Thursday, February 10, 2000Bengals sign Jones
Frees up team in free agency
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerThe Bengals executed the linchpin of their offseason strategy Wednesday when they signed starting left tackle Rod Jones to a three-year deal worth $9 million.
With free agency starting Friday and the NFL Draft two months away, Jones' signing means the Bengals can attack more pressing problems on defense, at wide receiver and backup quarterback.
“This gives us a lot of flexibility in the coming months to shore up other areas,” said Bengals counsel Katie Blackburn after she completed month-long negotiations with agent Mark Bartelstein.
It also means the Bengals have put faith in the 26-year-old Jones' potential by making him their highest-paid lineman. He's coming off his first full season as a starter. Jones showed enough promise — against Pro Bowl pass rushers Michael McCrary and Tony Brackens, for example — to convince the Bengals he was the best left tackle on the free-agent market. The crop includes aging veterans Paul Gruber, Andy Heck and Richmond Webb, as well as converted guard Roman Oben of the Giants.
“The trouble he had is what first-year left tackles go through,” offensive line coach Paul Alexander said. “We think that's behind him. I'm encouraged and look forward to him getting better.”
Jones, a seventh-round pick in 1996, never hid his desire to return to a team he felt took a gamble on his history of bad knees when he came out of Kansas.
“This is what I wanted to happen all along,” Jones said. “I really didn't want to go anywhere else. You want to be with the people that love you, and they let me know they wanted me, and it feels great.”
Jones, who was ready to sign Tuesday, was delighted the way the Bengals treated him Wednesday. They agreed to a shorter deal in which Jones figures to get nearly $4 million this year in bonus and salary.
“There's only one number that counts,” said Jones, who wouldn't divulge the deal. “It's our record this year, and it's going to be good, because I think we'll get it going.”
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