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The Cincinnati Bengals took a significant step toward solidifying their offensive line yesterday, and at a significant cost. They designated Stacy Andrews their franchise player and tendered him a one-year contract worth at least $7.455 million while continuing to negotiate a long-term deal. "This move helps us keep our core players together," coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement released by the team. Andrews, 26, is eligible to become a free agent Feb. 29, but by using their franchise tag on him the Bengals virtually assure that he will remain with them in 2008. They have the right to match any offer from another team, and if they decide not to match it, the signing club must give the Bengals their first-round pick in the 2008 and '09 drafts.
Lewis said the Bengals hope to sign Andrews to a long-term contract. Andrews' agent, Richard Moran, did not return a call seeking comment. Though he played little college football before joining the Bengals as a fourth-round draft pick in 2004, Andrews emerged the past two seasons as an integral part of the line, first at guard and later at tackle in place of an injured Willie Anderson. Andrews likely will remain the starter at right tackle; Anderson is a candidate to be released because he is owed millions over the next four years. The Bengals must offer Andrews at least a one-year contract worth the average of the five highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL in 2007 -- in this case, $7.455 million. Columbus Dispatch http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/bengals/stories/2008/02/19/bengals19.ART_ART_02-19-08_C6_S69D7HG.html?sid=101 |
