After exploring other options, including an audition nearly two weeks ago which included three veteran kickers, the San Diego Chargers have decided the best man for the placement job was the same one who has handled it for them the past 1 ½ seasons.

ESPN.com has confirmed that 13-year veteran kicker Steve Christie, who has been an unrestricted free agent the last five weeks, has reached contract agreement to return to the Chargers.

Christie will sign a one-year contract for a base salary of $755,000 and a signing bonus of $25,000. Because of a rule that provides a cap break for teams that sign longtime veterans to minimum salary contracts, Christie will count just $475,000 against the San Diego spending limit in 2003.

Two weeks ago, with Christie still testing the unrestricted free agent market, Chargers coaches and team officials worked out kickers Mike Hollis, Todd Peterson and Michael Husted. Hollis then subsequently signed with the New York Giants.

The 35-year-old Christie originally signed with the Chargers late in the '01 season after being released by the Buffalo Bills, for whom he had kicked nine years, on the eve of that season. Last year, Christie converted 18 of 26 field goal attempts and all but one of his 36 extra point tries for 89 points.

In stints with Tampa Bay (1990-91), Buffalo (1992-2000) and now San Diego, he has converted 299 of 382 field goal attempts and made 399 of his 404 extra point tries, for a total of 1,296 points. Christie has topped the 100-point mark in eight seasons.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.