Thursday, February 03, 2000
Dillon's discontent fades a bit
Bengals star focusing on Pro Bowl, not regular-season disputes
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bengals running back Corey Dillon is kicking back at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu this week, preferring to think about the beaches instead of the Bengals.
When we last saw Dillon at the end of the Bengals season, he was upset with some members of the coaching staff and hoped Sunday's Pro Bowl would be the last time he wore the striped helmet.
“I did say that,” Dillon said Wednesday from Hawaii. “All I'm saying now is if it's meant to be, then it's meant to be and I'll be back there. If not, it wasn't meant to be.
“I'm leaving all that in the hands of my agent and Mr. (Bengals President Mike) Brown. I'm not even thinking about that stuff. This is kind of like a vacation.”
Dillon said the dislocated kneecap that took him out of the season finale is fine and he thinks he can do all the things he did in becoming the 11th player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in his first three seasons. Dillon, a restricted free agent, thought some coaches were skeptical of his decision not to play in that last game.
But he said Wednesday he could ignore it if he returned to the Bengals. “I'm not going to let something petty affect the way I play,” he said.
The Bengals will most likely tender Dillon an offer next week in the $1.2 million range for the upcoming season. Another team could then sign Dillon to an offer sheet, but if the Bengals decided not to match that offer, the other team would have to give the Bengals first- and third-round picks to sign Dillon.
Dillon preferred on Wednesday to talk about stars instead of deals. Dillon and kick returner Tremain Mack are the first Bengals in the Pro Bowl since wide receiver Carl Pickens and cornerback Ashley Ambrose went three years ago.
Dillon had a chance to shake hands with Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, talk with Tampa Bay lineman Warren Sapp and be coached by Jacksonville's Tom Coughlin.
“The stars are definitely out. These are the guys I've watched on TV, and I've been walking around star-struck,” Dillon said.
Dillon will split time with Indianapolis' Edgerrin James and Tennessee's Eddie George in the backfield, but he isn't sure how much he'll play.
“People are going to see a heck of a Pro Bowl,” Dillon said. “The talent on the NFC defense is unreal. But we've obviously got some great players, too.”
A Bengal has never scored a point in a Pro Bowl. “I'm going to try and end that streak,” Dillon said. “But if I don't, I tried my best.”
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 Dillon's discontent fades a bit
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