By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Like their Bengals counterparts, Oakland Raiders officials on Sunday declined to comment on a possible trade for running back Corey Dillon.

"He's under contract with the Bengals," Raiders personnel executive Mike Lombardi said after an overview meeting here at the annual league meetings.

There is a chance team president Mike Brown and Raiders owner Al Davis might talk in person this week. Davis was not expected to arrive until late Sunday or early today. Raiders CEO Amy Trask said that she had no comment on the team's supposed interest in Dillon.

Steven Feldman, Dillon's agent, said he would attend the meetings to help promote talks between the Bengals and Raiders.

After signing defensive tackle Warren Sapp to a seven-year, $36 million deal, the Raiders are only $100,000 under the salary cap. They would have to clear space before trading for Dillon and taking on his $3.3 million salary for 2004.

PLAYOFF FORMAT: At least three teams - the Chiefs, Dolphins and Texans - support expansion of the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams.

Owners are expected to defeat the proposal.

"There is no reason to do it," said Giants executive vice president John Mara, a member of the league's competition committee. "(No.) 6 seeds have not done well, and to add another team does not make sense. ... It's a significant accomplishment to reach the playoffs now."

The Bengals have the league's longest playoff drought, 13 seasons.

BUFFALO BOUND: Former Bengals defensive tackle Oliver Gibson, 32, agreed to terms on a contract with the Bills. He will be reunited with his former Bengals position coach, Tim Krumrie, who coaches the Bills' line. The Bengals terminated Gibson's contract on March 1.

REVENUE SHARING: NFL teams split about 90 percent of league revenue, with roughly $80 million going to each team from the television contract that expires after the 2005 season.

Owners will vote this week whether to extend the NFL Trust, which will expire Wednesday, for another 15 years. It covers revenues from NFL merchandise with logos, which comes to about $4 million per team. Dallas, Oakland and Washington are among the organizations that want to keep all of their merchandise revenue.

Bengals merchandise sales increased in 2003 but were still among the bottom third of 32 teams.

OTHER ISSUES: Owners are expected to create a 15-yard penalty if two or more players are involved in a choreographed end zone celebration. Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson was fined at least twice for excessive end zone celebrations in 2003. College and high school coaches organizations want the NFL to set an example by curbing the trend. ... Practice, or development, squads might increase from five to eight players. ... The league and the NFL Players Association will discuss expanding the list of banned nutrition and performance-enhancing supplements.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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