Bengals Sign QB Mitchell

March 9, 2000 / 6:12 PM EST / CBS/AP

Quarterback Scott Mitchell, an unrestricted free agent from the Baltimore Ravens, was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday as a backup to Akili Smith.

Mitchell, 32, signed a one-year contract for a reported $800,000. He decided on the Bengals after talking this week with the Dallas Cowboys, where Mitchell's college quarterbacks coach, Jack Reilly, is the new offensive coordinator.

The Bengals, who draft Ed Smith last year as their quarterback of the future, have used five starting quarterbacks in the last 29 games.

Mitchell, 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, is entering his 11th NFL season. He helped lead the Detroit Lions to playoff appearances in 1994, 1995 and 1997.

He has played in 90 career games, with 66 starts. He has completed 57 percent of his passes for 14,688 yards, 92 touchdowns and 70 interceptions.

Last season with Baltimore, Mitchell started both of the games he played in, but spent most of the season as the backup. He completed 24 of 56 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown.

He was originally Miami's 1990 fourth-round draft pick out of Utah before signing as an unrestricted free agent with Detroit in 1994. Baltimore acquired him last year in a trade that sent the Ravens' 1999 third-round draft pick and their 2000 fifth-round selection to the Lions.

The Bengals needed an experienced backup after veteran Jeff Blake left Cincinnati as a free agent to sign with New Orleans.