Bengals to keep Rudi Johnson with franchise tag

CINCINNATI -- Less than 10 months ago, Rudi Johnson was deemed the future. Tuesday he was tagged "the franchise."

The Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday designated their promising running back as the team's franchise player, meaning he is slated to make $6.3 million in 2005. Johnson was unsigned and an unrestricted free agent as of March 2.

The Bengals retain the right to match any offer sheet Johnson signs, or Cincinnati could pass on the deal and receive first-round picks in 2005 and 2006 as compensation.

A franchise player is guaranteed a one-year contract equal to the average of the top five running backs' salaries in the NFL for the previous season.

"This is the most responsible move we can make in pursuit of our goal to give our fans a playoff season and a run for the Super Bowl in 2005," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "The franchise option is designed to help a team retain the rights to a top player, and the players' union supports it because it guarantees that player a salary commensurate with what he has accomplished.

"We will continue to work with Rudi and his representatives for the possibility of a longer-term contract."

Johnson, 25, ran for 1,454 yards in 2004, breaking the team record of 1,435 that Corey Dillon set in 2000. Johnson, who also set the team record with 361 carries, emerged as a potential star in 2003 and Cincinnati paved the way for him to be the feature back by trading Dillon to New England in April 2004.

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