INDIANAPOLIS -- No one knows yet if the "fun and gun" offense of coach Steve Spurrier will succeed at the NFL level but, on the first day of free agency, the Washington Redskins came out firing by reaching contract agreements with a pair of unrestricted veterans.

ESPN.com learned that the Redskins have added linebacker Jessie Armstead and wide receiver Reidel Anthony, the initial free agent signings leaguewide, with the deals being completed at the NFL scouting combine here.

"I'm not going to wait around for teams to come to me," agent Drew Rosenhaus said. "I plan to be proactive here, to seek out teams who want good players, and to get deals done."

Redskins officials first contacted Rosenhaus on Thursday and the agreements were completed on Friday afternoon.

Armstead, 31, was released Thursday by the New York Giants after nine seasons. He will sign a three-year, $4.5 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $1.25 million and base salaries of $750,000 (2002), $1 million (2003) and $1.5 million (2004).

An eighth-round choice in the 1993 draft, the former University of Miami star has appeared in 144 games and started 98 of them. He has 799 tackles, 30 ½ sacks, 11 forced fumbles, four recoveries, 12 interceptions and 52 passes defensed.

Anthony was the Tampa Bay first-round pick in the 1997 draft. A part-time starter during his five-year career, Anthony has the kind of quickness the Redskins want at the wideout spot, and he is familiar with Spurrier's offense, having played in it at the University of Florida.

He will sign a one-year contract for $525,000, and no signing bonus.