Tank reaches Bengals deal

Johnson, who made his name with the Chicago Bears, became a free agent at the end of last season and met with the Bengals recently.

"We feel like this is a better defense for Tank to show his talent," the player's agent Jerrold Colton told the team's official website.

"He was extremely impressed with the coaches in their meetings with him and he's looking forward to working really hard for them.

"He is only 27 and has a lot of football left (to play)."

Johnson could fit in well with the 4-3 defensive scheme that the Bengals plan to use in the coming season.

The Indiana-born Johnson played for the Bears for three years but was released after several legal problems, and also had to serve an eight-match ban imposed by the NFL.

Last year he featured in 16 matches for Dallas.