Tuesday, August 10, 1999BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Dillon deal in works
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GEORGETOWN, Ky. — The Bengals made no progress with No. 1 pick Akili Smith Monday, but they are attempting to extend the contract of third-year running back Corey Dillon.
Corey Dillon
Indications are the club has sent Dillon's agent a proposal that is bigger than the six-year deal the Eagles gave running back Duce Staley. Staley, also a third-year player, got about $3.5 million to sign in a $16.3 million deal that can grow to $18.3 million with incentives.
Staley rushed for 1,065 yards and caught 57 passes for 432 yards last season; Dillon ran for 1,130 yards and had 178 yards on 28 catches. But Dillon's deal probably will have to be bigger because Staley rarely played his rookie season, while Dillon rushed for 1,129 yards and broke Jim Brown's rookie rushing record in a game with 246 yards against Tennessee. Dillon is just the 16th man to rush for 1,000 yards in his first two seasons.
AKILI STALEMATE: While the Bengals waited for a counter-proposal on Dillon, the Smith negotiations went nowhere. The club is under the impression agent Leigh Steinberg, in Indianapolis, spent the day focusing on signing Colts running back Edgerrin James. That's a good sign for the Bengals because Steinberg can hop over to their facility.
“These things get done,” said Bengals President Mike Brown. “We've reached a frustrating point. We're saying the same thing over and over.”
Brown reiterated the club will only agree to a six-year deal if Steinberg accepts the six-year numbers of the player drafted ahead of Smith, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. That's about $41 million: $10.8 to sign, $18 million in play time and about $13 million in individual and team incentives.
STEPHENS TO LEFT: For the first time in his career Monday, Jamain Stephens worked exclusively at left tackle as the Bengals prepare for the worst on Kevin Sargent. Sargent, struggling with neck problems, will be examined again next week. So Stephens, picked up on waivers last week, moved from right to left tackle to back up Rod Jones.
“He did well enough that we're going to keep trying it,” said offensive line coach Paul Alexander.
Stephens, a No. 1 pick of the Steelers in 1996, fell out of favor with Pittsburgh when he showed up overweight. Stephens says he's dropped about 10 of the 366 pounds he brought to camp, but now he's got other things on his mind.
Left tackle? Here's a guy who played defense up until about five years ago at tiny North Carolina A&T. He worked only a little bit on the left side in Pittsburgh.
“It's kind of a compliment to me that they put me over there,” Stephens said.
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