Around the AFC

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 10, 2000

BENGALS: Holdout running back Corey Dillon, under pressure to sign before Friday night's preseason game against Atlanta, has reached agreement on a one-year deal. The team's Web site reported that the contract is worth $3-million, more than twice the $1.37-million tender offer Dillon turned down in June. The Bengals had been increasing pressure on Dillon to sign after failing to work out the multiyear deal. Dillon ranks fourth on the Bengals' career rushing list with 3,459 yards over three seasons. As a rookie in 1997, he rushed for 246 yards against Tennessee to break the NFL rookie record of 237 yards set by Cleveland's Jim Brown against the Rams in 1957. ... The new stadium is to open as scheduled in 10 days and remains $45-million over budget. Cincinnati opens the stadium against the Bears.

BILLS: Doug Flutie, joking that he has pedaled enough on a stationary bike to be ready for the Tour de France, believes he is ahead of schedule in recovering from a torn groin muscle. An MRI exam is scheduled for next week. "I wanted to take the exam this week because I'm feeling better than I think they thought I would," Flutie said. "Once we know, we can beef up a little." Flutie, injured two weeks ago, said there's an outside shot he'll be ready for the Bills opener. At the latest, Flutie said he'll be back by Oct. 1, the fourth game of the season, which follows their scheduled bye week.

BRONCOS: The club held its annual golf and fishing trip Tuesday night, an event coach Mike Shanahan said gives the players a chance to see that the coach "really is almost a normal person." The Broncos held the event at the Pelican Lakes Golf Club in Windsor, Colo. "It's a good time," Shanahan said. "I think the players look forward to one night of camp, and this is it." Quarterback Brian Griese planned on playing golf, but was hesitant about the fishing derby, which traditionally was targeted by former Bronco Shannon Sharpe. "Shannon cheated," Griese said. "He went to the grocery store and bought fish." ... Denver acquired receiver Robert Scott from the Packers for a 2001 draft pick. Scott, 23, was signed by the Packers in July after playing in the NFL Europe. He caught 30 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns for the Berlin Thunder this spring. ... Denver is trying to persuade receiver Robert Brooks to come out of retirement and help shore up a receiving corps hit by injuries. Brooks, who last played in 1998, will work out with the Broncos and take a physical. If he passes, the Broncos want to negotiate a one-year deal. Agent Eric Metz said Brooks hopes to decide on his plans by next week. The Raiders have offered Brooks $750,000 to play this season. Philadelphia has proposed a one-year, $440,000 deal that could be worth more than $1-million with incentives. ... Former Denver safety Steve Atwater will sign a one-year contract Aug. 18 and be released after he appears at the next day's game against Dallas.

CHIEFS: Wide receiver Sylvester Morris, the club's first-round pick, agreed to a seven-year contract. Morris, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound wide receiver from Jackson State, caught 63 passes for 1,139 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He was Jackson State's all-time receptions leader with 175 catches and ranked second with 3,188 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns. A representative from agent Tom Condon's office said Morris will receive $192,500 in base salary and a $3.9-million signing bonus this season.

RAVENS: Peter Boulware's availability for the Sept. 3 opener against Pittsburgh is in question because of off-season surgery on his right shoulder. Boulware, from Florida State, dislocated his right shoulder during a minicamp in June 1999, but opted to heal it through weight training rather than surgery. ... Rookie receiver Travis Taylor will debut Saturday, but coach Brian Billick said the team will try not to overload the ex-Gator.

TITANS: The long wait finally ended for Yancey Thigpen when the wide receiver practiced with Tennessee for the first time since last season. Thigpen broke a bone in his foot in the AFC championship and he was forced to watch the Super Bowl loss to the Rams. But it was his other ankle that had kept him watching every practice during the first two weeks of training camp as he had surgery on his left ankle in April and had been slow to recover. "I'm just kind of glad to be finally back on the field," Thigpen said.

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