Thursday, June 15, 2000
Brown: Dillon trade an option
Says Demoff suggested move
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After coming close on a contract with Corey Dillon, the Bengals are now being asked to trade the Pro Bowl running back.
Bengals president Mike Brown said Dillon's agent, Marvin Demoff, suggested a trade when contract talks broke off Tuesday morning, a day after the sides negotiated for 11 hours.
“We would trade any player if somebody makes us a good offer,” Brown said Wednesday night. “It's an option.”
There are no new meetings scheduled. Four mes sages left Wednesday at Demoff's Los Angeles office were not returned.
If Dillon doesn't accept the Bengals' $1.37 million tender by today, the club will invoke its right under the league's collective bargaining agreement to cut his contract to a 10-percent raise over what Dillon made last year. He was paid $503,300 in 1999, his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing sea son, and would receive $553,000 this year.
“We told them 10 days ago we would do that if we came to this point,” Brown said.
That action would lock in the tender price for one year, Brown said.
But the club still can negotiate with Dillon and would restore the full tender offer in a bonus clause if Dillon signs and reports to camp in time for the July 21 opening, Brown said.
Brown also said Demoff had recommended Dillon sign the tender or agree to a two-year deal at about $3.5 million a season.
Dillon said before leaving Cincinnati for his Seattle home that he would rather miss the season's first 10 games than sign a contract that didn't pay him the money ($5 million a year) and respect he says he's due.
Earlier this week, the Bengals offered a multi-year deal at $4.3 million a season.
“If he doesn't come in until 10 games have been played, we're not inclined to pay him that much,” Brown said.
Dillon, a restricted free agent, needs to play at least six games to be credited with a full season and become an unrestricted free agent.
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