The Cincinnati Bengals have signed defensive end Justin Smith to a one-year contract. Designated as the team’s franchise player back in February, Smith exercised his option to sign a one-year contract for a salary equal to the average of the top five defensive ends in the NFL in 2006.
Smith has spent all six of his NFL seasons in a Bengals uniform, and has been one of the most productive defensive players for Cincinnati over recent seasons. He led the defensive line in tackles for the fifth consecutive year in ’06 with 110, and ranked second on the team with 7 1/2 sacks.
The University of Missouri alum has started the last 91 games for the Bengals and is fourth on the team’s all-time sacks list with 41 for his career.