Friday, July 23, 1999Bengals want to extend Dillon's contract
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerThe Bengals appear on the verge of opening talks for a contract extension with running back Corey Dillon.
Dillon, attempting to become the 11th back to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the year.
Cincinnati has about $3 million to spend on veteran free agents or to re-work contracts, but the club wants to be cautious when it comes to Dillon because of what happened with the Ashley Ambrose negotiations last year.
Ambrose, a Pro Bowl cornerback in 1996, couldn't agree on an extension early in the season, and some in the organization felt it contributed to his declining play and led to him signing with New Orleans last week.
But the Bengals apparently are receiving assurances Dillon won't let the talks bother him if a deal can't be reached. It's a deal that will dwarf his 1999 salary of $503,300, by far the lowest of the seven AFC running backs who have rushed for 2,000 yards the past two seasons.
The list ranges from Curtis Martin's $6 million average to Napoleon Kaufman's $981,000.
MORE PICKENS: At Thursday's media luncheon, Bengals President Mike Brown and coach Bruce Coslet made it clear they want wide receiver Carl Pickens back even though he doesn't want to come back.
Brown dismissed the notion Pickens' volatile personality is bad for the locker room.
“We've all had a different relationship with him,” Brown said. “Carl can be a challenge, he can be difficult at times, but I've had a good relationship with him. He's bright; you can talk to him; he's engaging. When he goes on the field, nobody competes harder.”
Coslet is preparing his team for playing without Pickens and believes Darnay Scott is ready to pick up the mantle of No.1 receiver after making 261 catches in his first five seasons, already 10th on the club's all-time list despite playing in Pickens' shadow.
“(If) the king is dead, long live the king,” Coslet said.
The Bengals haven't heard back from the Ravens about a deal involving Pickens, but the king indeed appears to be dead here. Steve Zucker, Pickens' agent, said Thursday, “We're waiting on the trade, or Carl will retire.”
THIS AND THAT: Coslet confirmed outside linebacker James Francis will go to training camp. But that's only because the Bengals aren't comfortable they have capable people to back up Steve Foley at left outside linebacker. Still, if Francis shows up in bad shape, they probably will cut him. He was the only player not to show at last month's voluntary mini-camp.
• Brown was making no predictions about the upcoming season, saying only that a winning record and the playoffs are the club's goals.
• Look for right guard Ken Blackman and linebacker Tom Tumulty to be put on the physically unable to perform list next week and miss the season's first six weeks as they recover from knee injuries.
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