Bengals franchise K Graham
CINCINNATI (TICKER) —The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday placed the franchise tag on kicker Shayne Graham.
The franchise tag gives Graham the option to sign a one-year deal equal to the average salary of the five highest-paid kickers in the NFL last season.
If Graham signs with another team, the Bengals will receive two first-round draft picks.
Graham converted 21-of-24 field goals in 14 games last season - including 9-of-11 from 40 to 49 yards. The Bengals have until July 15 to sign him to a long-term deal.
“Shayne has consistently performed at a high level for us, and we expect that same performance in 2009 and hopefully beyond,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’ll continue to speak with Shayne and his representatives about signing a longer-term deal.”
A nine-year veteran, Graham ranks fourth all-time in the NFL in career field goal accuracy 85.6 percent (173-of-202).
The move means receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh will become a free agent on February 27. There was speculation that the Bengals would place the franchise tag on Houshmandzadeh, who was sixth in the NFL with 92 catches last season.
“We will also continue to talk with several of our other pending free agents in an ongoing attempt to re-sign them,” Lewis said. “Some will want to test their value in the market, and we of course will look at the market for possible new players.”
