CINCINNATI, March 9 (UPI) -- After not taking advantage of his brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens, unrestricted free agent quarterback Scott Mitchell Thursday signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Bengals were seeking a veteran to back up youngster Akili Smith, Cincinnati's first-round pick in 1999, since Jeff Blake signed a free agent contract with New Orleans this offseason.
The 32-year-old Mitchell was acquired by Baltimore from the Detroit Lions prior to last season. He went into the season as the Ravens' starting quarterback but struggled. He was benched in the second half in Week Two against Pittsburgh and did not play another down the rest of the year.
With the Ravens, Mitchell completed just 24-of-56 passes (42.9 percent) for 236 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Mitchell also had a rough ending with the Lions in 1998, when he started and again was relegated to third-string duties after playing poorly in the club's first two games. He completed 38-of-75 passes for 452 yards and just one touchdown with three interceptions that season.
"I decided I was going to end my career on my own terms and I'm working hard to do that," Mitchell said recently. "I'm not going to let the Bobby Rosses and Brian Billicks of the world end my career."
Ross and Billick were his last two head coaches in Detroit and Baltimore.
An original fourth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins out of Utah in 1992, Mitchell has completed 1,208-of-2,147 passes in his career for 14,688 yards with 92 touchdowns and 70 interceptions.
"What we were looking for is a backup quarterback with experience," said Bengals Coach Bruce Coslet. "Mitchell fits the bill. He has a good arms and is pretty impressive."NEWLN:
