ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) – The Detroit Lions and Jeff Garcia agreed to terms on a one-year contract Saturday, reuniting the quarterback with coach Steve Mariucci.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Garcia was released by the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 22 after a tumultuous season. He went 144-of-253 for 1,731 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 starts, while his relationship with then-coach Butch Davis became rocky. Garcia ended the season on injured reserve after tearing a knee ligament.

Before his disastrous year in Cleveland, Garcia spent five seasons with San Francisco and learned under Mariucci, who coached the 49ers from 1997-2002.

The 35-year-old Garcia earned his second straight Pro Bowl selection in 2001 with the 49ers, completing 62.7 percent of his passes and throwing for 3,538 yards and 32 touchdowns that year.

His addition should provide immediate competition for starter Joey Harrington. The former first-round pick was booed often at home and challenged regularly by Mariucci in 2004, and has been inconsistent throughout his career.

Vikings sign S Sharper to four-year deal

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran safety Darren Sharper to a four-year contract on Saturday.

Sharper, cut by the Green Bay Packers in a cost-cutting move earlier this week, started at free safety the last six seasons and ranks fifth in team history with 36 interceptions. He led the team with four interceptions last year and scored three defensive touchdowns.

“Darren is very excited to be going to Minnesota,” agent Joel Segal told The Associated Press.

The Packers tried to get Sharper to restructure his deal, but he balked at a pay cut, hoping he could make more on the open market than the approximately $2 million Green Bay was offering for 2005.

Segal would not comment on the terms of the deal, only saying Sharper received “a significant signing bonus.”

The signing was the latest move in a busy week for the Vikings, who also signed cornerback Fred Smoot to a six-year deal and resigned tight end Jermaine Wiggins.

AP-ES-03-12-05 1544EST