The Bengals have a boatload of prospective unrestricted free agents to address in 2011. They should be happy that the most valuable player on the list will be happy to stay with the team even without a long-term deal.
Cornerback Johnathan Joseph said he’d be happy to get slapped with a franchise tag next year.
“I’d sign it the first day,” Joseph said laughing, according to Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson. “Hopefully we can get a deal done before then.”
We’re not even sure there will be a franchise tag in the new collective bargaining agreement. Assuming there is one, Joseph would make anywhere between $10-13 million on a one-year contract.
The Bengals figure to look a lot different next season, but it sounds safe to expect to Joseph back in the black and orange.