Frerotte Signs With Broncos

March 3, 2000 / 1:55 AM EST / CBS/AP

Quarterback Gus Frerotte has reached a $1 million, one-year agreement with the Denver Broncos, according to reports in Denver and Detroit Thursday night.

Denver television stations KUSA and KCNC, citing unnamed sources, said Frerotte's agreement with the Broncos came Thursday.

Other reports indicated the Broncos signed a "new quarterback" but gave no details.

The Broncos struggled at quarterback last season on the way to a 6-10 record.

Team officials couldn't be reached for comment, and messages with an agent for Frerotte were not immediately returned.

Frerotte was in Denver earlier in the week, arriving Monday and spending much of Tuesday in town after opting out of his contract with Detroit. The Lions wanted him back but only as a backup to Charlie Batch.

In Denver, Frerotte is seen as a possible challenger to the inexperienced Brian Griese for the Denver starting job, or as someone who could push Griese to improve.

The Broncos had been interested in Kent Graham, but the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to a three-year, $5.1 million deal which includes a $1.1 million signing bonus and $5 million in performance incentives.

The Broncos had also expressed interest in San Francisco's Steve Young.

Frerotte, 28, has been near the top of the list of free agents this year.

Last season, the Tulsa graduate showed flashes of the form that landed him the starting job with the Washington Redskins several years ago, winning two games in relief of Batch and another two as a starter.

He completed almost 61 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. His rating of 83.6 was nearly 10 points higher than Griese.