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Marvin Lewis de-emphasized the need for a conventional fullback in the Bengals' offense, but the plan is to make Corey Dillon the fullback. Lewis will continue feeding Dillon the 300-plus carries that have made him a six-time 1,000-yard runner from more one-back sets. The biggest change will be Dillon's increased involvement in the passing offense. What amazed Lewis is how Dillon didn't drop a pass in any of the offseason practices despite averaging only 30 catches a season in his career.
Un-safety net
Because free-agent safety Chad Cota had only one offer, he agreed to a one-year, $680,000 deal with the Bills. But when push came to shove, Cota didn't sign, deciding he really did not want to play in Buffalo. He put off the Bills by telling them he was retiring even though he still wanted to play. Cota is fortunate to have any offer. Several veterans safeties have drawn little or no interest, leaving Keith Lyle, Blaine Bishop, Devin Bush, Anthony Dorsett, Marcus Robertson and Sam Shade looking for work.
'Hawks beef up
Mike Holmgren's answer to the Seahawks' defense finishing last against the run was to sign middle linebacker Randall Godfrey and make his defensive tackles beefier. Under a new weight-lifting program, Chad Eaton has gone from 295 to 320 pounds and Rocky Bernard is bench pressing 450 pounds. The Seahawks hired strength coach Bill Gillespie from the University of Washington, who recently set a world record of 700 pounds in the bench press. Gillespie's program features strong rubber bands added to weights to develop explosive power lifts.
Hollings' stock soaring
Georgia Tech halfback Tony Hollings is drawing enough interest from Houston, New England, Dallas, Chicago and Tampa Bay for the July 11 supplemental draft that he should go in the fifth round or before. Considered a second-round prospect before blowing out a knee after four games last season, Hollings is cleared for two-a-day practices and could be on the field quicker than Willis McGahee of the Bills and Lee Suggs of the Browns.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
