Quiet in the free agent market for the past month after making a big splash at the outset of the signing period, the Cincinnati Bengals got back into action on Tuesday, as ESPN.com has learned the team reached a contract agreement with unrestricted free agent defensive end Duane Clemons on a two-year deal.

Arguably the top defensive lineman remaining in the free agent pool, Clemons will sign a contract that includes a $622,500 signing bonus and base salaries of $655,000 for 2003 and $900,000 for 2004. The "base" deal is worth $2.178 million.

In addition, there are incentives and so-called "escalator" clauses that can further enhance the value of the contract. If Clemons records eight sacks in 2003, for instance, he collects a $100,000 bonus and his base salary for 2004 increases by $400,000. For 10 sacks, his '04 base jumps by $600,000, and it rises by $900,000 for 12 sacks.

Clemons, 28, had also been talking to the Arizona Cardinals, but the Bengals accelerated negotiations in the past 24 hours. Once again, the recruiting skills of head coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier were key to landing a free agent.

"Those two guys played a key role in this," agent Drew Rosenhaus said. "They are very impressive and very convincing. And also credit (director of business development) Troy Blackburn for being aggressive in getting this deal done."

A seven-year veteran, Clemons is the fifth quality veteran player added to the Cincinnati defense via free agency, joining end Carl Powell, tackle John Thornton, linebacker Kevin Hardy and cornerback Tory James. It is unlikely that Clemons will be a starter, but he could conceivably challenge Powell for the No. 1 spot at left end, and certainly will play a big role in the team's third-down pass rush unit.

The former University of California star played the past three seasons in Kansas City but was released early in the free agency period for salary cap considerations. He started in 31 of 32 games for the Chiefs over the last two seasons.

Clemons was a first-round draft choice of Minnesota in 1996 and, after four seasons with the Vikings, signed with the Chiefs in 2000. After totaling just 16 starts in his four years in Minnesota, he averaged 14.3 starts in his Kansas City tenure.

While his sack total dropped to just two in 2002, the lowest since his '96 rookie season, Clemons is still regarded as a solid pass rusher and upfield threat. He has 35 sacks for his career, and has posted seven or more sacks in four of the last six seasons. He also had 233 career tackles and 11 forced fumbles in 102 appearances and 59 starts.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.