GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Negotiations between the Bengals and Jim Steiner, agent for top pick Justin Smith, have hit an unexpected snag.

        The Bengals, who had resisted the two-part, or split, bonus, made an offer Thursday that increased the signing bonus by splitting it into payments to be made this year and next spring.

        But Steiner turned it down and was supposed to counter it Friday.

        “We didn't get as far along as I hoped based on our last proposal. We did (split the bonus),” Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said. “I thought we would get there with that, but apparently, it's obviously not done.”

        She declined to say what the other problems were.

        “Unfortunately, I'd say he had a longer list than I thought there would be,” Blackburn said. “I was hopeful we would make progress because we got the bonus up by going to the two-tiered option, and that was the major point they were concerned about.”

        The total of the signing bonus, the additional bonus and the first-season salary are more than the $8.5 million last year's first-round pick, Peter Warrick, received in the first year of his deal.

        Steiner didn't return a phone message Friday.

        The Bengals initially offered a six-year deal worth $17.25 million with another $7.5 million to sign. It also contains incentive and escalator clauses with another $13 million. Their new offer includes a higher signing bonus.

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