The deadline for signing franchise-tagged players to long-term contracts has now passed, with not much in the way of movement.
To make it official, Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports that Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson won’t get a new deal. He had reported earlier in the day that there had been some communication between the two sides, but it was apparently too little, too late.
Instead, Johnson will make $11.175 million this year, and try again next year as an unrestricted free agent. That big number caused him to declare “it’s a business” last week.
And now he’s in position to do more business next offseason.