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Cincy

4/16/06

Bengals give Johnson new deal

Fullback signed through 2011

BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->A day after signing a one-year tender as a restricted free agent, fullback Jeremi Johnson signed a new six-year deal that keeps him with the Bengals through 2011.
Johnson's contract is second only to quarterback Carson Palmer's in duration with the team.
"I wanted to be here," Johnson said Friday in the Bengals' offices. "It means a lot. I'm going to work hard. I want to put up more numbers to show them I'm grateful for the opportunity I've been given."
Coach Marvin Lewis said the negotiations "still had some momentum" after the tender had been signed.
"He pushed hard to get this done," Lewis said.
Johnson is a Louisville native who played college ball at Indiana and Western Kentucky.
"This is definitely home now," Johnson said. "I grew up down the road watching the Bengals. I was in Coach Lewis' first (draft) class (2003). I take pride in that."
Johnson was the Bengals' fourth-round draft choice in 2003 and is a three-year starter, making 30 starts and playing in all of the possible 48 games. He had three receiving touchdowns in 2005. He also is respected as a blocker, having helped tailback Rudi Johnson rush for franchise records of more than 1,450 yards in each of the past two seasons.
"Damn right it's a good thing," Rudi Johnson said of his fullback's new contract. "He's happy. I'm happy."
Said running backs coach Jim Anderson: "Where Rudi is, Jeremi has been."
Anderson also discussed expanding Jeremi Johnson's role as a receiver and running back.
The contract is reportedly worth $7.5 million, according to ESPN.com.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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