The agent for Corey Dillon and Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn started working on a new contract for the Pro Bowl running back Thursday at Paul Brown Stadium.

        Dillon said he would step in to smooth any “rough spots” that develop between Blackburn and agent David Dunn.

        Dillon has rushed for 4,894 yards while the Bengals have gone 18-46 in his four seasons. He realizes his entire career could be spent in Cincinnati.

        “My career would be much more satisfying if I stick it out and turned this around,” he said. “It would be much more special. I'm where I want to be.”

        With more than 50 veterans working out at voluntary camp, Dillon had several well-wishers stop by his locker. One was head coach Dick LeBeau. They hugged, and LeBeau advised Dillon to keep his cool.

        “I really don't worry about things that aren't in my job description,” LeBeau said earlier about the negotiations. “But Corey Dillon has been nothing but a positive from my standpoint. From all last year when I worked with him, through the offseason, it has just been a continuation.”

        Blackburn and Bengals president Mike Brown are not commenting on negotiations.

        The Bengals had planned to exercise their right to match any free-agent offer made to Dillon. He read reports that Cleveland, the only team openly interested in him, has decided against it. Dillon said he never wanted to go to Cleveland, and his intention is to sign long-term with Cincinnati.

        Dillon, who wouldn't say how much money he wants, said if the Bengals compare him to other running backs in salary talks, the only fair one would be Tennessee's Eddie George, whose $42 million deal pays $6 million a year.

        “I can match up with Eddie all day,” Dillon said. “Eddie's been to a couple of playoffs, been to the Super Bowl. He's also had a great supporting cast. If they bring that up, there's nothing I can do about that. Don't compare me to somebody who's got 1,000 yards and just had a breakout season last year. I guess my four years and my records don't mean too much if that's the tactic that's going to be taken.”

        Dillon has two of the top six rushing games in NFL history — the league-record 278 last season and the rookie-record 246 in 1997 that Denver's Mike Anderson (251) broke last year.

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