HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., March 20 (UPI) -- The New York Jets acted quickly to address the need for a wide receiver Thursday, signing veteran free agent Curtis Conway.
Contract terms were not disclosed. The New York Daily News reported Thursday that Conway agreed to a three-year, $6.6 million deal that includes a $1.2 million signing bonus.
The San Diego Chargers waived Conway last month for salary cap purposes.
"We feel Curtis Conway will complement our current group of receivers," said General Manager Terry Bradway. "His size, strength, and explosiveness make him a good fit for our offensive system."
Receivers Frank Sanders, Antonio Freeman, and Kevin Dyson, who signed with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, also were considered as possibilities, but Bradway made Conway his primary target after losing Laveranues Coles to Washington.
The Jets failed to match the Redskins' seven-year, $35 million offer sheet to Coles, who emerged as the favorite target for quarterback Chad Pennington.
By failing to match the offer after making a qualifying offer of $1.318 million last month, the Jets will receive the Redskins' first-round pick, 13th overall, in next month's draft. New York already has the 22nd pick.
Conway, 32, will be expected to replace Coles, who had a breakout season in 2002 with 89 catches for 1,264 yards and five touchdowns.
Conway's best season came in 2001, when he had 71 receptions for 1,125 yards and six touchdowns for San Diego. Last season, he had 57 catches for 852 yards and five touchdowns, but missed two games and parts of four others with a shoulder injury.
The 10-year veteran spent his first seven seasons with the Chicago Bears before signing as a free agent with the Chargers in 2000. He had a career-high 81 catches for 1,049 yards in 1996 for the Bears.
