Agent Jim Steiner faxed a proposal to the Bengals in an effort to end the 39-day holdout of rookie defensive end Justin Smith, but it did no good.

        “It increased the gulf,” said Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn. “Generally, we had been talking about a structure (in which) if you play well you get paid well. Now (Steiner) wants to jump structures. We'll keep talking, though.”

        A phone message left for Steiner at his St. Louis office was not returned.

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