OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The Oakland Raiders took the first step toward revamping their defense Wednesday by agreeing to a $14 million, four-year contract with veteran defensive tackle Ted Washington.

Washington, a key member of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots last season, receives a $4 million signing bonus. He turned down an $8 million, three-year offer from the Patriots last week to become a free agent.

Washington, who turns 36 in April, fills a major void as a run-stopper for the Raiders, who ranked last in the league in rushing defense last season, when they finished 4-12 only one year after reaching the Super Bowl. Oakland gave up 156.9 yards per game on the ground.

“He’s being paid as a quality defensive lineman,” Angelo Wright, Washington’s agent, said. “It’s unprecedented that he’s 36 years old and doesn’t play like he’s 36 years old. He’s excited that he has the opportunity to help out the Raiders return to a prominent status in the league.

“Al Davis doesn’t like to lose. Obviously they felt they had to strike in a couple areas to improve their defense. They were the bottom of league against the run and had to fix it. Time waits for no one.”

Washington, a 13-year NFL veteran who lives in North Carolina in the offseason, was unavailable for comment, Wright said.

On Tuesday, the Raiders released linebacker Bill Romanowski and defensive end Trace Armstrong after both players failed physicals.

The Raiders will be Washington’s sixth team. The San Francisco 49ers selected him in the first round of the 1991 draft.

AP-ES-03-03-04 1943EST