ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier attempted Wednesday to smooth things over with the New York Jets, from whom his team has signed four free agents.

	Morton

"If there's any ill-will or bad-feeling between the Jets and the Redskins, I don't think it's on the coaching level or the player level,'' Spurrier said. "It just seemed like they had players, free agents and restricted free agents, that filled our needs. ... It just happened that way.''

Kick returner-running back Chad Morton was formally introduced Wednesday as the fourth Jets player to move to the Redskins this offseason, joining kicker John Hall, guard Randy Thomas and receiver Laveranues Coles.

Morton was awarded to the Redskins on Monday by an arbitrator who ruled that the Jets did not fully match Washington's five-year, $8 million offer to the restricted free agent. The arbitrator, Richard Bloch, is a Redskins season-ticket holder, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

The ruling was another setback for the Jets, whose general manager, Terry Bradway, last month chided Redskins owner Dan Snyder for overpaying for free agents. If nothing else, it will make the Sept. 4 Jets-Redskins season opener even more interesting.

"If there's bitterness between management-level people, that's something they need to talk about,'' Spurrier said.

Morton and the Redskins were pleasantly surprised by the ruling. Morton wanted to play in Washington because offensive coordinator Hue Jackson -- his former position coach at USC -- promised to the opportunity to play running back.

"Here at least I know I'll get a chance,'' Morton said.

Morton's primary job will be to return kickoffs and punts for the Redskins, whose return game has been inconsistent since Brian Mitchell was cut three years ago. He'll join a crowded running back competition that includes Trung Canidate, Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson, but at least that's better than New York, where Morton said he didn't even participate in offensive drills.

"I'll feel like part of the team,'' Morton said.

Morton ranked second in the AFC in kickoff returns last season and set a Jets record with 1,509 kickoff return yards. He returned two for touchdowns both on opening day in Buffalo, including the opening kickoff in overtime.