UA quarterback Dan White joined teammates Tedy Bruschi and Chuck Osborne in the NFL yesterday when he signed a free agent contract with the Houston Oilers.

"It came down to the (Arizona) Cardinals, (Atlanta) Falcons and Oilers," White said. "And I decided on the Oilers because of their quarterback situation."

The Oilers recently released back-up quarterback Wil Furrier in order to free up some money for the draft, leaving them with two quarterbacks. White will be entering camp behind Chris Chandler and Steve McNair.

White (6-foot-5, 213 pounds), who finished his career at Arizona with 5,723 yards and 43 touchdowns, knew that something was in the works prior to the draft on Friday.

"I talked to the Oilers on Friday, and they said that I was on their draft board," White said. "When the sixth round came around on Sunday, they called and said that they were considering taking me with their final pick. But then when they chose someone else, they called and said they were interested in signing me as a free agent."

White was also pleased with the quarterback coaches of the Oilers, who helped acclimate McNair, the former Division I-AA Alcorn State quarterback, to the more complicated NFL.

"Their quarterback coach and coaching staff as a whole are well respected," White said. "But the big factor was that they only have two quarterbacks even after the draft. They are thinking of signing another free agent, but I still think this was the best situation for me."

While White knew on Friday that he would probably be on an NFL team early next week, it still didn't ease the waiting.

"I'm glad it worked out, but it was still pretty stressful," White said. "I am hopeful that I can go in and try and make an impact."