Monday, February 12
Bengals have option to match any offers for Dillon



CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday designated two-time Pro Bowl running back Corey Dillon as a transition player.

Corey Dillon
Dillon

Eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on March 2, Dillon set a club record with 1,435 rushing yards this past season and eclipsed Walter Payton's single-game NFL rushing mark with 278 yards in a 31-21 win over the Denver Broncos on Oct. 22.

A transition player designation gives the Bengals a first-refusal right to match an offer sheet given to Dillon by another club. To designate a transition player, a club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries at the player's position last season or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater. The average of the top 10 salaries at running back is $3.673 million.

The Bengals have offered Dillon, 25, an eight-year contract worth $60 million, including a signing bonus of $12 million. However, he is apparently frustrated by the Bengals' losing ways and determined to test the free agent market.

In January, Dillon chose Leigh Steinberg as his third agent in three months. Dillon said he wants to see which contending teams are interested in him, even if the Bengals can ultimately prevent him from leaving.

Dillon needed only 22 carries against the Broncos to break the mark of single-game record of 275 yards set by Payton on Nov. 20, 1977. He already held the single-game rookie rushing record with 246 yards in 1997, but that was broken this past season by Denver's Mike Anderson, who rushed for 251 yards against New Orleans on Dec. 3.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons, totaling 4,894 yards. He rushed for 1,200 yards in 1999 en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.

The Bengals were not allowed to place the franchise player designation on Dillon as part of a resolution with the Players Association regarding the Carl Pickens case two years ago.

Cincinnati signed Pickens to a one-year tender to preserve its franchise tag and then reached agreement on a five-year contract a few days later. The Players Association protested that the Bengals should have lost the designation for five years. The dispute was settled with the Bengals agreeing not to use their franchise player tag until 2002, benefiting Dillon.

Franchise players must be offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at their position or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater. But the original club can match any offer and retain the player or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation if it decides not to match.

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