance against Miami last season. Craig left that game with torn ligaments in his foot and missed the rest of the season. However, Craig is familiar to new Redskins head coach Steve Spurrier, who had to find ways to stop him during his days at Auburn. As with other offensive players Spurrier has signed, Craig will count a minimum amount toward the salary cap.

The signing gives the Redskins three quarterbacks -- Craig, Danny Wuerffel and Sage Rosenfels -- none of whom have made a significant mark since turning pro.

Don't forget that the Redskins hope to complete a trade for Bears backup Shane Matthews at some point before next month's draft. Spurrier said the Redskins almost certainly would bypass adding a high-priced veteran at the position if they can acquire Matthews and draft a college quarterback next month.

"Right now I don't see us spending a lot of money on a veteran quarterback," Spurrier said at Redskins Park after spending the weekend at the NFL's scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Nonetheless, agent Ralph Cindrich said he has spoken to the Redskins about the 31-year old Blake. Cindrich added that Blake would not be wary of competing with Spurrier's former Florida quarterbacks -- Wuerffel or Matthews -- if given the opportunity.


Other notes of interest

More on Bledsoe
The Boston Herald last week quoted sources close to the Pro Bowl quarterback as saying that Bledsoe still wants to be traded. Which is fine, except the Patriots want a first-round draft pick in return -- a price they're liable to have a hard time getting anybody to pay.

In fact, according to FOXSports.com's Clark Judge, who interviewed a number of general managers and personnel directors around the league last week, there really isn't much interest in Bledsoe. Only three of 10 club executives were willing to part with a first-round draft pick for Bledsoe, and one was interested only if the choice was late in the round.

Unfortunately for New England, none of those clubs is after a starting quarterback.

Those who are — or those who should be — will offer less. The majority of respondents were willing to spend nothing more than a second-round pick on Bledsoe, with three club executives saying they would bid no more than a third-round draft pick. The issues are more than Bledsoe’s age (he’s 30) and health (he suffered a severe chest injury last year), they involve his contract and his ability to take a team to the top.

“If you make the trade,” one AFC general manager told Judge, “you do it only because you think he can get you there. But I don’t know if he has it left. I don’t know that he’s going to be the guy to take you to the next level. ...”

Elvis leaves the building
According to Elvis Grbac's agent, his client officially retired from the NFL two days after he failed to reach a contract agreement with the team. The Ravens basically wanted Grbac to take a $5 million pay cut, which would have put his salary at about $2.5 million next season.

As far as Grbac was concerned, he left a $10 million up-front signing bonus on the table in Cincinnati last spring in order to sign with the Ravens after team officials assured him he would receive $11 million in bonus money -- except they needed to spread it over two years [paying him $5 million up front] for cap purposes.

Which explained his reluctance to roll over and assume the yoga position -- in this case the "downward facing dog" -- management basically asked him to demonstrate in order to remain with the team.

As Banks explained in an article published Feb. 27, the irony here lies in the fact that Ravens' officials scoffed when reporters suggested last March that Grbac's deal was structured specifically to give them an out after the first year. Grbac and Steiner scoffed too, saying that there was no real risk of it becoming a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

"We did a legitimate cap-friendly deal with a low cap number in the first year [$1.5 million[," Ravens senior vice president of football operations Ozzie Newsome said last March. "We got the guy we wanted and it's a five-year deal. It's the same kind of option deals that we have with Ray Lewis, Michael McCrary and Jermaine Lewis. We just have had to structure some deals that way for cap reasons."

In case you haven't been following, Newsome eliminated Jermaine Lewis and his contract by making the dangerous return man available to Houston in last month's expansion draft. McCrary is in jeopardy of being released in June for the same reason, and Ray Lewis has been asked to restructure his deal for cap purposes as well.

It's also worth noting that head coach Brian Billick -- who late last year found himself facing a barrage of reports hinting the team might have trouble coming up with Grbac's $6 million -- repeatedly told the media they had it wrong if they were suggesting that Baltimore might walk away from the former Michigan standout.

The coach told reporters back on Dec. 19: "[Grbac is] my quarterback now, he's going to be my quarterback next year, hopefully the year after that and the year after that. The only thing that would change that is if he chooses to A) retire -- which I doubt -- or B) God forbid, he'd get a career-ending injury."

He then added, "It's our intention to live up to the contract."

Ain’t it funny how quickly things change?

Elvis said all along that he was more than willing to cut the team a break -- at least in terms of providing cap relief -- in order to remain in Baltimore. However, those who follow the team closely still wonder if team officials weren’t trying to force Grbac to walk all along by leaving him without the shred of dignity necessary to keep teammates -- many of whom already disliked him -- from viewing him as Newsome's lap dog rather than a true team leader.

So what's next for Baltimore?

The Ravens have third-year quarterback Chris Redman under contract and they could re-sign veteran free agent Randall Cunningham, who backed up Grbac last season. Team officials were reportedly interested in bringing the former Viking and Eagle back even if Grbac remained, and his return now is probably likely.

"Chris clearly has potential and will be given the opportunity to challenge for the starting job," Billick said. "I've had discussions with Randall Cunningham, and he has shown an interest in playing again with us. But, he's a free agent right now.

"As with a good portion of our roster, much will happen before we go to training camp."

One last note on Grbac. ... The Bengals made him an offer, but he declined and retired. Grbac apparently thought moving his family from Baltimore to Cincinnati within a year would be too much of a strain.

That’s all for now. … Check back next week for a review of this month’s moves at running back.

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