By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Corey Dillon said the Bengals face a "battle" in the AFC North this season. But come December, the three-time Pro Bowl tailback said Wednesday, a new team will be wearing the crown.

"I pick us," he said when asked for a favorite. "I go with us. I'm saying if I were a betting man, I would bet on us. I just feel confident about what we're doing."

The Bengals are 26-70 in Dillon's six seasons. But he said he is impressed by the organizational changes instituted by rookie coach Marvin Lewis.

"You break it down by personnel, player against player across the board, we match up with anybody," Dillon said after an on-field coaching session. "We just needed a little something extra, and Marvin has brought that.

"Marvin expects a lot out of you, but he's a players' coach. You are a reflection of what your coach is. If your coach is soft, your team is soft. If your team is disciplined, up-tempo, positive, that's how your team is.

"He calmed the storm a little bit around here. You can ask anybody: Right now it's a good situation. I'm just upset it wasn't like this six years ago. Right now things are in order."

Dillon rushed for 7,520 yards in his first six seasons and said he is nowhere near done.

"They can bring who they want in here, it isn't going to matter," he said. "I know what I've got to do. And if some people don't think I've got gas left in the tank, hey."

The Bengals were rumored to be considering a running back with their second draft pick, No. 33 overall.

"He'd be catching a lot of splinters," Dillon said of a rookie tailback. "It doesn't matter who they bring in. (Marshall) Faulk? We would go for it. I'm not scared of Faulk. ... If I had to choose a running back in the league, I'd choose Marshall Faulk. But we'd go at it."

Much has been made of the Bengals' loss of their top two fullbacks, Lorenzo Neal and Nicolas Luchey, but Dillon doesn't appear fazed.

"He's a friend of mine," Dillon said of Neal, his blocking back who went to San Diego in free agency. "I'll miss him. But I was getting yards before he got here and am pretty sure I'll get yards after."

Mike Green and rookie Jeremi Johnson are expected to get most of the work this year at fullback.

CARSON'S BACK: Unlike his previous visit to Cincinnati - two days before the draft to announce his signing April 24 - rookie quarterback Carson Palmer returned this weekend to relative calm.

And that suits him fine. He has gone to work learning the Bengals' offense.

"Watching a guy like (starter) Jon (Kitna), who knows this offense like the back of his hand, watching him work and not making any errors - I'm making three or four errors on every play - it makes me realize how far I have to go," Palmer said.

Under contract, Palmer can stay for the remaining four weeks of the offseason program - not counting the mandatory full-squad minicamp June 9-11.

WELCOME: Add free agent Duane Clemons' name to the players who wanted to play for the Bengals because of Lewis.

Clemons, the former Vikings and Chiefs defensive end signed by the Bengals last week, is participating in the offseason program.

Asked what position he would play, Clemons said: "I'm not even worried about that. Whatever Coach wants to do, that's what I'll do. I had a good feel for the organization. I know what Marvin Lewis and (defensive coordinator) Leslie Frazier bring to the table."

Said Lewis of Clemons: "He's got a drive and desire to be very good. He wants to prove he's one of the best players in the league. You can never have enough of those guys."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Return to Bengals front page...