By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FREE AGENCY: Day 1

Bengals free agent action Wednesday: AGREED TO TERMS: Linebacker Nate Webster (Tampa Bay). BENGALS CONFIRMED: None. OTHERWISE CONFIRMED: Former Rams safety Kim Herring arrived for a visit Wednesday. Cornerbacks David Macklin of the Colts and Troy Vincent of the Eagles and center Chris Bober of the Giants will visit today. ON THE RADAR: Former Jets safety Sam Garnes, Oakland defensive tackle Rod Coleman, Carolina cornerback Reggie Howard. LONG SHOT: The Bengals are interested in Jaguars cornerback Fernando Bryant, but he's expected to re-sign or go to the Vikings. GOING: Center Rich Braham is visiting the Giants Friday. Free safety Mark Roman plans to visit the Packers. Guard Mike Goff and running back Brandon Bennett are said to have visits scheduled.

The Bengals reached a quick agreement Wednesday night with Tampa Bay free agent Nate Webster, a run-stopping middle linebacker.

Webster is believed to have agreed to a five-year contract and is expected to be in Cincinnati today to take a physical and sign the deal. Dollar amounts were not available.

The Bengals are expected to move Kevin Hardy - who played out of position in the middle in 2003 - to the strong side (tight end side) to make room for Webster.

Webster, a four-year veteran who turned 26 in November, had 52 tackles and one sack in four starts for the Buccaneers last season. He is 6 feet, 230 pounds and played college ball at Miami (Fla.). He is regarded as fast and an outstanding tackler who is effective against the run.

The Bengals were tied for 25th in rush defense at 138.6 yards a game.

The Bengals' focus on the first day of NFL free agency Wednesday was on defense.

Coach Marvin Lewis entertained his first free agent visitor, safety Kim Herring, a former starter for coordinator Lewis on the Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV-winning team.

The Bengals also made plans to receive visits today from cornerbacks Troy Vincent of the Eagles and David Macklin of the Colts. Safety Sam Garnes, a former UC star recently released by the Jets, also is expected to visit soon.

Herring and Garnes could end up being the starting safeties for the Bengals in 2004 and beyond. The team's starting safeties in 2003, Rogers Beckett and Mark Roman, both hit the market Wednesday as unrestricted free agents.

Roman attracted immediate interest from Green Bay, where Bengals former defensive coordinator Mark Duffner coaches linebackers. The Packers are looking for a good cover free safety to pair with Pro Bowl strong safety Darren Sharper.

Agents Neil Cornrich (Herring) and Michael Sullivan (Garnes) confirmed the Bengals' interest in their clients. Herring started 16 games for Baltimore at strong safety in 2000. He was a salary-cap casualty after spending the past three years in St. Louis, which terminated Herring's contract Monday to save $1.7 million under the cap.

Garnes, at 6-3, 225 pounds, had 98 tackles and two interceptions for the Jets last season. He was released to save $875,000.

As expected, the Bengals also were aggressive in pursuing cornerbacks. Vincent, though he will turn 33 in June, should have several productive seasons left. He played for Bengals defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier for four seasons when Frazier was Philadelphia's defensive backs coach. Vincent spent Wednesday in Buffalo.

"Given my relationship with Leslie, I told him it would be a team I'd come and at least visit and see what (coach Marvin) Lewis is doing up there in Cincinnati," Vincent said. "I'm a man of my word. I want to make sure I fulfill that obligation."

The Bengals and Giants might be swapping starting centers. Bengals free agent center Rich Braham will visit New York on Friday, and the Giants' Chris Bober will be in Cincinnati today.

Also Wednesday, Steven Mandell, agent for Shane Matthews, said he and the Bengals are engaged in "a very nice conversation" regarding a new contract for the free agent QB. Since Lewis named Carson Palmer starting QB ahead of Jon Kitna, rumors have circulated that the Bengals might trade Kitna and re-sign Matthews.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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