Bengals lose out on QB Rosenfels

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Though teams around the league made a flurry of free agent signings Saturday, the Bengals took their traditionally cautious approach to bringing in new veteran players.

Their top choice at quarterback, Sage Rosenfels, didn’t get out of Houston and had to cancel his visit today to Cincinnati. The Houston Chronicle reported that Rosenfels signed a five-year contract for $6.4 million with a $2 million signing bonus.

Rosenfels will back-up David Carr.

The Texans also entertained Bengals restricted free agent wide receiver Kevin Walter and are hoping to steal the quality receiver and excellent special teams player out from beneath the Bengals. The Bengals would have the right to match any offer sheet that Walter might sign with the Texans.

Also, quarterback Jon Kitna, a Bengals unrestricted free agent, completed a visit to Detroit and was expected to arrive in New York tonight to begin talks with the Jets. Word out of New York is the Jets will end up with either Kitna or Washington’s Patrick Ramsey, who is on the trading block.

According to agents, safeties Will Demps and Dexter Jackson are visiting today with the Bengals, who met Saturday night and today with Bills safety Lawyer Milloy. Milloy’s agent said the 10-year safety was headed next to Atlanta.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com