Unrestricted free agent center Jerry Fontenot, who has started every game for the New Orleans Saints over the past four seasons, has reached an agreement in principle to return to the club for another year.

	Fontenot

Fontenot is expected to sign a one-year deal Monday, and report for the last two days of the team's offseason program. Fontenot will make $755,000, the NFL minimum for the 14-year veteran.

He turned down what was believed to have been a three-year proposal from the Jacksonville Jaguars, although the first-year payout was thought to be similar. Both teams had been speaking with Fontenot's representative, Tony Agnone, for several weeks.

Retaining the 36-year-old Fontenot means the Saints probably will not have to reshuffle their offensive line. During offseason workouts, left guard Kendyl Jacox and right guard LeCharles Bentley have worked at center. The former played center for the San Diego Chargers, the latter during his college career at Ohio State, but New Orleans' coaches preferred to keep them at their current positions.

Free agent Wayne Gandy replaces Kyle Turley, who was traded to the St. Louis Rams, at the left tackle spot. Victor Riley and 2002 starter Spencer Folau will vie for the starting job at right tackle.

Fontenot has been a stalwart in the NFL, appearing in 212 games and starting 173 in 14 seasons, including the last six seasons with the Saints. He has started in all 16 regular-season games since 1992, with the exception of 1998, when a knee injury limited him to just four appearances.

A third-round choice of the Chicago Bears in 1989, he played in Chicago through 1996, and then signed with New Orleans in the spring of 1997 as an unrestricted free agent.

Fontenot is still regarded as a solid all-around snapper who brings experience in reading defensive fronts.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.