BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Left tackle Kevin Sargent became the highest-paid offensive lineman in Bengals history Friday, agreeing to a three-year, $12 million contract extension through the 2001 season.
The deal included a $3.5 million signing bonus, said Sargent's agent, Mark Bartelstein.
Deals signed this offseason by Dallas' Larry Allen (six years, $24 million) San Diego's John Jackson (six years, $26 million) and Minnesota's Todd Steussie (five years, $22 million)raised the going rate for tackles considerably.
"They're very generous," Sargent said of Bengals management. "They worked very hard with my agent. I'm extremely grateful."
The Bengals kept Sargent, 29, from becoming an unrestricted free agent after this season. They still hope to reach similar deals with potential free agents such as cornerback Ashley Ambrose, wide receiver Carl Pickens and safety Sam Shade.
Sargent cemented his value last year by returning from a herniated neck disk that sidelined him for the entire 1996 season. He played the final 10 games and started the last eight, a period which coincided with the surge of Cincinnati's running game.
"I'm glad it's done," said Sargent, a seventh-year veteran. "I've always wanted to stay here."
Sargent said he tried to avoid letting contract talks become a distraction: "I made a commitment coming into camp not to think about it, especially on the field.'
Starting next year, Sargent's contract will exceed the value of right tackle Willie Anderson's five-year deal which averages slightly less than $1.5 million per year.
Hall of Fame left tackle Anthony Munoz, who retired in 1992, made $950,000 in 1992, his last year with the Bengals.
Big moment
Who says the Bengals don't show emotion? After making a leaping interception of a Jeff Blake pass intended for tight end Tony McGee, top draft pick Takeo Spikes ran in a semicircle and leaped into the arms of free safely Greg Myers.
Rampaging rookies
"This is rookie weekend," special teams coach Al Roberts said, announcing that kickoff and punt coverage units against Indianapolis will be manned mostly by first-year players.
"We have so many talented kids that we have to play them now," Roberts said.
One of the more intriguing personnel moves will feature linebacker Steve Foley's pro debut as a snapper on punts and conversion kicks. Tight end Steve Bush, the most direct competitor to fifth-year veteran long-snapper Greg Truitt, will handle those duties at the game's outset.
Happy returns
The Bengals are hoping that Tremain Mack and Artrell Hawkins can add some dash on kickoff returns this season.
Mack returned one kick for 31 yards in last Saturday's preseason opener against the New York Giants. He returned two kicks for 37 yards in last year's preseason but didn't return any during his injury-shortened four-game regular season.
Hawkins, a rookie from the University of Cincinnati, had a 24-yarder against the Giants. Like Mack, he could provide some much-needed quickness.
"You could see several times last year (on kickoff returns) we were almost through the hole and then we didn't quite make it," Coslet said. "With a little bit more speed, we might hit those holes." The Bengals used four different punt returners against the Giants -- Hawkins, Eric Bieniemy, Corey Sawyer and Myers, who handled this duty last year.
Injury report
The offensive line's woes didn't improve, but they didn't get worse. Left guard Rich Braham, who suffered a broken bone under his right big toe Wednesday, was fitted for shoe inserts that could help him continue to play. Trainer Paul Sparling rated Braham as questionable for the Colts game.
Right guard Ken Blackman missed the full afternoon workout to receive extra treatments on his ailing back. He's expected to return to practice today.
Wide receiver Jason Tucker, Cincinnati's sixth-round draft choice, was declared out for the Colts game with an aggravated hamstring injury. Coslet had some ominous words for Tucker: "He's having a hard time staying on the field. You can't play in this league unless you're durable."
O'Donnell to start Monday
Training camp schedule
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