The Bengals today signed K Mike Nugent, who became a free agent following last season and was designated March 2 as the team’s franchise player. In 2011, he set team records for points (132) and field goals (33) in a season, helping Cincinnati advance to the playoffs.

            Nugent (5-10, 183; Ohio State) is an eighth-year NFL player in 2012. He exercised his option to sign the one-year tender offer specified in the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

            “We’re happy Mike has signed in advance of our offseason camps,” said head coach Marvin Lewis, “and this does not preclude our continuing to talk to Mike and his representatives about reaching a longer-term agreement. Mike has been a fine performer for us.”

            Nugent has played two seasons for the Bengals after signing as a free agent for 2010. He ranked eighth in the NFL in field goal accuracy last season (86.8 percent on 33-of-38). He put 67 of his 80 kickoffs into the end zone, 36 of those going for touchbacks, and the Bengals finished first in the NFL in opponents’ starting field position after kickoffs (20.3-yard line).

Nugent also was voted by the team as its 2011 winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, due in large part to his successful comeback from a severe knee injury that sidelined him for the final seven games of 2010.