Jeb

Bengals lock up Jones
By GEOFF HOBSON
July 25, 2006

4 p.m.

The Bengals locked up another key offensive player Tuesday when they reached a six-year contract extension with left tackle Levi Jones, according to agent Kenny Zuckerman.

The Bengals, who won’t comment on deals until they are signed, now have Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer in the fold through 2014, Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson through 2011, and Jones, a Pro Bowl alternate, through 2012. Plus, running back Rudi Johnson, the franchise’s single-season rushing leader, is here through 2009 and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, with 150 caches over the past two seasons, through 2008.

Jones becomes the highest-paid offensive lineman in club history with a contract surpassing the $30.6 million deal three-time Pro Bowler Willie Anderson signed before the 2000 season and ends after this one. Zuckerman says the deal in new money makes Jones the league’s fourth-highest paid offensive lineman with guarantees of $16.3 million in a total package of a little more than $40 millon, putting him in the tier below the tackle trinity of Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace and Walter Jones.

The Levi Jones deal doesn’t preclude an extension for Anderson and left guard Eric Steinbach, but one or both now may not get done before the season is over. Anderson’s agent said Tuesday he’s had no talks with the club this offseason.

Extensions for Jones and right guard Bobbie Williams make the Bengals breath a little easier along a front that set a club record when it gave up just 21 sacks while Rudi Johnson set the team’s season rushing record with 1,458 yards.

Jones is a major reason Palmer went to his first Pro Bowl with the Bengals’ first three-digit passer rating, shutting out several of the NFL’s top sackers, including the Colts’ Dwight Freeney, the Ravens’ Terrell Suggs, and the Packers’ Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
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http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=5342

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J-Unit

That was a great move by the Bengals to get him locked up, another great move for that already great offensive line.

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University of Tennessee Lady Vols 2007 National Champions

Potatoking

wow, i think they're locked up to be a top team for like the next 5 years

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Professor

let's just hope that they can stay out of trouble.

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Potatoking

Cut henry and i'll make it 6 years

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MickeyG

great move by the Bengles. Nice long contract and it's not going to break the bank either.

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Jeb

I doubt very much Henry can even make the team. He's been in rehab way too long and no word he's gone back to the doc so he's signaling he'll be ready. I doubt he can even compete anymore with the guys we have for that spot if that knee is still bad.

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Jeb

The whole city is a little more at ease now. This was needed.

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MisplacedLionsFan

Bengals committed robbery here-an undermarket deal for one of the best LT in the game.

Jeb

I think so. With prices that they are today, we did do well. Levi made a big deal out of wanting to sign Willie (our probowl RT) and so I think he settled faster and lower so a deal for Willie could be worked out. That's just my opinion.

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