Bengals K Graham Tagged

The Cincinnati Bengals have decided to use their franchise tag on K Shayne Graham, a 9 year veteran who has been with the team since signing as a free agent in 2003.

“Shayne has consistently performed at a high level for us, and we expect that same performance in 2009 and hopefully beyond,” said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis in a team-issued release. “We’ll continue to speak with Shayne and his representatives about signing a longer-term deal.”

To franchise Graham, the Bengals are required to tender Graham a one-year deal worth $2.483 million

He ranks fourth all-time in the NFL in career field goal accuracy (85.6 percent), and his career accuracy with the Bengals is 87.5 percent -- a franchise record by more than 10 points over second-place Doug Pelfrey (77.3).

Graham holds numerous other Bengals career, season and game records. The list includes points in a season (131), FGs in a season (31), FGs in a game (seven), consecutive FGs made (21), season FG percentage (91.2) and consecutive PATs made (158). Graham also handles kickoffs, and in 2008 he passed Pelfrey into second-place in all-time Bengals scoring (682), behind only 13-year Bengal Jim Breech (1151 points from 1980-92).

By franchising Graham, it leaves the team in a difficult position with WR T.J. Houshmanzadeh. They will have until Feb. 27th to sign Housh to a contract or risk losing him in free agency.