Colt Brennan, who gave up millions to return to the University of Hawai'i for his senior year, got his million yesterday.

The former Warrior quarterback yesterday signed a four-year, $1.8 million contract with the Washington Redskins, who drafted him in the sixth round in April's National Football League draft.

"It feels great to sign," Brennan said.

Brennan said he signed a standard four-year contract, with a first-year base salary of $295,000, if he makes the team.

He said he will receive a signing bonus of $96,800, which is in the ballpark for the 20th selection of the sixth round.

Defensive end Michael Gibson, who was selected by Philadelphia two spots ahead of Brennan, received a signing bonus of $98,000.

Defensive end Christopher Harrington, who was selected by Arizona one pick ahead of Brennan, received a signing bonus of $73,000. But Harrington's contract is for three years.

A signing bonus, which is guaranteed whether a player makes the team, is paid up front but, for salary-cap purposes, is spread out over the life of the contract.

The Redskins issued only four-year contracts to their drafted rookies.

Brennan also could earn an additional $650,000 if he is with the Redskins for a fourth season. The minimum fourth-year salary for a player entering the league in 2008 is $550,000.

But Brennan, like most drafted rookies, is believed to have an escalator clause, which would pay him $1.2 million as a fourth-year player in 2011, according to an agent familiar with NFL contracts.

Brennan said he has been told the Redskins would be open to renegotiations if he does well in his first three years.

"I'm happy to be healthy and ready to play," said Brennan, who has been medically cleared to participate in all drills during training camp, which opens this weekend in Virginia.

Brennan underwent hip surgery in April in Colorado.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Brennan, who in January 2007 announced he would return to UH instead of applying for the NFL draft as an underclassman, was projected to be drafted at least by the second round had he decided to leave after his NCAA record-breaking season in 2006.

Hampered by injuries (ankle and concussion) in 2007, Brennan's statistics were down during his senior season. He went from an NCAA-record 58 touchdowns in 2006 to 38 in 2007. His interceptions also went up from 12 in 2006 to 17 in 2007.

Brennan, who set 31 NCAA passing records during his three years at UH, was a Heisman Trophy finalist after leading the Warriors to a 12-0 regular-season record and their first trip to a Bowl Championship Series game, the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 against Georgia.

CONTENDER FOR NO. 3

Still rated a high draft pick after the 2007 regular season, Brennan's stock dropped after the 41-10 loss to Georgia in which he threw three interceptions and after he weighed only 185 pounds at the Senior Bowl.

He was the 10th quarterback selected in the draft and the 186th player overall.

Brennan, though, appears to have landed in a promising situation with the Redskins, whose new coach, Jim Zorn, is a former quarterback.

The 6-foot-2 Brennan currently weighs about 225 pounds but was told to trim to between 212 to 213. He will compete for the No. 3 quarterback job behind starter Jason Campbell and 13-year veteran Todd Collins.

With only four quarterbacks currently listed on the roster, Brennan's competition for the No. 3 spot will be Derek Devine, a 6-foot-3, 222-pound quarterback from Marshall. The Redskins signed Devine as a free agent in May. Undrafted, Devine originally signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2007 but was released before the season.

Last week, the Redskins released quarterback Sam Hollenbach, a former Maryland standout who was on the Redskins' 53-man roster for the team's final three games, including one playoff game. Hollenbach had served as the third quarterback in all three games.