By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals' running back drama continued to play itself out Tuesday night on national TV.

For the second time in six days, a Bengals running back - Tuesday night it was Rudi Johnson - was an in-studio guest in Los Angeles on Fox's Best Damn Sports Show Period.

Bengals running back Rudi Johnson appeared on Fox's Best Damn Sports Show Period Tuesday. (Leigh Patton photo)

Last Wednesday, Corey Dillon made an appearance and basically tried to talk himself out of Cincinnati, referring to right tackle Willie Anderson as "a bum."

"No love lost. We're cool," Johnson said Tuesday on the show of his relationship with Dillon. "If he comes back, he's just got to get into the program and go with what we're trying to do."

Same show. Same team. Same position. Different attitude.

Dillon, in his interview, said he would not return to the Bengals and share time with Johnson. "'Cause Rudi ain't Corey Dillon," said Dillon, 29, who wants to be traded or released after seven years with the Bengals.

"Corey was right," Johnson said Tuesday afternoon in a phone interview before taping. "Rudi ain't Corey, and Corey ain't Rudi."

Probed later on the show that Dillon's comments had to stoke Johnson's competitive fire, Johnson said: "Oh yeah, we're going to prove ourselves. That's the good thing about my situation. I'm on a team that's trying to prove theirselves, and I'm trying to prove myself.

"We're not really worried about Corey. He's just a part of the team, but we don't stop for one person to take a picture of Corey Dillon. It's all the guys playing together."

Johnson, 24, is a restricted free agent. After he rushed for 957 yards in five starts and eight other appearances, Johnson received a one-year, $1.824 million tender contract offer from the Bengals.

"I envision coming back," he said on the telephone from Los Angeles. "I want to be there for a while. I'd like to sign a long-term deal."

But, said agent Peter Schaffer, the Bengals have been silent. Talks that started in January in Mobile, Ala., at the Senior Bowl have not budged.

"We've not had any offers whatsoever from the Cincinnati Bengals on a long-term contract for Rudi Johnson," Schaffer said Tuesday. "He has indicated he would like to be there past one year. It takes two to tango, and right now we're dancing with ourselves."

The Bengals do not discuss contract negotiations.

Still, Johnson is behaving like a Bengal for life.

Why fly across country from his Virginia home to appear on a television show?

"For the Bengals, why not?" Johnson said. "I'm going to do my part to help the team."

Johnson, the first Bengal tailback to rush for 150 yards in three games in the same season, carried 215 times after getting just 17 rushing attempts in his first two seasons.

There might be questions about Johnson's durability and ability to be an every-down back, but not in his mind.

"No doubt, no doubt I can start and carry the ball 25 times a game," said Johnson, whose 43 carries against Houston tied for most in NFL history in a non-overtime game.

In his only season at Auburn, 2000, Johnson rushed a school-record 324 times.

He said he is eating better and working our harder and smarter.

The Bengals started their offseason strength and conditioning program on Monday, and Johnson said he would be there soon to join his teammates and contribute to their shared goal.

"We're all striving for the playoffs and Super Bowl, and I'm going to do my part," he said.

FREE AGENCY: Day 21

Bengals free agent action Tuesday:

BENGALS CONFIRMED: The club released no news.

OTHERWISE CONFIRMED: The Bengals have made a contract offer to Eagles free agent guard Bobbie Williams, but apparently have hesitated to finalize it. Williams, who would replace Mike Goff as the starter at right guard, visits Buffalo today.

GONE: Free safety Mark Roman, who started 16 games in 2003 and 27 in four seasons with the Bengals, agreed on a four-year contract with Green Bay. He will received about $750,000 to sign. The Bengals reportedly made an 11th-hour attempt to bring Roman back during the day Monday.

The Bengals are still interested in re-signing safety Rogers Beckett or free agent safety Brock Marion, most recently of Miami.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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