Thursday, April 06, 2000
Dillon shopping to Ravens, Chiefs
Bengals may trade to get RBs in draft
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The agent for Bengals Pro Bowl running back Corey Dillon continues to seek an offer sheet from the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs before Monday's deadline for restricted free agents.
Marvin Demoff reiterated Wednesday Dillon won't be at the April 28-30 mini-camp and won't think about signing the one-year tender of $1.37 million until June.
“Corey prefers to play elsewhere,” Demoff said.
Dillon made that pretty clear earlier this week when he didn't commit to an offer from the Bengals to visit Cincinnati next month so they could explain their stance on his contract.
Demoff said he assumes the Ravens and Chiefs prefer to swing a trade before next week's draft. CBS Sportsline reported Wednesday the teams are discussing trading a first-round pick, but Demoff said he has talked only offer sheets with the clubs.
The Bengals just might listen to a trade. But the call probably has to come from Baltimore, not Kansas City.
The Chiefs and Ravens have indicated they don't want to lose their first- and third-round picks, the price for signing Dillon. But apparently they are mulling a trade for Dillon in which Cincinnati gets a first- and a fourth-rounder.
Given the Bengals' high regard for the top four running backs in the draft, Baltimore probably would get their attention. The Ravens pick 15th, and most mock drafts have either Alabama's Shaun Alexander, Wisconsin's Ron Dayne or Tennessee's Jamal Lewis available there. Virginia's Thomas Jones should be long gone.
But the Bengals and most other observers figure it's doubtful any of those backs will be there when the Chiefs pick 21st.
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