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Bengals tidbits

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Cincy

4/11/06

Bengals sign Watson

THE ENQUIRER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Running back Kenny Watson and the Bengals agreed to a one-year deal.
Watson, a four-year veteran, was an unrestricted free agent. He tore a muscle in his arm during the 2005 season opener and missed the rest of the season.

The Bengals signed Watson as a free agent from Washington after the 2002 season.

He has appeared in 25 games, most of them on special teams. He has 25 carries and 26 catches overall with the Bengals.
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Dispatch

4/12/06


Cincinnati tight end signs one - year contract



The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed tight end Tony Stewart to a one-year contract.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team. Stewart was an unrestricted free agent.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder was used mainly as a blocker. He played in 14 games for the Bengals last season, starting in three.
He caught four passes for 26 yards and appeared in the Bengals’ wild-card loss to Pittsburgh.
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Cincy

4/14/06

Thurman expecting better 'D'

Second-year LB says experience, Adams will help unit

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Odell Thurman, a pleasant surprise for the Bengals as a rookie, expects more from himself - and the team's defense - in his second NFL season.
"I'm a little more confident, a little more at ease," Thurman said of entering his second season as a pro. "I'm not a rookie anymore. I know what to expect. It is a little more comforting to know."
The Bengals' defense was ranked 28th in yards allowed and 22nd in points allowed, yet it also led the NFL with 44 takeaways, eight more than second-place Denver.
"We can improve a whole lot," Thurman said. "We got ranked 28th, but we still play spectacularly at times. We have to put it together all year long."
The linebacker, selected one of the NFL's top defensive rookies in 2005, showed up Thursday for the Bengals' offseason strength and conditioning program.
He spent his offseason in his hometown of Monticello, Ga., with his family, and he worked out at his high school.
The addition of 335-pound defensive tackle Sam Adams should help Thurman this season.
"I think with signing Sam, it will make me a better player. It will let me do what I do best," Thurman said. "I'm not the one who likes to take on big boys (blockers). He'll take up a lot of space to allow me to do what I do best: run free."
Thurman was a surprise in 2005. He led the Bengals with 148 tackles and was the leading tackler in nine of their regular-season games. He had five interceptions and forced four fumbles.
The additions of Adams and strong safety Dexter Jackson, the return of free safety Madieu Williams, now healthy, and a full training camp for linebacker David Pollack - Thurman's former Georgia teammate - should help.
"Pollack is going to be great," Thurman said. "Last year, he just had to get into it (after a contract holdout). At the end of the year, he started playing good. I think you'll get to see a lot more."
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer .com
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Cincy

4/14/06

Offense returns at full strength

Bengals notebook

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->For the second consecutive year, the Bengals have 11 returning offensive starters under contract for the upcoming season.

The lone remaining returning starter, fullback Jeremi Johnson, signed a one-year contract Thursday. It's believed that Johnson, a three-year starter, signed the one-year tender for $712,000.

As a restricted free agent, Johnson could have signed an offer sheet with another team, and if the Bengals had chosen not to match it, the Bengals would have received a draft pick as compensation.

Johnson's tender called for a draft-status pick, meaning the Bengals would have received a fourth-round pick for losing him.

Instead, Johnson will be back for his fourth season with the Bengals. He plays a vital role as lead blocker in the run game and has been productive as a receiver. His 12 pass receptions last season included three for touchdowns.

Running backs coach Jim Anderson said he would like to see Johnson's role expanded in the offense as a receiver and on short yardage.

The Bengals have re-signed two of their four RFAs. Johnson joins offensive lineman Scott Kooistra as a returning player. Wide receiver Kelley Washington remains unsigned, and wide receiver Kevin Walter received an offer sheet from Houston that the Bengals chose not to match, so Walter is now with the Texans.

Running back is a position of strength for the Bengals. Rudi Johnson has rushed for more than 1,450 yards in each of the past two seasons. Backup Chris Perry accounted for more than 600 yards as a receiver and runner in 2005. And the team re-signed valuable veteran free agent Kenny Watson to a one-year contract earlier this week.

