The Bengals showed their hand early in free agency Wednesday when they made their third-youngest regular their highest-paid player on defense with a deal that secures sack leader Robert Geathers for the next six seasons. Head coach Marvin Lewis said last week the Bengals aim to keep their own and instead of holding back money for unrestricted free agents that come loose in March they struck a deal just 10 days after the season for Geathers after he became the club's first double-digit sacker in 14 years with 10.5 in his third season. The contract, which can grow from $32.5 to $33.7 million with incentives and gives him more in the first year than the deal for Colts sack ace Robert Mathis at $14 million, takes Geathers out of restricted free agency. It anchors a 23-year-old the club feels can consistently give it a productive pass rusher, always one of the most expensive positions in unfettered free agency.