Mark Brunell, the Redskins' starting quarterback for most of 2004-06, signed a two-year deal with New Orleans on Thursday, according to a league source. Brunell, who was third-string in Washington last season before voiding his contract last month, will replace free agent Jamie Martin as the backup to Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Returning to Green Bay where Brunell started his career in 1993 as a backup to Brett Favre made more sense since the 37-year-old could have been a mentor of sorts to 24-year-old first-year starter Aaron Rodgers.

It's not as if Brees, a serious MVP candidate in 2006, needs any tutoring on how to play the position from Brunell. And New Orleans, the Sodom and Gomorrah of the South, if not the nation, doesn't seem like a great choice of cities, for a serious Christian like Brunell, but a job's a job.

And don't expect Trent Dilfer to replace Brunell as No. 3 in Washington behind Jason Campbell and Todd Collins despite new coach Jim Zorn's connection to the former Seahawk who was cut by San Francisco in his 36th birthday today. Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato, who's making all of the team's personnel decisions these days, has said he wants a young third-stringer to develop behind Campbell, 26, and Collins, 36.