Mike Nugent signs franchise tender

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Mike Nugent has signed his one-year, $2.654 million franchise tender. Nugent set franchise records last season with 33 field goals and 132 points.

“We’re happy Mike has signed in advance of our offseason camps, and this does not preclude our continuing to talk to Mike and his representatives about reaching a longer-term agreement," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Mike has been a fine performer for us.”

Nugent ranked eighth in the NFL in field goal accuracy last season with an 86.8 percent success rate as he converted 33-of-38 kicks.

He put 67 of his 80 kickoffs into the end zone, 36 of those going for touchbacks, and the Bengals finished first in the NFL in opponents’ starting field position after kickoffs: 20.3 yard line average.

Nugent was voted by his teammates to win the Ed Block Courage Award for his comeback from a knee injury that sidelined him for the final seven games of the 2010 season.

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