Bengals.com reports Levi Jones signed a six-year contract Tuesday afternoon. This is by far the best news of the season (other than the improved condition of Carson Palmer). As pointed out by Hobson in this piece, the Bengals have their best talent signed for a long time. Nice.
The Bengals locked up another key offensive player Tuesday when they reached a six-year contract extension with left tackle Levi Jones, according to agent Kenny Zuckerman.The Bengals, who won't comment on deals until they are signed, now have Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer in the fold through 2014, Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson through 2011, and Jones, a Pro Bowl alternate, through 2012. Plus, running back Rudi Johnson, the franchise's single-season rushing leader, is here through 2009 and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, with 150 caches over the past two seasons, through 2008.
Jones becomes the highest-paid offensive lineman in club history with a contract surpassing the $30.6 million deal three-time Pro Bowler Willie Anderson signed before the 2000 season and ends after this one. Zuckerman says the deal in new money makes Jones the league's fourth-highest paid offensive lineman with guarantees of $16.3 million in a total package of a little more than $40 million, putting him in the tier below the tackle trinity of Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace and Walter Jones.