The Minnesota Vikings filled their backup quarterback spot on Wednesday afternoon as the team reached contract agreement with unrestricted free agent Gus Frerotte.

The nine-year veteran visited recently with Vikings officials, who had been seeking a replacement for departed backup Todd Bouman, and Minnesota turned to him after Jeff George rejected a minimum-salary offer. Frerotte will sign a two-year contract worth about $1.8 million-$1.9 million and including a signing bonus of approximately $100,000.

George was in Minneapolis on Sunday and Monday to meet with coach Mike Tice and team officials. It appeared the team favored George over its other options, but a deal could not be completed.

The much-traveled Frerotte will be joining his third different franchise in three years and his fifth different team overall. He spent the 2002 season in Cincinnati, and actually opened the campaign as the Bengals' starter, before losing the job to Jon Kitna after three contests.

Frerotte, 31, has played on one-year contracts each of the last three seasons, so the multi-year deal is indeed a luxury for him. Minnesota last week dealt Bouman to New Orleans for a low-round draft choice. The team was looking for a backup who would also serve as a mentor of sorts to Daunte Culpepper, who is entering his fourth season as the starter.

In nine seasons, Frerotte has served stints in Washington (1994-98), Detroit (1999), Denver (2000-2001) and Cincinnati (2002). Frerotte has appeared in 80 games and started 62 contests. He has completed 1,131 of 2,075 passes for 14,407 yards, with 70 touchdown passes and 64 interceptions.

Last season, he appeared in five games and started three for the Bengals. He had 44 completions in 85 attempts for 437 yards, with one touchdown pass and five interceptions.

Originally selected by Washington in the seventh round of the 1994 draft, he earned a starting spot in his second season with the team. He had 40 starts for the Redskins 1995-1997, but has started just 18 games since then.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.