By Kevin Kelly and Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Both sides wanted, and worked toward, a long-term contract.

But what running back Rudi Johnson and the Bengals settled on Tuesday was a one-year, $1.824-million deal.

"The bottom line is what it is," said Peter Schaffer, Johnson's agent. "The stated goal of the team was to sign a long-term deal with Rudi in the offseason. So in that way it is a disappointment.

"You have a guy who not only wants to be a Bengal the rest of his career, he wants to be a Bengal the rest of his life."

Johnson, a 24-year-old restricted free agent and the Bengals' leading rusher last season, had said repeatedly after the team offered the one-year tender March 1 that he wanted to sign a long-term deal and retire as a Bengal.

"He really wants to be part of the team," Schaffer said.

When Johnson's current contract expires in March 2005, he will become an unrestricted free agent and thus have more latitude to sign elsewhere.

The fourth-year pro from Auburn moved past Corey Dillon as the Bengals' No. 1 running back late last season, and clearly inherited that role with Dillon's trade to the Patriots last month. In 13 games last season, including five starts, Johnson led the Bengals in rushing with 215 carries for 957 yards and nine touchdowns.

He became the first running back in Bengals history to rush for 150 or more yards three times in one season. Johnson rushed for 182 yards against the Houston Texans on Nov. 9, 165 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 16 and 174 yards against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 14.

His 43 carries against the Texans were a team record.

Johnson's top backup next season probably will be Chris Perry, the running back out of Michigan whom the Bengals selected with their first-round pick in the NFL draft last month.

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