Jeremi Johnson has five career receiving touchdowns and one rushing in the NFL.

He has started 30 games and played in all 48 possible games since joining the Bengals.

PALMER THROWS: Quarterback Carson Palmer said he has begun throwing. He continues to participate in workouts with teammates three months after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery to repair two damaged ligaments.

Palmer is wearing a sturdy brace on the knee, and he jogged through the locker room Thursday morning on his way to the weight room for a workout.
Palmer said his rehabilitation is going well.

OTHER INJURIES: Watson, who had surgery to repair a torn biceps, said he has been cleared medically for all activities. Safety Madieu Williams, who missed all but four games with a shoulder injury that required surgery, has not been cleared officially but is participating in the team's offseason strength and conditioning program.

E-mail [email protected]
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Bengals web site reports that FB Jeremi Johnson signed a 5 year contract extension in place of his recently sign 1 year tender, paying him approx. 2.4 million this year and averaging 1.5 thru 2011.
 
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Cincy

4/16/06

Bengals give Johnson new deal

Fullback signed through 2011

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->A day after signing a one-year tender as a restricted free agent, fullback Jeremi Johnson signed a new six-year deal that keeps him with the Bengals through 2011.
Johnson's contract is second only to quarterback Carson Palmer's in duration with the team.
"I wanted to be here," Johnson said Friday in the Bengals' offices. "It means a lot. I'm going to work hard. I want to put up more numbers to show them I'm grateful for the opportunity I've been given."
Coach Marvin Lewis said the negotiations "still had some momentum" after the tender had been signed.
"He pushed hard to get this done," Lewis said.
Johnson is a Louisville native who played college ball at Indiana and Western Kentucky.
"This is definitely home now," Johnson said. "I grew up down the road watching the Bengals. I was in Coach Lewis' first (draft) class (2003). I take pride in that."
Johnson was the Bengals' fourth-round draft choice in 2003 and is a three-year starter, making 30 starts and playing in all of the possible 48 games. He had three receiving touchdowns in 2005. He also is respected as a blocker, having helped tailback Rudi Johnson rush for franchise records of more than 1,450 yards in each of the past two seasons.
"Damn right it's a good thing," Rudi Johnson said of his fullback's new contract. "He's happy. I'm happy."
Said running backs coach Jim Anderson: "Where Rudi is, Jeremi has been."
Anderson also discussed expanding Jeremi Johnson's role as a receiver and running back.
The contract is reportedly worth $7.5 million, according to ESPN.com.
E-mail [email protected]
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Cincy

4/20/06

Bengals add veteran backup QB

Wright started 7 games in '05 and '03 for Ravens

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - After almost two months of effort, the Bengals have their backup quarterback.
Anthony Wright, who has 19 NFL starts in 24 games over seven seasons, will sign a one-year contract as early as today, agent Joel Segal told The Enquirer Wednesday night.
"One-year deal, agreed in principle," Segal said. "He could sign it (today)."
The deal is believed to be for the veteran minimum $710,000 with a $40,000 signing bonus.
The Bengals are concerned that starter Carson Palmer might not be ready to start the season, even though his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery is going well.
Wright was with the Baltimore Ravens the past four seasons, and he was in and out of the lineup as former first-round draft pick Kyle Boller struggled with his performance and injuries. Wright was 2-5 as Ravens starter in 2005. He led them to the playoffs in 2003 (seven starts) but missed 2004 with a shoulder injury.
Wright becomes the fourth quarterback on the roster. He joins Palmer, Doug Johnson and Craig Krenzel.
In nine games in 2005 for the Ravens, Wright completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,582 yards with six touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Wright, 30, is 6 feet 1, 215 pounds. He also is a strong runner, with 75 career rushing attempts for 234 yards.
Wright did not cross paths with Bengals coach Marvin Lewis in Baltimore. Lewis was Baltimore's defensive coordinator from 1996-2001. Wright's first season there was 2002.
Wright is somewhat of a surprise choice to join the Bengals. The club had courted Sage Rosenfels and at least two other veteran quarterbacks - Jamie Martin and Joey Harrington - in free agency.
E-mail [EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected][/EMAIL]
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The Wright stuff<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=storytext bgColor=#eeeeee>Quarterback Anthony Wright spent the past four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. A look at the 30-year-old's seven-year career statistics:

