GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Top pick Justin Smith missed his fourth day of training camp Monday, but after presenting three proposals, the Bengals received one Monday night from Smith's agent, Jim Steiner.

        “I don't know that it helped get us any closer,” said Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn.

        The Bengals are unwilling to split the signing bonus into chunks to be paid this year and next, which has been done with three of the five first-round picks who have signed.

        Monday, New England defensive tackle Richard Seymour — taken No.6, two picks behind Smith — signed a six-year deal for up to $25.5 million. He got $4.8 million to sign this year and will get another $3.2 million bonus next year.

        Teams are splitting bonuses because they expect a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has been agreed upon but not signed, to be in place next year. The current CBA expires in three years, leaving teams only three years to spread out signing bonuses. For example, a $9 million bonus for a three-year contract would count $3 million a year against a team's salary cap.

        The Bengals reportedly have offered a six-year deal worth $17.25 million with another $7.5 million to sign. It also contains incentive and escalator clauses with potential for another $13 million.

        Smith wants $10 million to sign, $1.5 million more than Peter Warrick received a year ago.

        “They're tied up in the second-year signing bonus,” Blackburn said.

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