ASHBURN, Va., April 29 (UPI) -- Steve Spurrier threw another Gator into the quarterback mix for the Washington Redskins Monday when he signed veteran Shane Matthews to a one-year contract.
When the Chicago Bears waived Matthews on Wednesday, it was expected he would become the next former University of Florida player to reunite with Spurrier in Washington.
Spurrier has brought in a number of former Gators, including quarterback Danny Wuerffel and receivers Jacquez Green and Reidel Anthony, since becoming Redskins' coach in January.
The Redskins had four quarterbacks -- Wuerffel, Sage Rosenfels, first-round pick Patrick Ramsey and Dameyune Craig -- participate in mini-camp this past weekend.
Matthews' days in Chicago were numbered after the Bears re-signed Jim Miller, signed two-time Pro Bowler Chris Chandler and also added former CFL quarterback Henry Burris.
Matthews played six of his eight seasons with the Bears. He opened the 2001 campaign as the starter but suffered a rib injury in Week Two. Miller stepped in, threw two touchdowns to rally the Bears to a 17-10 victory and was named starter the next day by coach Dick Jauron.
Matthews is best known for orchestrating two come-from-behind wins last season when Miller was sidelined with a hip pointer. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing a career-high three touchdowns in a 37-31 victory over San Francisco on Oct. 28. The following week, Matthews passed for two touchdowns in the final 28 seconds of regulation in a 27-21 overtime win over Cleveland.
In 22 NFL games with the Bears, Matthews passed for 3,461 yards and 19 touchdowns with 18 interceptions.
