Tuesday, December 14, 1999Dillon can run, but Brown won't let him walk
Club planning to match any offer he gets
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerCorey Dillon may be running into history, but Bengals President Mike Brown plans to make sure Dillon won't become history when free agency opens in March.
Dillon, making a late Pro Bowl bid with three straight 100-yard games, becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Brown indicated Monday the Bengals plan to match any offer for Dillon, 66 yards shy of the franchise's single-season rushing record.
But Dillon's agent said the Bengals shouldn't assume it will be that easy after failing to secure a long-term deal before the season.
The club figures to tender Dillon a one-year deal in the range of $1.25 million, which means a team signing him must give Cincinnati first- and third-round draft choices.
“That's all they're going to be doing,” Brown said, “is signing him for us.” Asked if that meant he would match any offer, Brown said, “I would be hard-pressed not to.”
But agent Marvin Demoff said Dillon doesn't want another team negotiating his long-term deal with the Bengals.
“If Corey signs an offer sheet, it's not likely the Bengals would find it enjoyable to match and probably won't,” Demoff said. “They tried to get a Cadillac for the price of a Chevy and waited to see if the Cadillac broke down.”
Dillon insists he's not concerned with his contract, although he still thinks the Bengals' initial 6-year, $18 million offer, based on based on Eagles running back Duce Staley's first two seasons, was an unfair comparison.
But Dillon, off Sunday's season-high 192 yards, is thinking more of Hawaii than Wall Street with Pro Bowl voting by players, coaches and fans next week. He thinks he deserves a shot.
“Considering the conditions me and the team have played under,” Dillon said. “Some of those great backs with big numbers, they're playing on 10-2 teams, so things come easy for them.
“I think I've got the numbers to be there,” Dillon said. “I don't know what could possibly be keeping me from getting there ... I know we're not a great marketing team, our games aren't highly televised ... I'm just hoping people who select this Pro Bowl recognize I'm a decent candidate.”
The numbers say it when it comes to the three or four spots open in the AFC. With
1,173 yards, Dillon ranks second in the conference to the Colts' Edgerrin James. Dillon leads the NFL with 12 runs of 20 yards or more, and his 4.6 average is the AFC best for the top backs.
“We've seen week-to-week these different running backs and some of them are tremendous,” Brown said. “I don't know if he doesn't rank with the very top few.”
Bengals coach Bruce Coslet said he couldn't rank Dillon, James or Tennessee's Eddie George ahead of each other, while Dillon will vote for James.
Staley, like Dillon, a third-year player, has rushed for 37 fewer yards this season. Dillon doesn't like the comparison because Staley barely played his rookie season while Dillon rushed for 1,129 yards. Sunday he became the 11th man in history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.
The Bengals argued Staley was a better receiver because his 1,497 total yards was fourth in the NFL last season.
But this year it's virtually a wash. Staley has 39 catches for 280 yards, Dillon 26 for 260.
“I'm going to get my money regardless being that level of player,” Dillon said. “In 75 years, and all that history, to be the 11th guy (to run for 1,000 in his first three seasons), that says something.”
Noting he has one more 1,000-yard season than Staley, Dillon said, “(The Bengals) need to take a mathematics course,” but he's not counting on talking about his future with the team until after the season: “I'm just thinking about finishing the season strong.”
Bengals Stories
Dillon can run, but Brown won't let him walk
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Some wheeling, some dealing
Ex-Red Vaughn signs with Devil Rays
XU needs victory for recognition
Amelia gives coach 200th victory
UK tumbles out of Top 25 for first time since 1990