CINCINNATI -- Corey Dillon got a hug from Cincinnati Bengals
coach Dick LeBeau on Tuesday, the Pro Bowl running back's first day
of practice since signing a new contract.
|  | | Corey Dillon ran for an NFL-record 278 yards against Denver last year. |
Dillon worked out with teammates on the first day of voluntary
practices for veterans, then talked with reporters about his hopes
for this season.
"My main focus is just to try to stay consistent ... try to be
me, just work hard and try to get this team back to where it should
be -- the 'W' column," he said.
The Bengals were 4-12 last season. They haven't made the NFL
playoffs since 1990.
Dillon, who signed a five-year deal reportedly worth up to $32
million, has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his four
seasons with the Bengals. He set an NFL single-game rushing record
on Oct. 22 with 278 yards in a victory over Denver.
Dillon challenged the Bengals last week to make him a long-term
contract offer. They responded and he signed the contract Friday
night, after two whirlwind days of negotiations. Before that, the
Bengals had offered $3.67 million for this season, enough to
protect the team's right to match any offer made to Dillon.
"It was a lot of stress and weight off me. Every year it was,
'What's going on with Dillon?' " he said.
Dillon, who had been an unrestricted free agent, said he
realized that other NFL teams had salary-cap problems and that it
seemed increasingly unlikely he would receive a hefty offer from
another team.
Dillon appeared to be in good playing shape Tuesday.
He set the Bengals' single-season rushing record last year with
1,435 yards en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. He also
set team records for most 100-yard rushing games in a career (18)
and most carries in a season (315).
With 4,894 yards rushing entering next season, Dillon stands
1,553 yards short of James Brooks' club career record of 6,447.
Before Dillon, the Bengals hadn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since
Harold Green's Pro Bowl season of 1992.
| |
|
