Ask Mark

Bengals fans took great exception to the Oct. 10 story in the Enquirer about the possibility of the team parting ways with tailback Corey Dillon in the near future ( Losing Dillon could be gain ).

Here are some excerpts from readers -- and there are even a few questions buried in there that will be answered along the way. Of the dozens of e-mails received on this topic, only one thought it a good idea to let Dillon go or attempt to trade him at any point. All the others say keep him.

Question, from Rob: As if it's not enough that you pick the Bengals to lose every week,now you are writing an article about our best player. We surely don't need any more negativity.

Answer: The analysis was not meant to advocate getting rid of Dillon nor to imply that he will not be a solid, productive running back for years to come.

Part of a newspaper's role is to provide insight and help readers think about topics they might not otherwise consider. The article was written simply to point out options the team will have in the off-season and what the reasoning might be behind some of the Bengals decisions. It was timely because of the injuries Dillon has suffered this season and how profound his absence has been.

Dillon may very well remain a Bengal and continue being one of the league's most productive running backs.

Q, from MJ Lewis: What the heck are you doing? Why in the heck would you write something like this now? You know how sensitive CD is.

A: I think you underestimate Dillon as a person to think an analysis of his career at this point would send him into emotional turmoil. While he may not be enamored with the media, it has never affected his on-field performance.

If he's healthy, there's a good chance Dillon will average the 76 yards a game he needs over the final 11 to reach 1,000 for the seventh consecutive season.

Q, from Donn in Orlando, Fla.: Let's not get off track. Dillon has been exemplary in his time here and deserves to win. He is one guy who has given in all. He's not done, and it sounds ungrateful to look at his release.

A: I have great respect for Dillon as a player, and I admire the works of his charitable foundation to help young people in Cincinnati's most impoverished neighborhoods.

Again, the story was a dispassionate analysis of his salary, contract life, health and potential wear and tear from six hard years in the league.

Dillon has, as you wrote, given his all to win. He and Takeo Spikes were two players who always chaffed at the losing and refused to accept it.

Q, from Joshua: What is wrong with you? Cut Corey Dillon? He has been one of the most consistent backs in the NFL for the past six years. Did your editors make you write this?

A: I wrote the story because I thought it was timely given the events of the past six months - Dillon missing the first voluntary minicamp, being the only player late for training camp, being injured twice, his contract status, his turning 29 later this month, etc.

And, no, my editors didn't make me do it.

Q, from Aerowax: Why stir the pot? The Bengals would probably be 4-1 if Dillon had been healthy. A: Good point. If Dillon were healthy, the Bengals might have a winning record right now. A healthy Dillon would have made a difference in any of the three close losses (Oakland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo).

Q, from Maggie: I hate it that you are putting ideas in people's minds about letting Dillon go. He's a good player and one that has played his heart out. Maybe the Bengals should think about getting a line that will protect its quarterbackand running backs.

A: Dillon has run behind a line that has often forced him to make two or three moves to avoid defenders and get back to the line of scrimmage. The line has done a good job of late of protecting the quarterback, though the run blocking is still inconsistent.

But you give me way too much credit for putting "ideas" into people's heads - especially the people who run the Bengals.

They handed Dillon a check for $10.5 million to sign a five-year contract in May 2001. They pay him $100,000 a year to work out and stay in shape. They are paying him a base salary of $2.9 million this season and will pay him another $250,000 if he reaches 1,500 yards rushing.

Q, from Walter: I don't think there is any doubt that the Bengals will take a running back in the draft. Do you think it is possible that they could trade Dillon? I feel bad, as a fan, to want Dillon to go after he has been the only bright side since 1990, but he does seem like a (problem), too.

A: It's hard to predict what the organization will do. Again, the story attempted to point out the options available to it. There is no question that Dillon has been a bright spot, perhaps the brightest, in 12 long years of losing.

Dillon might be traded, though trades are rare in the NFL. Who knows? It is an option, though.

Dillon's 278-yard game in 2000 was stunning. Having grown up a Bears fan outside Chicago in north-central Illinois, I watched Walter Payton's 275-yard rushing game in 1977 against the Vikings. I was 15 at the time.

At his best, Dillon plays with the same intensity and professionalism as I remember seeing from Payton. One of Dillon's best attributes is the lack of an end-zone celebration. In the words of the late Paul Brown, Dillon acts like he's been there before.

I recall the Bengals' Game 2 loss, 20-7, at Cleveland last year. Dillon ran for 108 yards and had eight receptions for 67 yards. Most impressive and what the numbers didn't show were the number of times he saved quarterback Gus Frerotte by blocking bigger, blitzing linebackers. He stood them up repeatedly, at least six or seven times.

It was a Payton-type of game, one of many Dillon has had with the Bengals, and I told him I thought so - even though he was not speaking to the media at the time.

Q, from Erick in Orlando, Fla.: You sound like one of the disgruntled fans who sends in questions to you every week.Not very good timing with this story. Maybe at the end of the year, and that is only if Dillon comes back and struggles the rest of this year.

Dillon's injuries are minor. There's still plenty of gas left in the tank. Dillon is "the man," and there should not be any talk about releasing him - at least for now. Take it easy on No. 28.

A: This newspaper has published at least two stories in the past two months in which Dillon, coach Marvin Lewis and other players have talked about Dillon's increased maturity and leadership.

And if Dillon comes back and runs for another 1,000 yards - and he very well might - this newspaper will document and give him credit for that.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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