John Clayton of ESPN.com reports that the Cincinnati Bengals have signed defensive lineman Tank Johnson to a one-year deal. The addition of Johnson adds much needed girth to the defensive line for the Bengals. There have been projections for the upcoming NFL draft that have the Bengals taking a defensive lineman, but now with the signing of Johnson its very possible they will go in a different direction, possibly drafting an offensive lineman or even a wide receiver.

Johnson spent the last two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys where he recorded 33 tackles and three sacks. He was drafted in the second round in 2004 by the Chicago Bears but was released after serving an 8-game suspension in 2006 for a gun violation.

Johnson, 27, is two years removed from his legal issues and seems to have put it all behind him, but the fact that he signed with the Bengals, a team that has had its fair share of troubled players/convicts on the team over the last few years, will likely be the focus of most of the media outlets. While even I joke about the signing and say that its just the Bengals doing what the Bengals do, signing players with baggage, the focus should really be on the fact that the Bengals just picked up a huge piece of the defensive puzzle. Johnson will likely be a part of a three-player rotation at defensive tackle with Domata Peko and Pat Sims.

The style of defense that the Bengals defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, runs fits Johnson perfectly. Zimmer, who is a former defensive coach with the Cowboys, will love having a big man who is athletic in the middle of his line. Johnson should be a force in the pass rush as Zimmer runs a very agressive 4-3 style which will allow him to shine and become the force up the middle the Bengals have been looking for for quite some time.

NFL cincinnati bengals, tank johnson, domata peko, pat sims, mike zimmer, dallas cowboys