By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Marvin Lewis hinted Monday that he excused Corey Dillon from the team's weekend activities.

Dillon, listed as inactive because of a groin injury, was not at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday with the team's other seven players who did not dress for the Houston game.

On Monday, Lewis denied there's a double standard in his dealings with Dillon and the team's 57 other players.

"Sometimes guys ask for certain leeway, and I have to consider it," Lewis said. "I've got to be able to balance our football team and what is best for that player. At times, players come to me and have special requests. I have to weigh that. Corey has followed our plan."

Dillon was at the stadium Monday for medical treatment.

"I wish people would get off Corey, and leave him alone," Lewis said. "Let him get well, and be our running back, and the guy that he is and be in his place on this team."

Dillon has been inactive three times this season and said last week that he would prefer not to play until he is 100 percent healthy. Rudi Johnson started against Houston and ran 43 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

"I want to get Corey back healthy as quick as we can," Lewis said. "We've got guys that deal with different things. This is the first time (Dillon) has been injured to this extent. . . . A couple of other veteran players that we have on this team, their roles have changed. Sometimes, I can't just be a hard (guy) and say, 'This is the way it is,' because I lose them, and it's important that I don't lose them."

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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