The Washington Redskins have announced that they have signed defensive back Fred Smoot. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Smoot rejoins the Redskins after spending the previous two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He is a hardworking, tough competitor who will return to a familiar defensive scheme.

Smoot, 5-11 and 178 pounds, is a six-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2005-2006).

In 2006, he played in 14 games with 10 starts and tallied 64 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception against Green Bay (12/21/06) which he returned for a 47-yard touchdown.

For his career, he has accumulated 323 tackles, 19 interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Smoot began his NFL career with the Washington Redskins in 2001, leading the team in interceptions for three consecutive seasons setting a franchise mark. He recorded a career-high five interceptions during his rookie campaign in 2001.

Smoot was named the 2003 Redskins Ed Block Courage Award winner after playing all season with a sternum injury. In 2004, he was honored as the B.J. Blanchard Award winner, an award given annually to a Redskins player which best helps the media do their job.

Smoot was drafted in the second round (45th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State University by the Redskins. He was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations top defensive back as a senior (2000). He played two seasons at Mississippi State posting 112 tackles and 10 interceptions.