Bengals tag Stacy Andrews

The Bengals today placed the franchise tag on offensive lineman Stacy Andrews, severely limiting his ability to leave as an unrestricted free agent. He has been offered a one-year salary tender of $7.455 million, the average of the top five offensive lineman salaries in 2007.

Andrews or defensive end Justin Smith, who received the tag last year, were the top candidates. Now Smith has no limitations on him once he hits the market Feb. 29. Another phone message left this afternoon for Smith's agent, Jim Steiner, has not yet been returned.

The Bengals repeatedly had said they were trying to sign Smith to a long-term deal, but those efforts have not been successful. If Smith were to leave via free agency, that move could be part of a larger decision to move to a 3-4 defensive scheme in which three down linemen are used, not four.