Bengals' Smith seeking $9 million deal
Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Andre Smith is seeking a contract that will pay him $9 million a year on the free-agent market, ProFootballTalk reported.
Smith, 26, becomes a free agent after just four years because of a clause in the contract he signed as a rookie.
The Bengals were required to pay him a $4.75 million option bonus in 2011 to pick up the final two years of the deal.
Because of injuries, he managed just five starts in those first two years, so the Bengals did not pay the bonus.
But in the last two years, he has become one of the top tackles in the NFL.
After talking to agents and contract advisers, the Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy reported Smith might be able to demand a contract that pays $8.5 million to $9.5 million per year.
It's unclear whether the Bengals are willing to pay that amount to keep Smith.
