Bengals Name J. Smith Franchise Player

The Cincinnati Bengals placed their franchise player tag on defensive end Justin Smith to limit his mobility on the unrestricted free agent market next month.

Any team signing Smith would owe the Bengals two first-round draft picks as compensation.

If Smith plays for the Bengals under the franchise player designation next season, it would be for a one-year contract for $8.644 million, the average salary of the five highest-paid defensive ends in the league. The two sides could agree to a new contract or the Bengals still could trade Smith or rescind the franchise tag.

By Mark Maske |  February 15, 2007; 9:01 PM ET  | Category:  Bengals
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