CINCINNATI – Running back Corey Dillon and the Cincinnati
Bengals agreed to a five-year contract Friday that will make him
highest paid player in team history.
Neither the Bengals nor Dillon's agents would disclose the terms
of the contract. The two-time Pro Bowl running back said Thursday
that he deserved a deal comparable to the seven-year, $42 million
contract Tennessee running back Eddie George signed last year.
Dillion's deal is believed to surpass the $10.4 million George
received in the first year of the contract and the $17 million he
received in the first three years.
WKRC-TV in Cincinnati reported Friday night that Dillon would
receive $12 million for the first year – including the signing
bonus – and $5 million a year for the remaining four years of the
contract, for a total of $32 million.
Dillon is believed to be only the fifth running back to receive
an eight-figure signing bonus, the team said. The others were
George, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith and Terrell Davis.
"It's the richest contract we've ever offered Corey," said
Katie Blackburn, the team's executive vice president. "This deal
pays Corey at the very top for running backs in the NFL."
Agents David Dunn and Joby Branion worked out the deal in
daylong negotiations Thursday. Dillon signed the contract at his
home in suburban Blue Ash on Friday night.
Dillon skipped the Bengals' minicamp last weekend, then showed
up, and said he wanted to stay with the Bengals and challenged the
team to sign him to a long-term contract.
The Bengals used their franchise tag on Dillon, meaning they
could have kept the free agent by matching any offer from another
team. No one made an offer.
The Bengals offered Dillon $3.67 million for next season,
protecting their right to match any offer. They also reserved
enough room under the salary cap to do so, making other teams wary.
The 26-year-old Dillon has rushed for 4,894 yards while the
Bengals have gone 18-46 in his four seasons.
Dillon set an NFL single-game record by rushing for 278 yards
against Denver last season. He also established a Bengals
single-season rushing record with 1,435 yards.
| |
|
