The Washington Redskins on Tuesday bolstered their shaky defensive interior by agreeing with free agent tackle Daryl Gardener, released by the Miami Dolphins earlier this month, on a one-year contract.

	Gardener

Sources said the contract includes a signing bonus of $250,000 and a base salary of $525,000, the minimum for a player of Gardener's tenure. Gardener could earn nearly $2 million if he cashes in on all the bonuses included in the deal. The agreement came amid objections from some of the members of the Washington front office.

The two sides have been working toward an agreement for nearly a week. Gardener had visited with the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions, and also drew considerable interest from the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, but apparently liked when he saw in a nearly three-day visit with the Redskins.

Early on, the Vikings made an offer of about $2 million, but the final decision came down to the Redskins and the Broncos. At the outset of his visits, Gardener was seeking a contract that would pay him $5 million this year, but he obviously reduced his demands.

Given the current state of the Redskins defensive front, Gardener is likely to start at one of the tackle positions, with Dan Wilkinson. The team has been without end Bruce Smith and tackle Santana Dotson for most of camp and has not performed well on the line in the practices conducted so far. It is not yet known if Gardener will accompany the Redskins to Tokyo for this weekend's preaseason opener, or if he will be left back to work himself into better condition.

Frustrated by his offseason absences, concerned about some off-field issues and wary of a surgically-repaired and still-balky back, the Dolphins on July 19 afternoon released the six-year veteran lineman, who was to move to left end this year.

"Daryl Gardener wouldn't be here except that he has sold us that he can start fresh, have a new beginning,'' defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis said. "He does have something to prove. We want a whole football team with guys with something to prove.''

"I'm a firm believer that you flush the past,'' defensive line coach Ricky Hunley said. "If someone's willing to move forward and work within the framework of our team, you give him the benefit of the doubt. I think that's probably why you have a one-year contract. He's got a lot to prove.''

A first-round choice in the 1996 draft, Gardener and runningmate Tim Bowens formed one of the NFL's biggest and best interior tandems the last few seasons. In six years, the mammoth Gardener often played at a Pro Bowl level, but was slowed by recurring back problems. He underwent surgery last year and played in just eight games.

Miami officials decided after the '01 season that it might be wise to move Gardener out to end, where he could play at a weight lighter than his standard 315 pounds, and exert less stress on his back. They also felt that, with the free agent departures of ends Lorenzo Bromell and Kenny Mixon, and the addition of tackle Larry Chester, the move would be a solid one from a competitive standpoint.

This offseason, however, Gardener, 29, missed enough scheduled workouts that he failed to qualify for a $200,000 bonus. That apparently was but one issue, though, in the club's decision to release him.

He appeared in 82 games and started 77 times in six years, totaling 252 tackles and 15 sacks. But his value could not be measured just in statistics, because Gardener was effective in stuffing the inside running game and also protecting middle linebacker Zach Thomas. Part of his role in Washington will be to keep blockers off middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.