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Dillon runs with idea of changing many futures

As Bengal watches his value rise, teams see their defenses slip.

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 27, 2000

The record-breaking performance of Cincinnati's Corey Dillon will rewrite history, but it also will serve as a beacon for the future.

Dillon's dynamic 278-yard rushing effort Sunday against the Denver Broncos is a forecast for a man, a family, a team and a league. The vision was clear to the running back, who broke the single-game rushing record held by Hall of Famer Walter Payton: a glass-enclosed Bengals uniform and a pair of shoes.

"It's going to be a wonderful moment when I actually get a chance to go up there and take a look," Dillon said. "I don't know what I'm going to do -- probably shed a tear, I don't know.

"It will be so special that I could actually take my kids there and let them know their daddy was a pretty good football player."

A pretty good player who put together a pretty improbable performance. In a league in which almost everyone says you have to pass the ball to open up running lanes, Dillon broke Payton's 23-year-old record with Bengals quarterbacks attempting nine passes and completing two. And it was against a team ranked second in the league in run defense.

"The Bengals were 0-6 and had not done much of anything running the ball," said former Bills receiver Steve Tasker, who broadcast the game for CBS. "To tell you the truth, they hadn't done much of anything offensively. The amazing part of that whole thing is the Cincinnati Bengals didn't do anything in the passing game to take pressure off of the rushing game.

"And they weren't getting 5-6 yards a carry. They would get 1 or 2, then they would get 25 yards or 40 or 61. He had six carries over 30 yards.

"Once he got in the secondary, there was nobody back there to tackle him. And Denver didn't tackle very well. It got to the point where he would make a guy miss and then it would be a foot race. They couldn't catch him."

Dillon, 25, was overwhelmed when he learned of the record, falling to his knees and collapsing while teammates doused him with water. He may be more overwhelmed when he signs a new contract next year, but he was reticent about the impact his running rampage will have on his financial future.

No one denies that Dillon's big day will lead to a big payday. The question is who's going to write the check.

Of course, Bengals officials said they have every intention of re-signing Dillon. What else would a struggling franchise with an interim coach and plenty of tickets to sell for a new stadium say after Dillon sparked Cincinnati to its first victory.

Truth is, bringing Dillon back will be more difficult now. After growing weary of Cincinnati's losing ways, he tried to escape after last season as a restricted free agent by threatening to hold out. He eventually settled for a one-year, $3-million contract. After this, his fourth season, he will be unrestricted. The Bengals will likely put the transition tag on him, meaning they can match any offer.

But Cincinnati general manager Mike Brown may not be willing, in part because he has questions about the 6-1, 225-pound Dillon's ability to block and be a receiver out of the backfield. It doesn't help that Dillon took himself out of a early-season game against Baltimore after rushing for only 9 yards. Coach Bruce Coslet resigned the next day.

"Mike has always regarded Corey as a good but not a special back," Dillon's agent, Marvin Demoff, told the Cincinnati Post this week. "I think Mike has always viewed Corey as a B or B-plus back, but never an A or A-minus."

Some reports have Dillon seeking a four- to five-year contract worth $6-million to $7-million a year. Others say he may want as much as $10-million.

The new contract will have an impact on the NFL salary structure and whatever NFL team Dillon ends up on, but his performance already is an indicator of what fans can look for in coming weeks.

Teams are going to want more rushing, and many already have it. Dillon was the fifth running back to top 200 yards in a game this season; the NFL record, set in 1997, is seven. There have been 15 efforts of 150 yards or more this season after only 11 in all of '98.

The number of 100-yard rushing efforts by a back stands at 51 after 11 weeks. At this point last season, it was 44.

More rushing efforts to go along with the notion the league is becoming more pass-oriented? What's going on?

"It's just hard to find a good defenses," Fox analyst and former Raiders coach John Madden said. "I said that before the season and had some arguments with people, but it's true. Guys get stats, but to be a great defense, it's not what you do, it's how you do it and when you do it. To play great defense you have to make a big play when you need it.

"Miami supposedly has a great defense, but if you're winning 30-7 and you lose the game, that's not a great defense. The equivalent of a Rams offense on defense just isn't there."

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Gary Shelton