By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Corey Dillon holds the NFL single-game rushing record with 278 yards. (Michael E. Keating photo)

Corey Dillon sought out teammates toward the end of the 30-10 loss Sunday to Denver.

"Be patient. Be patient," the Bengals tailback said on the sidelines. "Good things will come. It's only one game."

"A year ago," Dillon said Thursday, "I probably would have lost my mind."

Yet this year, a month shy of his 29th birthday, Dillon is responding to coach Marvin Lewis' challenge and maturing as a leader.

"Corey wants to win very badly. And he's trying," Lewis said. "I've got to commend him for that. He's growing."

If Sunday was a step in Dillon's development as a leader, Thursday saw Dillon take another step toward becoming - as the team's marquee player - one of its primary voices. It's a reluctant role for Dillon.

But at halftime Sunday, Dillon was plenty vocal with his teammates, telling them to follow his example in the second half.

They have noticed Dillon, a self-described leader by example, now leading more often with words.

BENGALS AT RAIDERS

Kickoff: 4:15 p.m. Sunday. TV: Ch. 12, 7. Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WOFX-FM (92.5).

Teammates say Dillon's success gives him credibility when he talks.

"Got to listen to him, always," wide receiver Chad Johnson said.

Dillon held his first news conference since May during the lunch hour Thursday. Lewis is hoping to make it a regular weekly event to help even Dillon's uneven relationship with the media.

Asked first why he was there, Dillon said flatly, "Marvin Lewis."

But Dillon warmed up and provided insight into Sunday's opponent, the Oakland Raiders.

On their defense: "They pretty much just stand there and dare you to beat it."

On their aging core of star players: "When you look at them on film, you can't tell. Don't judge a guy because he's up in age. Look at what he's doing out on the field."

On being on the field with Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Bill Romanowski and Rich Gannon: "Am I going to be star-struck? No. But am I going to glance over and say, 'Yeah, I'm out here playing with Jerry and Tim and Rich?' Yeah, but after the first hit, all that is out the window."

Still, it was clear Dillon would have preferred to be somewhere else - across the hallway eating lunch and playing video games.

"He came in, drug me out, and now I'm here talking to you guys," Dillon said of Lewis. "He's the boss."

Since his January hiring, Lewis has tried to convince Dillon that his stature as the team's star player comes with the responsibility of representing it in the media.

"He is the identified guy," Lewis said. "He should be on the media guide, not me. Right now, as I told the guys the other day, I'll shoulder the responsibility. But it has to move to our players."

Dillon is first in line.

He and Lewis seem to have reached an understanding: Lewis doesn't appear to be pushing so hard. Dillon isn't offering so much resistance.

"He's the guy who has been here," Lewis said. "He has been a Pro Bowl player, he's been recognized around the league, he's got mementos in Canton. Nobody else here does."

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com