The Arizona Cardinals have hollered to anyone who would listen that they are serious about building a winner.

They backed up the big talk yesterday by signing Edgerrin James to a four-year, $30 million contract — almost certainly the most significant free-agent acquisition in the history of the long-suffering franchise.

"You look at his ability to go out and run the football," Arizona coach Dennis Green said, "and that's an element we just have to have. We are extremely excited. We had a great weekend."

James flew into Phoenix with agent Drew Rosenhaus on Saturday and had a deal by yesterday morning. It was the only visit he made as a free agent.

"I'm not scared to take a chance," James said at a news conference at Cardinals' headquarters. "I'm not scared to go out there on a limb and do something different. If I was nervous, I would probably have done whatever it took to stay back where I left."

The four-time Pro Bowl player and two-time NFL rushing leader started 95 regular-season games over the past seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, gaining 9,226 yards and scoring 56 touchdowns, both franchise records.

Last season, in 15 starts, he rushed for 1,506 yards, averaging 4.2 yards per carry, and 13 touchdowns, second behind Kansas City's Larry Johnson in the AFC. He led the league in first downs with 115 — 94 rushing and 24 receiving.

James has been one of the most productive running backs in the NFL after the Colts took him with the fourth overall pick in 1999. He has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in six of his eight NFL seasons, and ran for more than 1,500 yards in each of the last two.

The 28-year-old James joins an Arizona team that went 5-11 last season, leading the league in passing but finishing dead last in rushing with 1,138 yards, averaging 3.2 yards per carry.

"It's a nice situation. All they really need was a back," James said. "They've got an MVP quarterback (Kurt Warner), they've got two Pro Bowl receivers (Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald)."

James also cited the weather and the new stadium — with retractable roof and natural grass — that the Cardinals will move into this fall. The money must have made the difference, though. Arizona had plenty under the newly adjusted salary cap.

James is guaranteed $14.75 million, $11.5 million in bonuses and the rest in his first-year salary. The remaining $15.25 million is divided over the final three years of the deal.

REDSKINS

RECEIVER RANDLE EL SIGNS SEVEN-YEAR DEAL

Washington snagged its second receiver in two days off free agency yesterday, signing Antwaan Randle El to a seven-year contract that could be worth up to $31 million.

The Redskins also signed tight end Christian Fauria, giving coach Joe Gibbs three new weapons for an offense that struggled in the playoffs.

The signings came one day after the Redskins sent a third-round pick in this year's draft and a fourth-round selection in 2007 to San Francisco for receiver Brandon Lloyd. Randle El and Lloyd will be formally introduced at Redskins Park today, the team said in announcing the signings.

As promised, Gibbs and owner Dan Snyder were once again extremely aggressive as soon as the free agent market opened Saturday morning. Randle El was one of the top available players and was expected to be courted by several teams, but the Redskins' offer of $11.5 million in guaranteed money had him signed before the weekend was done.

Receiver was the top free-agent priority for the Redskins, who needed someone to complement Pro Bowl wideout Santana Moss. The surprise is that the team pursued not one, but two.

Randle El wasn't the Steelers' top receiver, but he's a versatile athlete who can cause unique problems for a defense. He caught 35 passes for 558 yards last season and threw a touchdown pass for Pittsburgh in last month's Super Bowl.

Fauria will replace tight end Robert Royal, who signed as a free agent Saturday with Buffalo. Fauria spent the past four years with New England, winning two Super Bowl rings. He started 10 of 16 games last year, catching eight passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns.

VIKINGS

SEATTLE'S HUTCHINSON SIGNS OFFER SHEET

Minnesota signed All-Pro Steve Hutchinson to the richest offer sheet for a guard in NFL history yesterday.

The Vikings offered Hutchinson a seven-year deal worth $49 million, with $16 million in guaranteed money, a person close to the negotiations told The Associated Press. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been completed.

The Seattle Seahawks placed the transition tag on Hutchinson in the offseason, giving them a week to match the deal or lose him to the Vikings without compensation.

This season, Hutchinson and Walter Jones led a Seahawks rushing attack that paved the way for NFL rushing champion Shaun Alexander, who had a team-record 1,880 yards and a league-record 28 touchdowns.

The Seahawks refused to comment yesterday, preferring to let their seven-day window to match the offer play out. Seattle entered the weekend about $17 million below the league's $102 million salary cap for 2006.

ELSEWHERE

Ravens: Baltimore re-signed linebacker Bart Scott yesterday after he turned down a larger, longer-term offer from the Cleveland Browns. Scott left the Browns' training complex after agreeing in principle to a three-year contract with Baltimore. The deal is worth $13.5 million, including a $6.5 million signing bonus. The former undrafted free agent from Southern Illinois will earn base salaries of $1 million in 2006, $2.6 million in 2007 and $3.4 million in 2008.

Texans: Quarterback Sage Rosenfels was among three unrestricted free agents signed yesterday by Houston. The team also signed defensive end Anthony Weaver and fullback Jameel Cook. Houston recently released Tony Banks, leaving starter David Carr and seldom-used Dave Ragone as the remaining quarterbacks. Rosenfels started one game for Miami last season. In four games with the Dolphins, he completed 34 of 61 passes for 462 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Bills: Receiver Andre' Davis signed with Buffalo yesterday. Davis is a four-year NFL veteran who played 11 games, including two in the playoffs, for the New England Patriots last season. Terms of the deal were not released.

NFL CALENDAR

March 26-30 — NFL annual meeting, Orlando, Fla.

April 29-30 — NFL draft.

May 23-25 — NFL spring meeting, Denver.