CINCINNATI -- Marvin Jones may have been the Cincinnati Bengals' biggest free-agency target, but they knew for some time that getting him back in stripes would be a difficult proposition.
As we alluded to early Wednesday, just after Jones' signing to the Detroit Lions, the Bengals understood the receiver was in a unique window of earning potential, and was likely looking for a contract that he felt best honored his value as a player. According to Bengals.com, Cincinnati understood that value so well that it made a pitch close to the Lions' five-year, $40 million deal Tuesday night, but couldn't guarantee some of the playing-time provisions the Lions could as they move on after Calvin Johnson's retirement this week.