Games: 24

Starts: 19

Att-Comp-Pct.: 595-328-55.1

Yards: 3,547

TDs: 20 INTs: 25

Rating: 66.6

This past season, he was 2-5 as a starter, throwing for 1,582 yards with six TDs and nine INTs.
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:bow:

Bengals extend Chad Johnson with monster dealBy Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


If the NFL is poised to crack down on Chad Johnson's end zone choreography in 2006, with its recently implemented rules aimed at curtailing touchdown celebrations, the Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver is better prepared now to handle any of the fines that he might incur.

The three-time Pro Bowl performer and consummate showman, one of the most explosive playmakers in the league at any position, on Thursday signed a new contract with the Bengals, ESPN.com has learned. The lucrative deal includes a one-year extension, through the 2010 season, and an option for the Bengals to extend the contract through 2011, if they so desire.

In essence, by restructuring the remainder of Johnson's existing contract, which was set to run through the 2009 campaign, the Bengals created a six-year deal with a total value of $35.5 million.

"In terms of 'new money,' and just being unique from the standpoint of being able to do something for a player who still had four years left on his [existing] contract, it's really monumental," said agent Drew Rosenhaus, who was hired by Johnson a year ago to upgrade his contract "As long as I've been doing this, I've never been able to get an extension like this, basically because of the time remaining on the contract. It's historical. And it's a testament to Chad, and how well he's performed, and to Bengals management for the way they have handled this and the commitment they've made to him."

Under his existing contract, Johnson would have earned $5.75 million in 2006-2007 and the base salaries due him through 2009 totaled $12.15 million. The new contract will pay Johnson $16 million between this season and 2007 and, assuming the Bengals exercise the option for 2011, a total of $35.5 million. That's a whopping $10.75 million in "new money" for the extension portion of the contract.

Johnson will receive a $5 million signing bonus, a $250,000 reporting bonus, a $250,000 workout bonus and a base salary of $2.75 million for 2006. That base salary is the same as he was scheduled to make under his previous contract. In 2007, he is due a $3.5 million option bonus, a reporting bonus of $1.5 million, a $250,000 workout bonus and a $2.5 million base salary.

The base salaries for the balance of the deal are as follows: $3 million (for 2008), $4.5 million (2009), $5 million (2010) and $6 million (2011). There are workout bonuses of $250,000 in each of those seasons. If the Bengals do not exercise the option for the 2011 campaign, they must make Johnson a non-exercise payment of $3.5 million.

Earlier on Thursday, before signing the new contract, Johnson joked to ESPN.com that he was ready to deal with the rules against excessive end zone celebrations that league owners approved at the annual NFL meetings in Orlando, Fla, last month.

"Get yourself real close to the TV, because I'll have some good stuff planned," Johnson said, laughing. "I still plan to be the greatest entertainer in the league."

The five-year veteran, selected by Cincinnati in the second round of the 2001 draft, certainly has developed into one of the NFL's greatest playmakers. The former Oregon State star has posted three straight seasons with 90-plus receptions and four straight campaigns with over 1,000 receiving yards. In 76 appearances, 63 of them starts, Johnson has 379 receptions for 5,556 yards and 34 touchdowns.
 
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"Get yourself real close to the TV, because I'll have some good stuff planned," Johnson said, laughing. "I still plan to be the greatest entertainer in the league."
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I know a lot of folks view CJ as a wise-ass.

But, screw them, he's our wise-ass and we like him.

Good to see the Bengals wrap him up for years to come.
 
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