By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Vaughn Booker's three-year run with his hometown Bengals came to an end Tuesday when the team terminated his contract.

Booker, 35, started 27 of the 29 games he played for the Bengals. Knee ligament problems and a rib cage strain limited him to six games in 2002.

The defensive end said he was healthy, except for a "mystery" back pain. He also said he would like to sign with another team but would retire after nine NFL seasons if there is no interest.

"No, I'm not surprised," Booker said Tuesday of his release. "I knew how much I was due to make and how the economic system works in the NFL."

Booker was to make an estimated $2 million base salary this coming season, and the Bengals will save $667,000 against the salary cap by cutting him. Booker signed a five-year, $11 million contract before the 2000 season, including a $3.3 million signing bonus.

The Bengals acquired defensive linemen John Thornton and Carl Powell in free agency last month, making Booker's release more probable. End Justin Smith and tackle Tony Williams are the team's top returning defensive linemen. Starting tackle Oliver Gibson is rehabilitating a torn Achilles' tendon. Versatile defensive lineman Bernard Whittington, an unrestricted free agent, remains unsigned.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis had no comment on Booker's release, but Booker said he had been invigorated by Lewis' arrival.

"We had three bad years in Cincinnati, something I wasn't used to, and I thought coach Lewis could be the one to get things turned around," Booker said.

Booker, a West End native and Taft High School graduate, played college ball at Cincinnati. He served in the U.S. Army and began his NFL career in 1994 with Kansas City before going to Green Bay, and has played in 115 NFL games with 78 starts.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com