CINCINNATI (July 25, 2006) -- In a move to secure Carson Palmer 's blind side, the Cincinnati Bengals offered left tackle Levi Jones a six-year contract extension.
The fifth-year player's agent, Kenneth Zuckerman, said the extension makes Jones the fourth-highest paid tackle in the league. Jones will sign the offer July 26, the agent said.
"I think they wanted to make a statement that they're going to take care of their own guys who are worth it," Zuckerman said.
Jones, 26, was part of a line that protected Palmer, the franchise quarterback, by allowing 21 sacks, a team record low, and helped running back Rudi Johnson rush for a club-record 1,458 yards last season. He's been the starter at left tackle since the fifth game of 2002, his rookie year, and had started 59 straight games before sitting out the 2005 regular-season finale with a sore shoulder.
"When a player hasn't missed a lot of time on the field, I think the teams want to take care of them," Zuckerman said.
Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the team wouldn't comment on the contract until it was signed.
