By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Willie Anderson and Corey Dillon parted ways on a sour note, Anderson telling Dillon "good riddance" after the season and Dillon calling Anderson a "bum" last month on national television.

IN YOUR OPINION

But Anderson, the Pro Bowl right tackle who blocked for Dillon, wished his former teammate well in New England following the trade Monday.

"They're getting a hall-of-fame caliber back," Anderson said of Dillon. "What I said I said out of frustration with missing the playoffs. You hate how it ended. At one time, he and I had a pretty good relationship. It doesn't make any sense to wish him bad. What he does in New England will not affect the Bengals, good or bad."

WEATHERSBY UPDATE: Dennis Weathersby remained in serious condition at University Hospital Monday, but Bengals coach Marvin Lewis cast some positive light on the situation. "They feel good about the way things have progressed," Lewis said of a news conference by doctors at University Hospital. "When you're dealing with the injury he has, every person is different. His age and physical condition are very much in his favor. It's just going to take time."

Weathersby, 23, suffered a head injury April 12 in a single-car crash in Springdale.

Lewis also thanked the staff of the neurological intensive care unit at University Hospital for its treatment of Weathersby and visiting coaches, players and family members.

DRAFT FOCUS: The Bengals are believed to be focusing on as many as eight likely first-round picks at No. 24 overall.

Asked Monday what he's looking for with the 24th pick, Lewis said, "We have an opportunity to pick a player who is going to come in here and help us win football games next year."

He then referred to the trade that brought cornerback Deltha O'Neal to Cincinnati from Denver. The Bengals swapped their 17th pick for the Broncos' original 24th and picked up Denver's fourth-round pick, at No. 117.

"It was obviously a decision we made that was to our advantage to gain a veteran player like Deltha," Lewis said. "Hopefully we can get a starter with the first-round pick and the fourth-round pick."

NEEDS: Lewis also left wide open the list of which positions the Bengals would draft.

"I really believe we have some position needs: offensive center, speed wide receiver, offensive line in general, running back, all positions on defense - defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, safety," Lewis said. "That's why you grade all the players."

Lewis said he personally analyzes more than 50 players on both offense and defense.

VISITS: The Bengals are not releasing information about their 20 pre-draft visits with draft-eligible players, but a short list has circulated of whom they have met or in whom they have interest.

The Bengals have had private visits or workouts with Stanford defensive end Amon Gordon; Kentucky defensive tackle Jeremy Caudill; San Diego State punter Seth Santoro; Wyoming quarterback Casey Bramlet; Florida cornerback Keiwan Ratliff; Washington State defensive end Isaac Brown; and Miami (Fla.) linebacker Darrell McClover, according to some Web sites and sources. Some of those players might be available after the draft to sign as rookie free agents.

"We're selling opportunity," Lewis said.

---

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

Return to Bengals front page...