Andre Smith unhappy with Cincinnati Bengals offer

Free agent right tackle Andre Smith has sat atop our "best remaining free agent" list for a while now. It's getting a little old, but Smith doesn't doesn't appear to have any great options.

SI.com's Peter King rights that the the agents for Smith are making it "very clear" that they believe the Cincinnati Bengals' offer for Smith "stinks" and the "door is open" for another team to come in and steal him. Most observers have expected Smith to return to the Bengals.

King mentions Arizona as a potential landing spot, although new Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has continually expressed confidence in the quality of his in-house tackles. (Arian also knows a great one may be available with the No. 8 overall pick.)

The same agency that represents New England Patriots tackle Sebastian Vollmer, CAA, represents Smith. Vollmer wound up signing a team-friendly deal that was based on a lot of incentives in which Vollmer has to stay healthy. Smith's offer is presumably worse or his agents would have just signed right now.

CAA is learning that leverage works both ways. Smith's on-field play in 2012 is probably "worth" more money than the Bengals have offered, but his uneven motivation and struggles early in his career may be scaring other teams away. Teams are probably afraid that Smith only improved with a contract on the way. That sounds smart, even if it "stinks" for Smith.