Despite published reports that he would return to his post as Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, ESPN.com has learned through several NFL and team sources that Marvin Lewis on Sunday agreed to accept the same position with the Washington Redskins, culminating a three-day emotional wringer for him.

One of the NFL's most respected and coveted coordinators, Lewis will sign a three-year contract that makes him, "by a wide margin," one source said, the highest-paid assistant in the league in terms of annual average. The deal could reach between $1 million to $1.1 million annually counting incentives.

The contract will dwarf the nearly $700,000 per year contract that the Atlanta Falcons recently gave to new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

"For the kind of money they are going to pay him, I guess you can't blame the guy," Ravens vice president Ozzie Newsome told ESPN.com.

It appeared that Lewis was headed to the Redskins on Friday evening, after the stunning events earlier in the day, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers abruptly broke off negotiations that were to have resulted in a contract to make him the team's new head coach. But the Ravens also made a strong pitch to keep Lewis, and newspapers in both Baltimore and Washington reported Sunday he would stay, a contention denied early in the day by agent Ray Anderson.

Anderson and Washington officials both strongly denied to ESPN.com that Lewis had opted for the Baltimore contract offer.

It appeared, sources said, that the Ravens were attempting to force the issue and magnifying the significance of Lewis canceling a tentatively scheduled Saturday meeting with new Washington coach Steve Spurrier and owner Daniel Snyder.

Owner Art Modell even announced that Lewis would be remaining with the Ravens organization, an assessment that, at best, was premature. By late Sunday afternoon, though, Lewis had locked up a deal with the Redskins to join the staff of new head coach Steve Spurrier.

Lewis, 43, will essentially have near-absolute autonomy in leading the Redskins defense. There has been some degree of enmity between the two franchises, located less than 50 miles apart, and the Lewis situation likely will escalate the acrimony.

Give the jilted Lewis credit for this quick recovery: Left at the altar by the Tampa Bay Bucs on Friday morning, he quickly landed on his feet. Lewis' contract had expired with the Ravens and extension discussions had not yet begun last week because it was assumed he was going to be the head coach in Tampa Bay.

Sources said that Lewis was somewhat chagrined by the fact the Ravens' salary cap problems for 2002 will force the team to dismantle its defensive unit. Vice president of personnel Ozzie Newsome has reiterated some dramatic belt-tightening is in order, and ESPN.com has learned the Ravens might have to release their three remaining starters on the defensive line to deal with a suffocating cap overage of about $20.5 million.

With the Redskins defense, Lewis will inherit a unit that is a mix of young and old players, but one that statistically finished No. 10 in the league in 2001.

Under the stewardship of Lewis, the Baltimore defense set a record in 2000 for the fewest points allowed in a 16-game season Lewis broke into the league in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Steelers then moved to the Ravens in 1996.

The Ravens are now expected to promote receivers coach Mike Nolan, a former coordinator in the league, into Lewis' spot. ESPN.com has also learned that Baltimore coach Brian Billick has hired former Oakland assistant David Shaw to tutor quarterbacks and receivers.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.