NFL
Bengals coach forces Dillon to talk
Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 12, 2003
CINCINNATI - Corey Dillon stood to the side of the lectern, visibly displeased to be taking questions from the media. The Bengals' most reluctant interview made it clear he wasn't there voluntarily.
Coach Marvin Lewis made him do it.
The team's most accomplished player met with the media Thursday, giving a rare glimpse of what's going on inside of him. The moody running back prefers to keep to himself.
One of Lewis' goals is to make Dillon more of a team leader. Part of the plan is getting Dillon to talk.
Instead of playing video games in the players' lounge, Dillon met reporters across the hall in an interview room. He was not thrilled to be there.
"I could have been over there playing PlayStation and eating my lunch, but (Lewis) came in there, (dragged) me out of there, and now I'm here talking to you guys," Dillon said. "He's the boss. If I mind or not, I've got to do what he says to do."
"He doesn't seem to be looking for the media-type attention," Lewis said after Dillon's interview. "It's different. But I don't think he's being two-faced about it. He's sincere in not wanting the attention.
"That's better than the other side, the guy who wants it but doesn't deserve it. "Corey would like to come here, do his job, be with his guys and kind of go home and do his thing," Lewis said. "That's what he'd really like to do."
GIANTS: A military helicopter skimmed over Giants Stadium, creating excitement and concern as the team practiced.
Players looked up as the helicopter flew the length of the stadium on the second anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11.
"He almost took out the Verizon sign," guard Rich Seubert said of the billboard at the top of the 77,000-seat stadium.
RAIDERS: Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson will miss about a month after surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee.
Woodson, who made his 11th Pro Bowl last season, had seven tackles in last weekend's season-opening loss to the Titans.
Team spokesman Al LoCasale said Woodson might miss as many as four games, including Sunday's home game against the Bengals. Former starter Anthony Dorsett and rookie Siddeeq Shabazz will get playing time in Woodson's absence.
Woodson, 38, started all 16 games and tied the Bucs' Brian Kelly for the league lead with eight interceptions last season.
In other news, receiver Jerry Porter will have surgery today in Florida on what has been diagnosed as a hernia.
PANTHERS: Linebacker Dan Morgan has a strained hamstring and is questionable for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
Morgan didn't practice after he tweaked his hamstring Wednesday.
Morgan, in his third year, missed 13 games the past two seasons with various injuries. He has a broken right hand, but played last weekend in a cast.
The rash of injuries has frustrated Morgan, who never missed a game in college at Miami.
"I had nicks and bruises in college, but it wasn't one thing after another like it is now," he said. "Things happen. Obviously I'm being tested."
STEELERS: Linebacker Joey Porter will miss at least one more game because of his gunshot wounds. Porter, shot in the buttocks less than two weeks ago in Denver, has been ruled out of Sunday's game in Kansas City by coach Bill Cowher.
TEXANS: Tight end Billy Miller, who led the team with 51 receptions last season, received a four-year contract extension through 2006.
LEAGUE RECORD: The league set an attendance record for a weekend when 1,095,720 fans purchased tickets to the opening games.
The record was 1,081,206, set Sept. 15-16 last year.
Tonight's games: Pinellas
BaseballAL: Radke, Twins tie for lead in Central
Ceremonies mark 9/11: 'It's a sad day'
NL: Maddux lasts 32/3 innings in loss to Phils
College footballIf Clarett wants CFL it's his call to make
UF misses no beat with shuffling line
GolfTwo 65s lead PGA's Deere Classic
In briefJones likely to lose heavyweight title
MotorsportsA legend in the making
China, Bahrain hot, Canada not for F1
NFLBengals coach forces Dillon to talk
NHLRetirement looms for Bure
OutdoorsAngler evolution
Daily fishing report
PrepsEagles feel like winning
Friday night football by the numbers
Game of the week
Player spotlight: Tyler Gross
The maxims: East Bay vs. Wharton
Tonights games: Hillsborough
Sports on the airRemote Patrol
Guerrero's looks offset fumbles
RaysHalladay hurries to stop Raysfor No. 20
Rays see hope for Brazelton rebound
Up next: Yankees
BucsThis is one towel they'll never throw in
Speed of live game shocking for Smith
LightningNo letdown, Lightning brass warns
Players lose breath, more in fitness test
